The enigma of a medieval Ethiopian dynasty of saints and usurpers (review article of Marie-Laure Derat, L’énigme d’une dynastie sainte et usurpatrice dans le royaume chrétien d’Éthiopie du xie au xiiie siècle, Hagiologia, 14 (Turnhout: Brepols, 2018)

The book by Marie-Laure Derat, L’énigme d’une dynastie sainte et usurpatrice dans le royaume chrétien d’Éthiopie du XIe au XIIIe siècle, born out of a thesis of ‘habilitation’ to direct researches, presented at the University of Paris I in December 2013 under the tutorship of Bertrand Hirsch – provides us with an exceptionally rich and stimulating synthesis on one of the most obscure and enigmatic periods in Ethiopian history. Based on new or freshly reedited and/or in-depth carefully re-examined materials, with original, clear and balanced reflections, this work will presumably mark in a decisive way the research on the topic for not a few years to come.