WI - Chalcedonian Christian Ethiopia?

Philip

Donor
Let's say Ethiopia doesn't side with the Egyptian and Syrian Christians at the Council of Chalcedon in 451

I'm not sure you have OTL history correct here. The spread in Ethiopia of Miaphysitism (and Christianity in general) is normally credited to the Nine Saints who arrived after and because of Chalcedon.

To have Ethiopia be Dyophysite, you would need a different (probably earlier) missionaries in Ethiopia. Even so, having a Miaphysite Alexandria between Ethiopia and Constantinople will make things difficult.
 
I'm not sure you have OTL history correct here. The spread in Ethiopia of Miaphysitism (and Christianity in general) is normally credited to the Nine Saints who arrived after and because of Chalcedon.

To have Ethiopia be Dyophysite, you would need a different (probably earlier) missionaries in Ethiopia. Even so, having a Miaphysite Alexandria between Ethiopia and Constantinople will make things difficult.
You are right! It slipped my mind when making this thread but how could we have Ethiopia go Dyophysite?
 
The thing is that Orthodoxy at that point was very Constantinople-centric. Any state ready to adopt Orthodoxy would have to become a client state of the Rhomaic empire. Therefore, should Axum be a rather potent power, they would pick up any heresy to challenge Constantinople at the tien. If not Muaphysitism, then dunno, Nestorianism, Ebionitism etc
 
The thing is that Orthodoxy at that point was very Constantinople-centric. Any state ready to adopt Orthodoxy would have to become a client state of the Rhomaic empire. Therefore, should Axum be a rather potent power, they would pick up any heresy to challenge Constantinople at the tien. If not Muaphysitism, then dunno, Nestorianism, Ebionitism etc
What would Aksum look like as a client state of the Rhomaic Empire?
 

Philip

Donor
You are right! It slipped my mind when making this thread but how could we have Ethiopia go Dyophysite?

A bit tricky since Ethiopia was ecclesiastically dependent on Alexandria.

Two options.

  1. Have the region converted earlier, prior to Chalcedon. If the patriarch of Alexandria denies Chalcedon, the metropolitan of Ethiopia might be able to might be able to achieve assume form of independence.
  2. Prevent the Byzantine-Sassanian War in the early VII. Miaphysitism was losing momentum at this point and would likely have been absorbed within a generation or two.

Any state ready to adopt Orthodoxy would have to become a client state of the Rhomaic empire.

I wonder if either the Franks or the Rus intended to become client states.
 
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A bit tricky since Ethiopia was ecclesiastically dependent on Akexandria.

Two options.

  1. Have the region converted earlier, prior to Chalcedon. If the patriarch of Alexandria denies Chalcedon, the metropolitan of Ethiopia might be able to might be able to achieve assume form of independence.
  2. Prevent the Byzantine-Sassanian War in the early VII. Miaphysitism was losing momentum at this point and would likely have been absorbed within a generation or two.



I wonder if either the Franks or the Rus intended to become client states.
What's the earliest we can see Ethiopia convert to Orthodox Christianity?

Is it plausible for Ethiopia to become a Byzantine client state?
 

Philip

Donor
What's the earliest we can see Ethiopia convert to Orthodox Christianity?

Not sure. I could probably buy a timeline where some of the Desert Fathers went south. Maybe one of Athansius's exiles take him there.

Is it plausible for Ethiopia to become a Byzantine client state

Depends on how much control this involves. Aceh acknowledged the Ottoman emperor as caliph. Were they a client?

I don't see Rome being able to project power into Ethiopia. Nor do I see it as being in their best interests ... there are more important things closer to home. I could see an Ethiopian Metropolitan recognizing the Patriarch of Constantinople as the first of equals. Likewise, the Ethiopian king might recognize the Roman emperor as first among equals. Neither would have any effect on day-to-day life.
 
Not sure. I could probably buy a timeline where some of the Desert Fathers went south. Maybe one of Athansius's exiles take him there.

I don't see Rome being able to project power into Ethiopia. Nor do I see it as being in their best interests ... there are more important things closer to home. I could see an Ethiopian Metropolitan recognizing the Patriarch of Constantinople as the first of equals. Likewise, the Ethiopian king might recognize the Roman emperor as first among equals. Neither would have any effect on day-to-day life.
Perhaps Athansuis plays the role that Frumentius did IOTL?

Perhaps there's more contact with European Christendom via Egypt?
 
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