Isahluko Seshumi Nane

Amakhosi Amabili Ayashintsha

 1, 2. (a) Yini eyaholela ekubeni u-Antiochus IV athobele izimfuno zeRoma? (b) ISiriya yaba nini isifundazwe saseRoma?

INKOSI yaseSiriya u-Antiochus IV ihlasela iGibithe bese izibeka iba inkosi. Ngokwesicelo senkosi yaseGibithe uPtolemy VI, iRoma ithuma iNxusa uCaius Popilius Laenas eGibithe. Lihamba nemikhumbi yempi eminingi futhi liphethe nemiyalo yeSigele SaseRoma ethi u-Antiochus IV akahoxe ekubuseni iGibithe futhi aphume aphele kulelo zwe. E-Eleusis, emaphethelweni edolobha lase-Alexandria, inkosi yaseSiriya nenxusa laseRoma babonana ubuso nobuso. U-Antiochus IV ucela isikhathi sokuba alumane indlebe nabeluleki bakhe, kodwa uLaenas udweba isiyingi sizungeze le nkosi, abese ethi ayiphendule ngaphambi kokuba yeqe umugqa wesiyingi. Ejabhile, u-Antiochus IV ulalela izimfuno zeRoma futhi abuyele eSiriya ngo-168 B.C.E. Kuphela kanjalo-ke ukungqubuzana kwenkosi yasenyakatho eSiriya nenkosi yaseningizimu eGibithe.

² Njengoba isingubhongoza ezindabeni zeMpumalanga Ephakathi, iRoma iyaqhubeka ilawula iSiriya. Ngakho, nakuba amanye amakhosi ohlu lukaSeleucus ebusa eSiriya ngemva kokufa kuka-Antiochus IV ngo-163 B.C.E., awabi sesikhundleni sokuba “inkosi yasenyakatho.” (Daniyeli 11:15) Ekugcineni, ngo-64 B.C.E., iSiriya iba isifundazwe saseRoma.

 3. Kwenzeka nini futhi kanjani ukuba iRoma ibuse iGibithe?

³ Uhlu lwamakhosi kaPtolemy lwaseGibithe luyaqhubeka lusesikhundleni sokuba “inkosi yaseningizimu” iminyaka engaphezudlwana kwengu-130 ngemva kokufa kuka-Antiochus IV. (Daniyeli 11:14) Empini yase-Actium ngo-31 B.C.E., umbusi waseRoma u-Octavian unqoba amabutho ahlangene endlovukazi yokugcina yohlu lukaPtolemy—uCleopatra VII—nesithandwa sakhe saseRoma, uMark Antony. Ngemva kokuzibulala kukaCleopatra ngonyaka olandelayo, iGibithe nalo liba isifundazwe saseRoma ngakho alisayifezi indima yokuba inkosi yaseningizimu. Ngonyaka ka-30 B.C.E., iRoma isikhonya phezu kweSiriya neGibithe. Ingabe manje kufanele silindele ukuba kube neminye imibuso efeza indima yokuba inkosi yasenyakatho nenkosi yaseningizimu?

INKOSI ENTSHA ITHUMELA “UMTHELISI”

 4. Kungani kumelwe silindele ukuba omunye umbuso ube inkosi yasenyakatho?

⁴ Entwasahlobo ka-33 C.E., uJesu Kristu watshela abafundi bakhe: “Lapho nibona isinengiso esibangela incithakalo, njengoba kwakhulunywa ngaso ngoDaniyeli umprofethi, simi endaweni engcwele, . . . khona-ke labo abaseJudiya mabaqale ukubalekela ezintabeni.” (Mathewu 24:15, 16) Ecaphuna uDaniyeli 11:31, uJesu waxwayisa abalandeli bakhe ‘ngesinengiso’ sesikhathi esizayo “esibangela incithakalo.” Lesi siprofetho esihilela inkosi yasenyakatho sashiwo ngemva kweminyaka engaba ngu-195 efile u-Antiochus IV, inkosi yokugcina yaseSiriya eyayikuleso sikhundla. Ngokuqinisekile, kwakuyodingeka omunye umbuso ube inkosi yasenyakatho. Kwakuyoba imuphi?

 5. Ubani owavela njengenkosi yasenyakatho, ethatha isikhundla esasike saphathwa u-Antiochus IV?

⁵ Ingelosi kaJehova uNkulunkulu yabikezela: “Besekuvela esikhundleni sakhe [u-Antiochus IV] oyakudlulisa umthelisi [“embusweni owubukhazikhazi” NW], kepha ngezinsuku eziyingcosana uyakubhujiswa, kungabi ngolaka nangokulwa kodwa.” (Daniyeli 11:20) Lona ‘ovela’ ngale ndlela kwaba umbusi wokuqala waseRoma, u-Octavian, owayaziwa ngokuthi uKesari Awugustu.—Bheka isihloko esithi “Omunye Uyadunyiswa, Omunye Uyadelelwa,” ekhasini 248.

 6. (a) “Umthelisi” wadluliswa nini “embusweni owubukhazikhazi,” futhi kwakubaluleke ngani lokhu? (b) Kungani kungase kuthiwe u-Awugustu akabulawanga ‘ulaka nokulwa’? (c) Inkosi yasenyakatho yashintsha yaba yini?

⁶ Lo ‘mbuso owubukhazikhazi’ ka-Awugustu wawuhlanganisa ‘nezwe elihle’—isifundazwe saseRoma iJudiya. (Daniyeli 11:16) Ngo-2 B.C.E., u-Awugustu wathumela “umthelisi” ngokukhipha umyalo wokuba abantu babhaliswe, noma babalwe, mhlawumbe ukuze azi inani labantu ngenjongo yokubakhokhisa izintela nokubabuthela empini. Ngenxa yalo myalo, uJosefa noMariya baya eBetlehema beyobhalisa, okwenza ukuba uJesu azalelwe kuleyo ndawo eyayibikezelwe. (Mika 5:2; Mathewu 2:1-12) Ngo-August 14 C.E.—‘ngezinsuku eziyingcosana,’ noma kungakabiphi ekhiphe umyalo wokuba abantu babhalise—u-Awugustu wafa eneminyaka engu-76, engabulawa ‘ulaka’ lwababulali noma ‘kulwiwa,’ kodwa ebulawa ukugula. Inkosi yasenyakatho yayisishintshile ngempela! Le nkosi kwase kunguMbuso WaseRoma umelelwe ababusi bawo.

