Did the Agaw topple Axum?
Yes, but not as foreign invaders. Following centuries of economic isolation and environmental decline, a powerful Agaw military class from the province of Lasta—the Zagwe dynasty—consolidated power. According to some historical traditions, they officially took control by defeating the last remaining Axumite rulers around 1137.
Were there tussles with Amharas?
Yes, the transition of power involved significant conflict. The Agaw Zagwe dynasty ruled from 1137 to 1270. By the 13th century, a coalition of Semitic-speaking elites from the emerging Amhara region grew deeply dissatisfied with Zagwe rule, viewing them as usurpers. In 1270, the Amhara king Yekuno Amlak led a successful military rebellion, defeating the last Zagwe king, Za-Ilmaknun, in battle. This culminated in the establishment of the Amhara-led "Solomonic" dynasty.