Deaths on January 29

Jerónimo Lobo, Portuguese missionary and author (b. 1593)

Jerónimo Lobo (1595 – 29 January 1678) was a distinguished Portuguese Jesuit missionary whose life was profoundly shaped by his extensive travels and ambitious religious endeavors in East Africa, particularly Ethiopia. His experiences culminated in a seminal work, the "Itinerário," which remains an invaluable primary source for understanding the 17th-century history, culture, and geography of this ancient nation.

Early Life and the Jesuit Mission to Ethiopia

Born in Lisbon, Jerónimo Lobo joined the Society of Jesus, a prominent Catholic religious order, in 1610. The 17th century marked a period of fervent Jesuit missionary activity across the globe, driven by the Counter-Reformation's zeal to expand Catholicism and combat Protestantism. Lobo's journey led him to the strategically important and religiously unique realm of Ethiopia, then known as Abyssinia, where the Jesuits had established a controversial presence.

The Jesuit mission in Ethiopia was initiated and supported by Emperor Susenyos (reigned 1607–1632) of the Solomonic dynasty. Susenyos, facing internal rebellions and seeking external alliances, saw potential benefits in aligning with Catholic Europe. He formally converted to Roman Catholicism in 1622, inviting Jesuit missionaries to introduce Latin Rite Catholicism and forge closer ties with the Portuguese. This period was characterized by fervent attempts to bring the ancient Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC), a part of the Oriental Orthodox communion with strong Coptic roots and its own unique rites and traditions, under the authority of the Pope in Rome.

Unsuccessful Efforts at Religious Conversion

Jerónimo Lobo was an active participant in these ambitious, yet ultimately unsuccessful, efforts to convert Ethiopia from its native church to Roman Catholicism. The Jesuits, under figures like Patriarch Afonso Mendes, implemented various reforms aimed at Latinizing the Ethiopian Church. These changes included:

• Imposing Roman liturgical practices, such as the use of unleavened bread for the Eucharist and changes to fasting rules.
• Altering the traditional Ethiopian calendar and holidays, which had deep cultural and religious significance.
• Attempting to re-ordain Ethiopian clergy according to Roman rites, effectively invalidating their existing ordinations in the eyes of the Ethiopian Orthodox faithful.
• Disallowing long-standing Ethiopian traditions, such as keeping the Sabbath on Saturday and certain dietary laws, which were perceived as essential to their faith.

These imposed changes met with widespread popular resistance, leading to significant social unrest, revolts, and civil war. The deep-rooted religious identity of the Ethiopian people, inextricably linked with their national identity, proved resilient against external theological and ritualistic impositions. The attempts to suppress indigenous customs and impose foreign religious practices created immense friction between the monarchy, supported by the Jesuits, and the general populace, including the powerful monastic communities and traditional clergy.

The Expulsion of the Jesuits in 1643

The intense pressure and widespread rebellion against the Catholic imposition eventually forced Emperor Susenyos to abdicate in favor of his son, Fasilides (reigned 1632–1667). Emperor Fasilides, recognizing the severe threat to the stability and unity of his empire posed by the religious conflict, took decisive action. In 1633, he began to reverse his father's policies and, crucially, issued a decree in 1643 definitively expelling all Jesuit missionaries from Ethiopia. This act effectively ended the nearly four-decade-long Catholic interlude in Ethiopian history and reinstated the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church as the undisputed state religion. The expulsion led to a period of isolation for Ethiopia, as foreign entry was restricted for over a century, further solidifying the country's unique cultural and religious development.

The "Itinerário": A Historical and Cultural Legacy

After his expulsion and subsequent return to Europe, Jerónimo Lobo documented his extensive experiences in Ethiopia in an account titled "Itinerário," or "Itinerary." Although the full title is often cited as "Itinerário e Outros Escritos Inéditos" (Itinerary and Other Unpublished Writings), it was not immediately published in its entirety. The manuscript circulated for some time before an abridged French translation appeared in 1728, followed by a more complete English translation by Samuel Johnson in 1735. The full Portuguese original was only published in the 20th century, highlighting the delayed recognition of its immense value.

The "Itinerário" stands as an exceptionally important source for the history and culture of 17th-century Ethiopia for several reasons:

• Eyewitness Account: Lobo's narrative provides a firsthand, detailed eyewitness perspective on the political landscape, social customs, religious practices, and daily life in Ethiopia during a crucial period of intense religious and political transformation.
• Geographical and Natural Observations: Beyond religious matters, Lobo offered meticulous descriptions of Ethiopia's geography, its diverse flora and fauna, and its challenging terrain, making his work valuable for early geographical and natural history studies of the region.
• Cultural Insights: He documented aspects of Ethiopian culture, including architectural styles, agricultural methods, judicial processes, and the unique characteristics of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, offering rare insights into a society largely unknown to Europeans at the time.
• Counterpoint to Other Accounts: Lobo's observations complement, and sometimes contrast with, those of other contemporary Jesuit missionaries like Pedro Páez, providing a more rounded picture of the Jesuit enterprise and its impact.
• Historical Significance: For historians studying the Solomonic dynasty, the religious dynamics of the period, and the interaction between Ethiopia and European powers, Lobo's "Itinerário" is an indispensable resource.

Jerónimo Lobo's "Itinerário" is more than just a missionary's memoir; it is a vital ethnographical and historical document that offers a window into the rich, complex, and often turbulent world of 17th-century Ethiopia, preserving details that might otherwise have been lost to history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Jerónimo Lobo?

Jerónimo Lobo was a Portuguese Jesuit missionary born in 1595. He is best known for his participation in the Jesuit mission to Ethiopia in the early 17th century and for writing the "Itinerário," a crucial historical account of his time there.

What was Jerónimo Lobo's primary objective in Ethiopia?

His primary objective, along with other Jesuit missionaries, was to convert the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church from its native traditions and practices to Roman Catholicism, thereby bringing it under the authority of the Pope in Rome.

Why were the Jesuits, including Lobo, expelled from Ethiopia in 1643?

The Jesuits were expelled due to widespread popular resistance and civil unrest caused by their attempts to impose Roman Catholic doctrines and practices on the deeply traditional Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Emperor Fasilides, seeking to restore national unity and stability, ordered their expulsion to end the religious conflict.

What is the significance of Jerónimo Lobo's "Itinerário"?

The "Itinerário" is significant because it provides a rare and detailed eyewitness account of 17th-century Ethiopia. It serves as an invaluable primary source for historians, geographers, and ethnographers, offering insights into the country's political landscape, social customs, religious practices, and natural environment during a period of significant change and relative isolation from Europe.