“KUVELA ODELELEKILEYO”

 7, 8. (a) Ubani owavela esikhundleni sika-Awugustu njengenkosi yasenyakatho? (b) Kungani owalandela uKesari Awugustu bamnika “udumo lobukhosi” bengathandi?

⁷ Iqhubeka nalesi siprofetho, ingelosi yathi: “Esikhundleni sakhe [u-Awugustu] kuyakuvela odelelekileyo abangamnikanga udumo lobukhosi; uyakufika ngesikhathi sokuthula, athathe umbuso ngobushelezi. Ngengalo yesifufula bayakukhukhulwa ebusweni bakhe, babhujiswe, yebo, nesikhulu sesivumelwano.”—Daniyeli 11:21, 22.

⁸ Lona “odelelekileyo” kwakunguTiberiyu Kesari, indodana kaLivia, inkosikazi yesithathu ka-Awugustu. (Bheka isihloko esithi “Omunye Uyadunyiswa, Omunye Uyadelelwa,” ekhasini 248.) U-Awugustu wayeyizonda le ndodana yakhe yokutholwa ngenxa yezimfanelo zayo ezimbi futhi engafuni ukuba ibe uKesari olandelayo. Bayinika “udumo lobukhosi” bengathandi ngemva kokuba bonke abanye ababengase balandele sebefile. U-Awugustu wathatha uTiberiyu njengengane yakhe yokutholwa ngo-4 C.E. futhi wamenza indlalifa yesihlalo sobukhosi. Ngemva kokufa kuka-Awugustu, uTiberiyu oneminyaka engu-54 ubudala—odelelekileyo—‘wavela,’ wathatha izintambo njengombusi waseRoma nenkosi yasenyakatho.

 9. UTiberiyu ‘wawuthatha’ kanjani “umbuso ngobushelezi”?

⁹ I-New Encyclopædia Britannica, ithi: “UTiberiyu wadlala ngeSigele wenqaba ukuba simbeke njengombusi kuze kudlule isikhathi esingangenyanga [ngemva kokufa kuka-Awugustu].” Watshela iSigele ukuthi akekho omunye ngaphandle kuka-Awugustu owayekwazi ukuthwala umthwalo wokubusa uMbuso WaseRoma, futhi wasicela ukuba senze uMbuso uphinde ube yi-republic, ngokuba singaliniki umuntu oyedwa lelo gunya kodwa silinike isigungu samadoda. “Njengoba sasingenakulokotha samukele akushoyo,” kubhala isazi-mlando uWill Durant, “iSigele samncenga waze wagcina evumile ukuthatha izintambo.” UDurant wanezela: “Kwakuyizinkani zababili. UTiberiyu wayefuna ukuphatha umbuso, ukube kwakungenjalo wayeyoyithola indledlana yokukugwema; iSigele sasimesaba futhi simzonda, kodwa sasingeke silokothe siphinde simise i-republic efuze eyakudala, eyayiphethwe izinhlangano zomphakathi ngegama nje.” Ngaleyo ndlela, uTiberiyu ‘wathatha umbuso ngobushelezi.’

10. ‘Izingalo zesifufula zabhujiswa’ kanjani?

¹⁰ “Ngengalo yesifufula”—amabutho emibuso engomakhelwane—ingelosi yathi: ‘Ayokhukhulwa abhujiswe.’ Ngesikhathi uTiberiyu eba inkosi yasenyakatho, umshana wakhe uGermanicus Kesari wayengumkhuzi wamabutho aseRoma eMfuleni iRhine. Ngo-15 C.E., uGermanicus wahola amabutho akhe wahlasela iqhawe elingumJalimane u-Arminius, waphumelela ngezinga elithile. Kodwa lokhu kunqoba okungatheni kwamlahlekisela izinto eziningi, futhi ngemva kwalokho uTiberiyu wayeka ukulwa eJalimane. Kunalokho, ngokugqugquzela impi yombango, wazama ukwenza izizwe ezincane zaseJalimane ukuba zingabumbani. UTiberiyu wayethanda inqubo yokuvimba izitha ukuba zingahlaseli futhi wagxila ekuqiniseni imingcele. Le ndlela yaphumelela kahle. Ngale ndlela ‘izingalo zesikhukhula’ zakwazi ukulawuleka futhi ‘zabhujiswa.’

11. ‘Sabhujiswa kanjani isikhulu sesivumelwano’?

¹¹ ‘Kwabhujiswa nesikhulu sesivumelwano’ uJehova uNkulunkulu ayesenze no-Abrahama sokubusiswa kwayo yonke imindeni yomhlaba. UJesu Kristu wayeyiNzalo ka-Abrahama eyayithenjiswe kuleso sivumelwano. (Genesise 22:18; Galathiya 3:16) Ngo-Nisan 14, 33 C.E., uJesu wama phambi kukaPontiyu Pilatu esigodlweni sombusi waseRoma eJerusalema. Abapristi abangamaJuda babemangalele uJesu ngokuvukela umbusi. Kodwa uJesu watshela uPilatu: “Umbuso wami awuyona ingxenye yalelizwe. . . . Umbuso wami awuveli kulomthombo.” Ukuze lo mbusi waseRoma angamkhululi uJesu ongenacala, amaJuda amemeza: “Uma umkhulula lomuntu, awuyena umngane kaKesari. Wonke umuntu ozenza inkosi ukhuluma ngokumelene noKesari.” Ngemva kokuba esethé uJesu makabulawe, athi: “Asinankosi ngaphandle kukaKesari.” Ngokomthetho ‘wokona umbusi’ lowo uTiberiyu ayewunwebile ukuze uhlanganise noma ikuphi nje ukwedelelwa kukaKesari, uPilatu wanikela uJesu ukuba ‘abhujiswe,’ noma abethelwe esigxotsheni sokuhlushwa.—Johane 18:36; 19:12-16; Marku 15:14-20.

