Axum, removed the seat of empire to Lasta, the descendants of the royal family having fled to Shoa. This event is supposed to have occurred in about A. D. 925, a space of three hundred and fifty-four years being allowed in the chronicles for the whole duration of the reigns of the above mentioned kings,
During this period, and indeed up to the year 1255, very little is known respecting the affairs of the country; the only mention of them in the Arabian authors consisting of an occasional notice of their sending for an Abuna from Egypt,[1] and the chronicles themselves containing the names of a few only of the latter emperors.[2]
In about 1255, or thereabouts, Icon-Amlac recovered the whole kingdom through the abilities of an ecclesiastic named Tecla Haimanot; but still, owing to the necessity of keeping up a constant opposition to the Mahomedans, who had become very powerful on the eastern frontiers, he was obliged to continue his residence in Shoa.
The sovereigns who succeeded Icon Amlac have the following periods assigned to them in the Chronicles.
| Icon Amlac | from 1255 | to 1269 |
| Woodera Arad | 1269 | 1284 |
| Kudma Asgud, Asfa-Asgnd, Sinfa Asgud | 1284 | 1287 |
| Bar Asgud | 1287 | 1292 |
| Egba Sion | 1292 | 1301 |
| Amda Sion | 1301 | 1331 |
- ↑ Vide Elmacini Saraceni Hist. in Purchas, 1032, Vol. V. and Abdullatif. Paris. p. 554, 1810.
- ↑ One of these, however, (named Lalibala) was very distinguished on account of the churches which he built in lasts, (before described) and from a successful attempt which he is said to have made, to turn the course of the Nile, This story is also recorded in the Arabian histories of Egypt, and is attributed to the years 831 of the Dioclesian æra, or A. D. 1095. The ignorance of the times may have favoured the opinion of (he possibility of such an undertaking: but in all probability, the only source of a river over which Lalibala had a command, was that of the Tacazze, which takes its origin in Lasta. The names of the monarchs sprung from the legitimate branch which fled to Shoa, are given in the Chronicles as follow after Dilnād came Maimersa Woodim, then Agva Sion, Sin Fārat. Negush Záree, Atzfé, Yakoob, Birasgud, Asgúd, Woodem Asgúd and their reigns are said to have occupied 330 years, which the history down to the period of 1255.
