The Muslim conquest was marked by wholesale destruction, cruelty and ruination. 'Much of the literary and intellectual heritage of Abyssinia was irretrievably lost' (3) and it is probable that it is to this period in particular that we owe the destruction of many of the Falashas' records. The tornado stirred up by Gran continued into the reign of Lebna Dengel's son Claudius (Galawdewos) (1540-59), which is notable for the decisive role played by the Ethiopians' new-found European allies. In reply to a call for help the Portuguese - who had retained a presence in the country since the end of the previous century - dispatched a force of 400 picked volunteers to Massawa under the command of Christopher da Gama, a son of the famous navigator. Firearms were now brought into use on both sides and, despite some setbacks, including the death of Christopher da Gama, the Ethiopians and their allies prevailed. Gran had been able to secure some support from the Turks who were then establishing themselves in the Red Sea ports but, in 1543, he was utterly defeated and the Muslim occupation came to an end almost overnight.(4) Meanwhile, the Falasha stronghold, the Jews' Rock, having apparently been occupied by the Muslims, was returned to Falasha occupation under Ethiopian suzerainty.

With the defeat of Ahmad Gran and notwithstanding a serious incursion by Galla tribes from the south and south-west, the Emperor Claudius was able to turn his attention to the encouragement of economic and cultural development. Signs of strain between the Roman Catholic visitors from Europe and the indigenous Coptic Christians were beginning to appear and it was during this reign that the 'Confession of Faith' was written as an

(1) Travels, vol. 2, p. 165.
(2) Hess, op. cit., p. 103.
(3)Ullendorff, The Ethiopians, p. 73.
(4) Pankhurst, An Introduction to the Economic History ef Ethiopia, p. 78.