UMBUSI ONONYA ‘UCEBA AMACEBO’

12. (a) Obani abavumelana noTiberiyu? (b) Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba uTiberiyu ‘abe namandla enesizwe esincane nje’?

¹² Isaprofetha ngaye uTiberiyu, ingelosi yathi: “Emva kokuvumelana naye uyakusebenza ngenkohliso, ngokuba uyakukhuphuka, abe namandla enesizwe esincane nje.” (Daniyeli 11:23) ISigele SaseRoma ‘sasivumelene’ noTiberiyu ngokusemthethweni, futhi naye wayethembele kuso. Kodwa wayeyiqili, eqinisweni ‘waba namandla enesizwe esincane nje.’ Leso sizwe esincane kwakungabaQaphi Bombusi waseRoma, ababekanise eduze kwezindonga zaseRoma. Ukuba seduze kwabo kwakusesabisa iSigele futhi kwasiza uTiberiyu ukuba akwazi ukuthiba abantu bangalivukeli igunya lakhe. Ngakho, ngabaqaphi abangaba ngu-10 000, uTiberiyu wazigcina enamandla.

13. UTiberiyu wabadlula ngayiphi indlela oyisemkhulu?

¹³ Ingelosi yanezela iprofetha: “Ngesikhathi sokuthula uyakusukela izindawo ezinonileyo zesifunda, akwenze okungenziwanga ngoyise nangoyisemkhulu: uyakuhlakaza phakathi kwabo impango, nengcugco, nempahla, acebe amacebo ngezinqaba kube yisikhathi.” (Daniyeli 11:24) UTiberiyu wayengathembi muntu, futhi ngesikhathi sokubusa kwakhe baningi abantu athi mababulawe. Ikakhulukazi ngenxa yethonya likaSejanus, umphathi wabaQaphi Bombusi, ingxenye yokugcina yokubusa kwakhe yayigcwele ubudlova. Ekugcineni, naye uSejanus wasolwa futhi wabulawa. UTiberiyu wabadlula oyisemkhulu ngokuphatha abantu ngonya.

14. (a) UTiberiyu wayisakaza kanjani “impango, nengcugco, nempahla” kuzo zonke izifundazwe zaseRoma? (b) UTiberiyu wayebhekwa kanjani ngesikhathi efa?

¹⁴ Nokho, uTiberiyu wasakaza “impango, nengcugco, nempahla” kuzo zonke izifundazwe zaseRoma. Lapho efa, bonke abantu ayebabusa babejabulela ukuchuma. Izintela zaziphansi futhi wayenesandla esivulekile kulabo ababesezindaweni ezibhekene nobunzima. Uma amasosha noma izikhulu zicindezela othile noma zenza umkhonyovu othile, zazingalindela isijeziso esivela kumbusi. Ukuwubamba uqine umbuso kwenza kwaba nokulondeka emphakathini, isimiso esithuthukisiwe sezokuxhumana sona sasiza kwezohwebo. UTiberiyu waqikelela ukuthi izindaba zisingathwa ngokungakhethi nangokuhleleka ngaphakathi nangaphandle kweRoma. Imithetho yenziwa ngcono, kanti izimiso zokuziphatha nezenhlalo zathuthukiswa ukuqhutshekiselwa phambili kwezinguquko ezaziqalwe u-Awugustu Kesari. Kodwa uTiberiyu ‘waceba amacebo,’ kangangokuba isazi-mlando esingumRoma uTacitus samchaza ngokuthi uyindoda eyixoki, engumpetha wokuzenzisa. Lapho efa ngo-March 37 C.E., uTiberiyu wayebhekwa njengombusi ononya.

15. Zaziyihambela kanjani izinto iRoma ekupheleni kwekhulu lokuqala nasekuqaleni kwekhulu lesibili C.E.?

¹⁵ Abalandela uTiberiyu ababa sesikhundleni senkosi yasenyakatho bahlanganisa uGaius Caesar (Caligula), uClaudius I, uNero, uVespasian, uTitus, uDomitian, uNerva, uTrajan noHadrian. I-New Encyclopædia Britannica ithi: “Abaningi kulabo abalandela u-Awugustu baqhubeka nezinqubo zakhe zokuphatha nohlelo lokwakha, nakuba babengaqhamuki nezinto ezintsha futhi beziqhenya.” Yona le ncwadi iqhubeka ithi: “Ngasekupheleni kwekhulu lokuqala nelesibili iRoma yayiseqophelweni eliphezulu ngobuhle nangenani labantu bakhona.” Nakuba iRoma yayinezinkingana ezithile emingceleni yombuso ngalesi sikhathi, ukungqubuzana okwakubikezelwe phakathi kwayo nenkosi yaseningizimu kwaze kwenzeka ngekhulu lesithathu C.E.

IMELANA NENKOSI YASENINGIZIMU

16, 17. (a) Ubani owaba sesikhundleni sokuba inkosi yasenyakatho okubhekiselwa kuye kuDaniyeli 11:25? (b) Ubani owaba sesikhundleni sokuba inkosi yaseningizimu, futhi kwenzeka kanjani lokhu?

¹⁶ Ingelosi kaNkulunkulu yaqhubeka nesiprofetho, ithi: ‘Inkosi yasenyakatho iyakuvusela inkosi yaseningizimu amandla ayo nesibindi sayo ngempi enkulu, inkosi yaseningizimu ilwe ukulwa okukhulu, inempi enkulu enamandla impela; kepha inkosi yasenyakatho ayiyikuma, ngokuba bayakuceba amacebo ngayo. Abadla ukudla kwayo okumnandi bayakuyibhubhisa, impi yayo ikhukhulwe; abaningi bayakuwa phansi begwaziwe.’—Daniyeli 11:25, 26.

