Zaga Christ

Zaga Christ (c. 1616 – April 22, 1638), also referred to as Ṣägga Krəstos, Atənatewos, and Lessana Krəstos, a was an Ethiopian imposter who falsely asserted he was the son of Emperor Yaˁəqob I. He traveled extensively, living in Sudan, Egypt, Palestine, Greece, Italy, and France. As part of a vetting process to prove his identity he produced an autobiography detailing his dynastic claim and his travels. This is the earliest known autobiography voluntarily written and published in Europe by an African-born author. Zaga Christ eventually converted to Catholicism, and while residing in Turin, he was immortalized by the accomplished artist Giovanna Garzoni (1600–1670) in what is considered the earliest known European portrait miniature of an African. Zaga Christ died of pleurisy in 1638 while living in France under the patronage of Cardinal Richelieu.