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The International Prester John Project: How A Global Legend Was Created Across Six Centuries

Zar'a Yaqob

One of the most powerful rulers of the late Middle Ages, Zar'a Yaqob (1399-1468) served as Emperor of Ethiopia from 1434-1468.

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EARLY HIGHLIGHTS
The process of comprehensive and accurate cataloguing to find these answers remains ongoing. The results thus far are quite encouraging. Some highlights include:

Texts/Authors: over 100

Author Origin Countries (17): Greece, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Norway, Flanders, Turkey, England, Iceland, Portugal, Scotland, Russia, Netherlands, Syria, Ethiopia, Belgium

Languages (20): Latin, Hebrew, Greek, Syriac, Arabic, Persian, Old Norse, Old Icelandic, Old Russian, Middle High German, Old French, Anglo-Norman, Italian, Castilian, Catalan, Middle Scots, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and English

Kingdom Locations (12+): Syria, Christian India, Turkey, Mongolia, Turkestan, Baghdad, China, Ethiopia, Russia, Nubia, Benin, Japan

Alternate Names for Prester John: Presbyter Iohannes, Patriarch John, King John, Prete Ianni, Presto Giovanni, Preste Juan, Prestre Johan, Presbytero-Johanides, Tsar-Priest John, Prete Ianne, Johannes Africanus, Bel Gian, Praeciosus Iohannes, Preste Ioam, Belul Jan, Jonanam, Presbyter Bedigian, Prestigian, Precious John

Alternate Titles: King David, King George, King of the Abexi, Kofar al-Turak, Keeper of the Grail, King Voddomaradeg, Senapo, King Ogané, Christien de Sentour

Historical Personages: Patriarch of Nubia, Abyssinia, Cathay, or India; Ethiopian Emperors (Eskender, Jan), John the Presbyter of Syria, Yeh-lu Tashi, Georgian General Orbelian, Ung Khan, Chinggis Khan, Wedem Ra’ad, King Gorguz of Ongut Turks, Oni of Ife, Zar’a Yakob, Dalai Lama
Pope Nicholas V's Letter to Prester John Pope Nicholas V (1447-1455) entrusted the Franciscan Ludovico da Bologna to organize a mission to deliver a letter to Zar'a Yaqob, understood as Prester John.

As Salvadore (p. 65) explains, "the document, dated 1 December 1456, speaks to the anxieties reigning over the Church and, more generally, the European establishment-- anxieties that also explain the renewed interest in Ethiopia." Here the Pope employs time-honored crusading rhetoric and the familiar call to divert the Nile River in hopes to render the Ethiopian-European connection into something potent and durable:
Immediately after leaving the conclave [8 April 1455], our soul oppressed by the fall and misfortune of Constaninople [1453] we made a vow to embark on a war against the Turks, to those who are iniquitous usurpers of Christian lands. Therefore, given that our funds are not enough, we decided to gather the armies of all the pirnces of the arth who profess the religion of Jesus Crucified-- you among them.... Between Westerners and Easterners, we have organized two good armies of land and sea, of sufficient valor.... we plan to add to the enterprise your important cooperation, with which we will have enough strength no only to defeat the unholy Turk, but to take away from the infidel the holy land of Jerusalem.... Because God wanted you to have, under your sublime rule, a powerful army, the river Nile whose inundations fertilize the land where our enemies feed and you at your own pleasure can take that away from them.
Salvadore (p.66) adds that this letter is particularly notable for being the first explicit "call to arms" sent to the Ethiopian ruler, the presumed Prester John.