¹⁷ Cishe ngemva kweminyaka engu-300 u-Octavian enze iGibithe laba isifundazwe saseRoma, uMbusi WaseRoma u-Aurelian wangena esikhundleni sokuba yinkosi yasenyakatho. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, iNdlovukazi uSeptimia Zenobia wasePalmyra, ikoloni lamaRoma, yayisesikhundleni sokuba yinkosi yaseningizimu.a (Bheka isihloko esithi “UZenobia—INdlovukazi Eyiqhawe YasePalmyra,” ekhasini 252.) Ibutho lasePalmyra lathatha iGibithe ngo-269 C.E. lishaya sengathi lizolilondolozela iRoma. UZenobia wayefuna ukwenza iPalmyra ibe idolobha elikhulu empumalanga futhi efuna ukubusa izifundazwe zaseRoma ezisempumalanga. Ethuswe isifiso sikaZenobia sokuvelela, u-Aurelian wavusa ‘amandla akhe nesibindi sakhe’ ukuze ayomhlasela.

18. Waba yini umphumela wengxabano phakathi koMbusi u-Aurelian, inkosi yasenyakatho, neNdlovukazi uZenobia, inkosi yaseningizimu?

¹⁸ Njengombuso owawubusa, uholwa uZenobia, le nkosi yaseningizimu ‘yalwa’ nenkosi yasenyakatho ‘impi enkulu enamandla impela’ ngaphansi kojenene ababili uZabdas noZabbai. Kodwa u-Aurelian walithatha iGibithe wabe eseyohlasela e-Asia Minor naseSiriya. UZenobia wehlulwa e-Emesa (manje eyiHoms), ngemva nje kwalokho wabalekela ePalmyra. Lapho u-Aurelian evimbezela lelo dolobha, uZenobia walivikela ngobuqhawe kodwa wehluleka. Yena nendodana yakhe babaleka balibhekisa ngasePheresiya, kodwa babanjwa amaRoma eMfuleni i-Ewufrathe. Abantu basePalmyra banikela ngedolobha labo ngo-272 C.E. U-Aurelian akambulalanga uZenobia, wakhangisa ngaye njengempango odwendweni lwakhe lokunqoba enqamula elaseRoma ngo-274 C.E. Konke ukuphila kwakhe wakuchitha eRoma njengenkosikazi yaseRoma.

19. Wawa kanjani u-Aurelian ‘ngenxa yamacebo ayecetshelwe wona’?

¹⁹ U-Aurelian naye ‘akamanga, ngenxa yamacebo ayecetshelwe wona.’ Ngo-275 C.E., waphuma inqina eyohlasela abasePheresiya. Lapho eseThrace elindele ukuwela izinsungubezi aye e-Asia Minor, labo ‘ababedla ukudla kwakhe’ bamakhela amacebo futhi ‘bambhubhisa.’ Wayezokwenza unobhala wakhe u-Eros alandise ngemikhonyovu ethile. Kodwa u-Eros ngobuqili wenza uhlu lwamagama ezikhulu ezithile ezazizobulawa. Lezi zikhulu zathi zingalubona lolu hlu, zakha ugobe lokubulala u-Aurelian.

20. “Impi” yenkosi yasenyakatho ‘yakhukhulwa’ kanjani?

²⁰ Umsebenzi wenkosi yasenyakatho awuphelanga ngokufa koMbusi u-Aurelian. Kwalandela nabanye ababusi baseRoma. Kwaba khona umbusi wasentshonalanga nowasempumalanga okwesikhathi esithile. Ngaphansi kwabo “impi” yenkosi yasenyakatho ‘yakhukhulwa,’ noma ‘yahlakazwa,’b abaningi ‘bawa phansi begwaziwe’ ngenxa yokuhlasela kwezizwe zamaJalimane zasenyakatho. AmaJalimane afohla emingceleni yaseRoma ngekhulu lesine C.E. Ukuhlasela kwaqhubeka ngokuphindaphindiwe. Ngo-476 C.E., umholi waseJalimane u-Odoacer wamsusa umbusi wokugcina owayebusa eRoma. Ekuqaleni kwekhulu lesithupha, uMbuso WaseRoma entshonalanga wawusuqedwe nyá, kwase kubusa amakhosi aseJalimane eBrithani, eGaul, e-Italy, eNyakatho Afrika naseSpain. Ingxenye esempumalanga yalo mbuso yaba khona kwaze kwaba ikhulu le-15.

UMBUSO OMKHULU UYAHLUKANA

21, 22. Yiziphi izinguquko ezalethwa uConstantine ngekhulu lesine C.E.?

²¹ Ngaphandle kokunikeza imininingwane engadingekile ngokuwa koMbuso WaseRoma, okwaqhubeka amakhulu eminyaka, ingelosi kaJehova yaqhubeka ibikezela okunye ukuchitha okwakuzokwenziwa inkosi yasenyakatho neyaseningizimu. Nokho, ukubukeza kafushane ezinye izigigaba ezenzeka eMbusweni WaseRoma kuzosisiza sikwazi ukuthola ukuthi la makhosi ayizimbangi aba ngobani kamuva.

²² Ngekhulu lesine, uMbusi WaseRoma uConstantine wenza uMbuso wamukela ubuKristu bezihlubuki. Ngo-325 C.E. waze wabiza umkhandlu wesonto waseNicaea, e-Asia Minor, futhi wengamela kuwo. Kamuva, uConstantine wathutha ihlalankosi eRoma laya eByzantium, noma eConstantinople, lelo dolobha walenza laba inhloko-dolobha yakhe entsha. UMbuso WaseRoma waqhubeka uphethwe umbusi oyedwa kwaze kwafa uMbusi uTheodosius I, ngo-January 17, 395 C.E.

23. (a) Yikuphi ukuhlukana koMbuso WaseRoma okwenzeka ngemva kokufa kukaTheodosius? (b) UMbuso WaseMpumalanga waphela nini? (c) Ubani owabusa iGibithe ngo-1517?

