King Maya'ir "the Usurper" of Shewa (1044-25 May 1086) was the King of Shewa from 1084 to 1086, preceding Harba'ir of Shewa.
Biography[]
Maya'ir Makhzumi was born in 1044 to a Sunni Muslim family of Ethiopians. He became a commander of the County of Assab under Count Zeyd of Assab in his war against Axum, and he was defeated at Yeha on 7 March 1076 by Abu al-Fadl Hasdai. Later, he became a courtier of the County of Massawa when Abyssinia conquered Assab in 1077, and his son Teruworq Makhzumi became a ward of King Dawit II of Axum, who took care of him well and made him happy about his upbringing.
Dawit also did him a favor by enforcing his claim on the Duchy of Shewa, which was a region of Abyssinia. He campaigned against the Zagwe dynasty and conquered Shewa, giving Maya'ir the title of Duke of Shewa, which was now an independent duchy that was allied to Axum. He was as happy as he could be with King Dawit out of gratitude, and they made great allies. Later, he ascended from the title of Duke to King, becoming an equal of Dawit II and a good ally. He married Ubax, a Somali Muslim. On 25 May 1086 he died in an accident at the age of 42, and his son King Harba'ir of Shewa succeeded him.
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