Ethiopian Embassy Reaches Europe

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Emissaries from Emperor Zara Yaqob's Ethiopian court arrived in Rome, astonishing European diplomats with living proof of a Christian kingdom deep in the African highlands. The encounter revived old legends of the priest-king Prester John and prompted enthusiastic papal attempts at military alliance against Islam. Ethiopian monks were given a chapel near the Vatican, where their ancient liturgical chanting in Ge'ez bemused and fascinated Roman congregations accustomed to Latin plainchant.