²³ Ngemva kokufa kukaTheodosius, uMbuso WaseRoma wahlukaniselwa amadodana akhe. UHonorius wathola ingxenye esentshonalanga, u-Arcadius wathola esempumalanga, inhloko-dolobha yakhe kuyiConstantinople. IBrithani, iGaul, i-Italy, iSpain neNyakatho Afrika kwakuphakathi kwezifundazwe ezisengxenyeni esentshonalanga. IMakedoniya, iThrace, i-Asia Minor, iSiriya neGibithe kwakuyizifundazwe ezisengxenyeni esempumalanga. Ngo-642 C.E., inhloko-dolobha yaseGibithe, i-Alexandria, yawela kumaSaracen (ama-Arabhu), futhi iGibithe laba isifundazwe samaSulumane. Ngo-January 1449, uConstantine XI waba umbusi wokugcina wasempumalanga. Abantu baseTurkey, beholwa uSultan Mehmed II, bathatha iConstantinople ngo-May 29, 1453, bawuqeda uMbuso WaseMpumalanga Roma. Ngonyaka ka-1517 iGibithe laba isifundazwe saseTurkey. Nokho, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi leli zwe elalingelenkosi yaseningizimu yasendulo lalisazobuswa omunye umbuso wasentshonalanga.

24, 25. (a) Ngokwezinye izazi-mlando, waqala kanjani uMbuso WaseRoma Ongcwele? (b) Kwagcina kwenzekeni esiqwini esithi “mbusi” soMbuso WaseRoma Ongcwele?

²⁴ Ohlangothini olusentshonalanga loMbuso WaseRoma kwaba khona ababhishobhi baseRoma abangamaKatolika, ikakhulukazi uPapa Leo I, owaduma ngokulenza lizwakale igunya lopapa ngekhulu lesihlanu C.E. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, upapa wambeka yena mathupha umbusi wengxenye esentshonalanga. Lokhu kwenzeka eRoma ngosuku lukaKhisimusi ngo-800 C.E., ngesikhathi uPapa uLeo III ebeka iNkosi uCharles (Charlemagne) engumFrank (abantu baseNtshonalanga Jalimane yasendulo) njengombusi woMbuso omusha waseNtshonalanga Roma. Lokhu kubekwa kwalo mbusi kwabuyisa ukubusa kwababusi eRoma, futhi ngokusho kwezinye izazi-mlando, kwaba ukuqala koMbuso WaseRoma Ongcwele. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi kuqhubeke kwaba khona uMbuso WaseMpumalanga noMbuso WaseRoma Ongcwele entshonalanga, yomibili eyayithi ingeyobuKristu.

²⁵ Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, abalandela uCharlemagne babonakala bengababusi abangenamsebenzi. Isikhundla sombusi sake sahlala singaphethwe muntu okwesikhashana. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, inkosi yaseJalimane u-Otto I yakwazi ukuthatha ingxenye enkulu ye-Italy esenyakatho nephakathi. Yazimisa njengenkosi yase-Italy. Ngo-February 2, 962 C.E., uPapa John XII wabeka u-Otto I njengombusi woMbuso WaseRoma Ongcwele. Inhloko-dolobha yawo yayiseJalimane, ababusi kanye nabantu abaningi ababebabusa babengamaJalimane. Ngemva kwamakhulu amahlanu eminyaka umndeni wase-Austria wakwaHapsburg wathola isiqu esithi “mbusi” futhi saba ngesawo iminyaka eminingi kweyayisasalele uMbuso WaseRoma Ongcwele.

AMAKHOSI AMABILI APHINDE ABONAKALA NGOKUCACILE

26. (a) Yini engase ishiwo ngokuphela koMbuso WaseRoma Ongcwele? (b) Ubani owavela njengenkosi yasenyakatho?

²⁶ UNapoléon I wawushaya ngembibizane embi kabi uMbuso WaseRoma Ongcwele lapho enqaba ukuwuqaphela ngemva kokunqoba kwakhe eJalimane ngonyaka ka-1805. Engakwazi ukuvikela isikhundla, uMbusi uFrancis II wesula esikhundleni esiphakeme saseRoma ngo-August 6, 1806, wangena kuhulumeni wezwe lakubo njengombusi wase-Austria. Ngemva kweminyaka engu-1 006, uMbuso WaseRoma Ongcwele—owawusungulwe uLeo III, upapa wamaRoma Katolika noCharlemagne, inkosi engumFrank—waphela. Ngo-1870, iRoma yaba inhloko-dolobha yombuso wase-Italy, eyayisikhululekile ekubusweni iVatican. Ngonyaka olandelayo, kwaqala umbuso waseJalimane ngoWilhelm I ebizwa ngokuthi ukhesari, noma u-kaiser. Ngaleyo ndlela inkosi yezikhathi zanamuhla yasenyakatho—iJalimane—yavela emhlabeni.

27. (a) Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba iGibithe libe ngaphansi kweBrithani? (b) Ubani owangena esikhundleni sokuba inkosi yaseningizimu?

²⁷ Kodwa yaba ngubani inkosi yaseningizimu yezikhathi zanamuhla? Umlando ubonisa ukuthi iBrithani yathola amandla okubusa ngekhulu le-17. Efuna ukuphazamisa imizila yohwebo yeBrithani, uNapoléon I wanqoba iGibithe ngo-1798. Kwabe sekusuka impi, umbimbi lweBrithani neTurkey lwaphoqa amaFulentshi ukuba aphume eGibithe, eyayiyinkosi yaseningizimu ekuqaleni kwalo mshuduliswano. Phakathi nekhulu leminyaka elalandela, landa ithonya leBrithani eGibithe. Ngemva kuka-1882, iGibithe empeleni lase lincike ezweni laseBrithani. Lapho kugqashuka iMpi Yezwe I ngo-1914, iGibithe kwase kungeleTurkey futhi libuswa i-khedive, noma ibamba. Nokho, ngemva kokuba iTurkey icheme neJalimane kuleyo mpi, iBrithani yayikhipha esikhundleni i-khedive futhi yenza iGibithe laba ngaphansi kwayo. Njengoba izwe laseBrithani nelase-United States of America ayakha izibopho kancane kancane, aba uMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika. Womabili, aba inkosi yaseningizimu.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

YINI OYIZUZILE?

• Imuphi umbusi waseRoma owavela kuqala njengenkosi yasenyakatho, futhi wamthumela nini “umthelisi”?

• Ubani owathatha isikhundla sokuba inkosi yasenyakatho ngemva kuka-Awugustu, futhi ‘isikhulu sesivumelwano sabhujiswa’ kanjani?

