Jean de Lastic’s Letter from Ethiopia (1448)

On July 3, 1448, Jean de Lastic, Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes (the Hospitallers), wrote to Charles VII of France with striking news from Ethiopia. He reported that Emperor Zär’a Ya‘iqob had won victories over the “Saracens” and had preserved Christian communities in the Horn of Africa. For European readers accustomed to thinking of Christendom chiefly in western terms, the letter offered a bracing reminder: the church of Jesus Christ was not confined to Latin lands, but stood firm wherever God sustained His people. In an age of siege, raiding, and fragile borders, the report encouraged rulers to see governance as a stewardship under God—meant to shield the innocent and uphold the worship of the true God.

Zär’a Ya‘iqob and the Horn of Africa

Zär’a Ya‘iqob (r. 1434–1468) is remembered as a powerful Ethiopian emperor who strengthened the realm and defended Christian identity amid regional conflict. Ethiopia’s rugged highlands and ancient Christian tradition made the kingdom a long-standing beacon in the Horn of Africa. Lastic’s message emphasized not only martial success but also preservation: the protection of “Christian people” as a flock entrusted to faithful oversight. Such preservation reflects the biblical pattern of courageous leadership joined to reverent dependence—arms and policy serving a higher end, the safeguarding of worship and community life. “Be strong and courageous…for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

“Prester John” and Christian Hope Beyond Europe

In his letter, Lastic invoked “Prester John,” the legendary Christian monarch once placed in distant Asia but increasingly identified with Ethiopia’s king. Though the legend was embroidered by rumor, it carried a spiritual longing: that God had raised up faithful defenders far away, able to press back darkness when nearer kingdoms faltered. The hope was not mere geopolitics; it was providential imagination, a conviction that the Lord preserves His witnesses in every land. “Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance” (Psalm 2:8).

Legacy of Faithful Defense

The 1448 report stirred gratitude and resolve: prayer, steadfast rule, and godly courage can restrain evil and protect the vulnerable. It also affirmed the worldwide endurance of Christ’s church—diverse in place and custom, yet united in confession and perseverance. “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).