Newaya Krestos

Who was Newaya Krestos?

Newaya Krestos was nəgusä nägäst of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty. He was the oldest son of Amda Seyon I.

According to James Bruce, Newaya Krestos was present at his father's campaign Salih, the king of Mara, which took place after Amda Seyon had put down the rebellion of Sabr ad-Din I of Adal.

On the death of his father, Newaya Krestos had agreed to the entreaties of Abuna Yaqob to recall the monks his father had exiled and live a monogamous life unlike his polygamous predecessors; but he went back on his word, marrying three women. When Abuna Yaqob and the monastic leaders protested, the Emperor sent the Abuna back to Egypt, and exiled the monks to the southern parts of his kingdom.

During his reign Ali ibn Sabr ad-Din of the Walashma dynasty revolted. In response, Newaya Krestos campaigned along the eastern frontier of Ethiopia in the territories of Adal and Ifat. Due to lack of support from his subjects, Ali ad-Din's revolt was unsuccessful, and he was captured with all of his sons, effectively destroying the Sultanate of Ifat as an independent state. Newaya Krestos imprisoned Ali ad-Din and all of his sons except for Ahmad, whom the emperor made governor of Ifat. However, after eight years Ali was released from prison and returned to power; Ahmad and his sons were excluded from power, and it took the direct intervention of the Emperor for Ahmad to obtain a position over a single district.