• Waba yini umphumela wengxabano phakathi kuka-Aurelian njengenkosi yasenyakatho noZenobia njengenkosi yaseningizimu?

• Kwenzekani eMbusweni WaseRoma, futhi yimiphi imibuso eyayisezikhundleni zala makhosi amabili ekupheleni kwekhulu le-19?

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe esisekhasini 248-251]

OMUNYE UYADUNYISWA, OMUNYE UYADELELWA

OMUNYE washintsha i-republic eyayikhungethwe izinxushunxushu yaba umbuso wezwe. Omunye wandisa ingcebo yayo ngokuphindwe izikhathi ezingamashumi amabili eminyakeni engu-23. Omunye wadunyiswa lapho efa, kanti omunye wadelelwa. Laba babusi ababili baseRoma babusa ngesikhathi sokuphila nenkonzo kaJesu. Babengobani? Futhi kungani omunye adunyiswa, omunye wangadunyiswa?

‘WATHOLA IROMA IYIZITINI WAYISHIYA IYIMABULA’

Ngo-44 B.C.E. ngesikhathi kubulawa uJulius Caesar, umzukulu kadadewabo uGaius Octavian wayeneminyaka engu-18 kuphela ubudala. Njengoba ayeyindodana yokutholwa kaJulius Caesar nendlalifa yakhe enkulu, u-Octavian osemncane walibangisa eRoma ngokushesha eyofuna ifa lakhe. Lapho, wanqwamana nesitha esesabekayo—umholi wempi kaCaesar, uMark Antony, owayelindele ukuba abe indlalifa eyinhloko. Ubuqili bezombangazwe nokulwela ukubusa okwalandela, kwathatha iminyaka engu-13.

U-Octavian wavela njengombusi ongaphikiswa woMbuso WaseRoma ngemva kokunqoba amabutho ahlangene endlovukazi yaseGibithe uCleopatra nawesithandwa sakhe uMark Antony (ngo-31 B.C.E.). Ngonyaka olandelayo u-Antony noCleopatra bazibulala, futhi u-Octavian walithatha iGibithe. Zaqedwa kanjalo-ke izinsalela zoMbuso WaseGrisi, iRoma yaba umbuso wezwe.

Ekhumbula ukuthi uJulius Caesar wayebulewe ngenxa yokusebenzisa amandla ngobushiqela, u-Octavian waqikelela ukuba angaliphindi lelo phutha. Ukuze angabacasuli abantu baseRoma ababethanda i-republic, wenza sengathi umbuso wakhe uyi-republic. Wazenqaba iziqu ezithi “nkosi” nesithi “uzwi-lakhe.” Ngaphandle kwalokho, wamemezela nokuthi uhlose ukunikeza iSigele SaseRoma amandla okubusa zonke izifundazwe futhi wathi yena uzozishiya izikhundla ayeziphethe. Leli su lasebenza. ISigele esasijabulile sancenga u-Octavian ukuba angazishiyi izikhundla zakhe futhi aqhubeke ebusa ezinye izifundazwe.

Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngo-January 16, 27 B.C.E., iSigele sanikeza u-Octavian isiqu esithi “Awugustu,” esisho ukuthi “Ophakanyisiwe, Ongcwele.” U-Octavian akasamukelanga nje kuphela lesi siqu kodwa futhi waziqambela kabusha inyanga, wathatha usuku olulodwa ku-February ukuze u-August abe nezinsuku ezilingana no-July, inyanga eyethiwa ngoJulius Caesar. Ngaleyo ndlela, u-Octavian waba umbusi wokuqala eRoma futhi ngemva kwalokho waziwa ngokuthi uKesari Awugustu noma “oPhakeme.” Kamuva wazibiza ngesiqu esithi “pontifex maximus” (umpristi ophakeme), kwathi ngo-2 B.C.E.—unyaka okwazalwa ngawo uJesu—iSigele samnika isiqu esithi Pater Patriae, “uYise Wezwe Lakhe.”

Ngawo lowo nyaka “kwaphuma isinqumo kuKesari Awugustu sokuba wonke umhlaba owakhiwe ubhaliswe; . . . futhi bonke abantu baqala ukuhamba ukuze bayobhaliswa, yilowo nalowo emzini wakubo siqu.” (Luka 2:1-3) Ngenxa yalesi sinqumo, uJesu wazalelwa eBetlehema, kwagcwaliseka isiprofetho seBhayibheli.—Daniyeli 11:20; Mika 5:2.

Uhulumeni owawuphethwe u-Awugustu wawunesilinganiso esithile sokwethembeka nemali inamandla. U-Awugustu wamisa nesimiso seposi esiphumelelayo, wakha imigwaqo namabhuloho. Wahlela kabusha umbutho wezempi, waqoqa imikhumbi yezempi eyayizohlala unomphela, wamisa neqembu lekhethelo lonogada bombuso elalaziwa ngokuthi abaQaphi Bombusi. (Filipi 1:13) Ngaphansi kokwengamela kwakhe, ababhali abanjengoVirgil noHorace bathuthuka, abaqophi bemifanekiso benza imisebenzi yobunyoninco, manje ebizwa ngokuthi iseqophelweni eliphezulu. U-Awugustu waqedela izakhiwo ezazishiywe uJulius Caesar futhi wavuselela amathempeli amaningi. I-Pax Romana (“Ukuthula KwaseRoma”) ayisungula yahlala iminyaka engaphezu kuka-200. Ngo-August 19, 14 C.E., eneminyaka engu-76, u-Awugustu wafa futhi ngemva kwalokho wenziwa unkulunkulu.

U-Awugustu wayeqhosha ngokuthi yena ‘wayethole iRoma iyizitini wayishiya iyimabula.’ Engafuni ukuba iRoma iphindele ezinsukwini ezazigcwele izinxushunxushu ze-republic yakudala, wayehlose ukucija umbusi olandelayo. Kodwa kuncane ayengakwenza ngowayezomlandela. Umshana wakhe, abazukulu bakhe ababili, umkhwenyana wakwakhe nendodana yakhe yokutholwa bonke base beshonile, kusele indodana yakhe yokutholwa kuphela, uTiberiyu, eyayizothatha izintambo.

“ODELELEKILEYO”

Ingakapheli inyanga eshonile u-Awugustu, iSigele SaseRoma sabeka uTiberiyu oneminyaka engu-54 ubudala waba umbusi. UTiberiyu waphila futhi wabusa kwaze kwaba u-March 37 C.E. Ngakho, wayengumbusi waseRoma ngesikhathi senkonzo kaJesu yasobala.

Njengombusi, uTiberiyu wayenezimfanelo ezinhle nezimbi. Phakathi kwezinhle, wayengathandi ukuchitha imali ezintweni zokunethezeka. Ngenxa yalokho, umbuso wachuma futhi waba nezimali zokusiza lapho kunezinhlekelele nemishophi. Kuyancomeka ukuthi uTiberiyu wayezibheka njengomuntu nje, wazinqaba iziqu eziningi zokumdumisa futhi ukukhulekela umbusi wayekubhekisa ku-Awugustu hhayi kuye. Akazange aqambe inyanga ngaye njengoba kwakwenze u-Awugustu noJulius Caesar, engabavumelanga nabanye ukuba bamdumise kanjalo.

Kodwa izimfanelo ezimbi zikaTiberiyu zazizedlula ezinhle. Wayengabathembi ngokweqile abantu futhi ezenzisa lapho esebenzelana nabo, baningi abantu athi mababulawe ngesikhathi sokubusa kwakhe—abaningi babantu ababengabangane bakhe bephakathi kwezisulu. Wanweba umthetho we-lèse-majesté (wokona umbusi) ukuze uhlanganise namagama amhlambalazayo, ngalé kwezenzo zokuvukela umbuso. Mhlawumbe ngenxa yalo mthetho, amaJuda acindezela uMbusi wesifundazwe saseRoma uPontiyu Pilatu ukuba athi uJesu makabulawe.—Johane 19:12-16.

UTiberiyu wabeka abaQaphi Bombusi abaningi eduze kwaseRoma ngokwakha amakamu ayizinqaba enyakatho yezindonga zomuzi. Ukuba khona kwabaQaphi kwasesabisa iSigele SaseRoma, esasiwusongo ekubuseni kwakhe, futhi kwanqanda ubudlova obabungase benziwe abantu. UTiberiyu wakhuthaza nokumpimpana, futhi ingxenye yokugcina yokubusa kwakhe yayinobudlova.

Ngesikhathi efa, uTiberiyu wayebhekwa njengombusi ononya. Lapho efa, amaRoma ajabula futhi iSigele senqaba ukumenza unkulunkulu. Ngenxa yalezi zizathu nezinye, sisibona sigcwaliseka kuTiberiyu isiprofetho esithi kuyakuvela “odelelekileyo” abe “inkosi yasenyakatho.”—Daniyeli 11:15, 21.

YINI OYIZUZILE?

• Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba u-Octavian abe umbusi wokuqala eRoma?

• Yini engase ishiwo ngezinto ezafezwa uhulumeni ka-Awugustu?

• Yiziphi izimfanelo zikaTiberiyu ezinhle nezimbi?

• Isiprofetho esiphathelene ‘nodelelekileyo’ sagcwaliseka kanjani kuTiberiyu?

[Isithombe]

UTiberiyu

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 252-255]

UZENOBIA—INDLOVUKAZI EYIQHAWE YASEPALMYRA

“WAYENSUNDU ngebala . . . Amazinyo akhe emhlophe qwá, amehlo akhe amakhulu amnyama eqhansa umlilo ongavamile, ethanjiswa umoya wakhe omnene okhangayo. Iphimbo lakhe lalinamandla lilolongekile. Ukuqonda kwakhe okufuze okwendoda kwakwenziwa kube namandla ukufunda. Wayesazi isiLatini, futhi eshelela ngendlela efanayo nasolimini lwaseGrisi, lwaseSiriya nasezilimini zaseGibithe.” Isazi-mlando u-Edward Gibbon samthopha kanjalo uZenobia—indlovukazi eyiqhawe yomuzi wasePalmyra eSiriya.

Umyeni kaZenobia kwakuyisikhulu sasePalmyra u-Odaenathus, owayegidlabezwe isikhundla sokuba inxusa laseRoma ngo-258 C.E. ngoba elwe ngempumelelo nePheresiya egameni loMbuso WaseRoma. Eminyakeni emibili kamuva, u-Odaenathus wathola isiqu esithi corrector totius Orientis (umbusi walo lonke elaseMpumalanga) kumbusi waseRoma uGallienus. Wasithola ngoba ebongwa ngokunqoba kwakhe inkosi yasePheresiya uShāpūr I. U-Odaenathus wagcina esezinike isiqu esithi “inkosi yamakhosi.” Lokhu kuphumelela kuka-Odaenathus ngokwezinga elikhulu kungase kube ngenxa yesibindi nokukhalipha kukaZenobia.

UZENOBIA UFISA UKWAKHA UMBUSO

Ngo-267 C.E., esesemvuthwandaba womsebenzi wakhe, u-Odaenathus nendlalifa yakhe babulawa. UZenobia wathatha isikhundla somyeni wakhe ngoba indodana yakhe yayisencane kakhulu ukuba isithathe. Njengoba ayeyisiphalaphala, enomoya wokuvelela, ekwazi ukuqondisa, ekujwayele ukukhankasa nomyeni wakhe futhi ezazi kahle izilimi eziningi, wakwazi ukwenza abantu ayebabusa bamhloniphe futhi bamsekele. UZenobia wayekuthanda ukufunda futhi wayesebenzelana nezihlakaniphi. Omunye wabeluleki bakhe kwakuyisazi sefilosofi esiyisikhulumi esiyigagu uCassius Longinus—okuthiwa ‘wayengumtapo wolwazi nenqolobane uqobo lwayo.’ Encwadini ethi Palmyra and Its Empire—Zenobia’s Revolt Against Rome, umlobi uRichard Stoneman uyaphawula: “Phakathi neminyaka emihlanu kufe u-Odaenathus . . . , uZenobia wayesenze abantu bakhe bamqaphela njengendlovukazi yaseMpumalanga.”

Ngapha kombuso kaZenobia kwakunePheresiya, leyo yena nomyeni wakhe ababeyigogile, kanti ngapha kwakuneRoma eyayiwa. Ngokuqondene nezimo eMbusweni WaseRoma ngaleso sikhathi, isazi-mlando uJ. M. Roberts sithi: “Ikhulu lesithathu leminyaka . . . laliyisikhathi esibi eRoma emingceleni esempumalanga nesentshonalanga ngokufanayo, kanti ekhaya kwase kuqale inkathi entsha yempi yombango nokubangwa kwezikhundla. Kwase kubuse ababusi abangu-22 ngokudedelana (ngaphandle kwababezishaya ababusi).” Ngakolunye uhlangothi, indlovukazi yaseSiriya yayingumbusi ongangatshazwa embusweni wayo. “Njengoba yayiqikelela ukuthi le mibuso emibili [iPheresiya neRoma] iyalawuleka,” kuphawula uStoneman, “yayingafisa ukwakha owesithathu owawuzoyibusa yomibili.”

Ithuba lokuba uZenobia enabise amandla obukhosi bakhe lavela ngo-269 C.E. lapho eGibithe kuvela umuntu owayefuna ukuntshontsha ubukhosi baseRoma. Ibutho likaZenobia laphuthuma eGibithe, labulala lowo mvukeli labe selithatha izwe. Njengoba azibeka yena waba indlovukazi yaseGibithe, wenza izinhlamvu zemali ezinegama lakhe. Manje umbuso wakhe omusha wawususuka emfuleni iNayile uye emfuleni i-Ewufrathe. Kwakungalesi sikhathi sokuphila kwakhe lapho uZenobia aba sesikhundleni ‘senkosi yaseningizimu.’—Daniyeli 11:25, 26.

IKOMKHULU LIKAZENOBIA

UZenobia waqinisa futhi wahlobisa ikomkhulu lakhe, iPalmyra, kangangokuba laba phakathi kwamadolobha amakhudlwana aseRoma. Lalinabantu abalinganiselwa ngaphezu kuka-150 000. Izakhiwo zomphakathi eziwubukhazikhazi, amathempeli, izingadi, izinsika nezakhiwo eziyisikhumbuzo kwakugcwele ePalmyra, idolobha elalibiyelwe ngezindonga okuthiwa zazingamakhilomitha angu-21 ubude. Imipheme eyakhiwe ngohide lwezinsika zaseKorinte ezazingamamitha angaphezu kuka-15 ubude—ezingaba ngu-1 500—yayakhiwe yalandelana emgwaqweni omkhulu. Kuleli dolobha kwakugcwele imifanekiso ebunjiwe ephelele neyesingenhla yamaqhawe nabazuzisi bomphakathi abayizingquphunga. Ngo-271 C.E., uZenobia wakha umfanekiso wakhe nowomyeni wakhe owayengasekho.

IThempeli Lelanga lalingesinye sezakhiwo zikanokusho ePalmyra futhi akungabazeki ukuthi kwezenkolo, lalidla ubhedu kulelo dolobha. Kungenzeka ukuthi noZenobia wayekhulekela isithixo esasihlobene nonkulunkulu welanga. Kodwa iSiriya yekhulu lesithathu yayinezinkolo eziningi. Embusweni kaZenobia kwakunabathi bangamaKristu, amaJuda nabakhulekeli belanga nenyanga. Wayezibheka kanjani lezi zinhlobo ezihlukahlukene zokukhulekela? Umbhali uStoneman uyaphawula: “Umbusi ohlakaniphile ngeke awashaye indiva amasiko abonakala ebafanele abantu bakhe. . . . Kwakucatshangwa ukuthi onkulunkulu . . . babesohlangothini lwePalmyra.” Kubonakala sengathi uZenobia wayengazibandlululi izinkolo.

UZenobia wayeyintandokazi yabaningi ngenxa yobuntu bakhe obuhle. Okubaluleke nakakhulu, yindima yakhe ekumeleleni umbuso wezombangazwe owabikezelwa esiprofethweni sikaDaniyeli. Kodwa ukubusa kwakhe akubanga ngaphezu kweminyaka emihlanu. UMbusi WaseRoma u-Aurelian wahlula uZenobia ngo-272 C.E. futhi wavala ngehlahla ePalmyra. UZenobia waboniswa uzwela. Kuthiwa washada nelungu lesigele saseRoma futhi sengathi wachitha ukuphila kwakhe konke ehlala ngasese endaweni ethile.

YINI OYIZUZILE?

• Buye bachazwa kanjani ubuntu bukaZenobia?

• Yiziphi ezinye zezinto ezafezwa uZenobia?

• UZenobia wayeyibheka kanjani inkolo?

[Isithombe]

INdlovukazi uZenobia ikhuluma namasosha ayo

[Ishadi/Izithombe ekhasini 246]

AMAKHOSI AKUDANIYELI 11:20-26

INkosi YaseNyakatho INkosi YaseNingizimu

Daniyeli 11:20 U-Awugustu

Daniyeli 11:21-24 UTiberiyu

Daniyeli 11:25, 26 U-Aurelian INdlovukazi uZenobia

[Isithombe]

UTiberiyu

[Isithombe]

U-Aurelian

[Isithombe]

Umfanekiso kaCharlemagne

[Isithombe]

U-Awugustu

[Isithombe]

Umkhumbi wempi waseBrithani wekhulu le-17

[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi 233]

[Isithombe ekhasini 233]

U-Awugustu

[Isithombe ekhasini 234]

UTiberiyu

[Isithombe ekhasini 235]

Ngenxa yomyalo ka-Awugustu, uJosefa noMariya bahamba baya eBetlehema

[Isithombe ekhasini 237]

Njengoba kwakubikezelwe, uJesu ‘wabhujiswa’ lapho efa

[Isithombe ekhasini 245]

1. UCharlemagne 2. UNapoléon I 3. UWilhelm I 4. Amasosha aseJalimane, ngeMpi Yezwe I