Traditionally, Gudit's dynasty reigned until 1137 when they were overthrown or conquered by Mara Takla Haymanot, with traditions differing on whether he was an Aksumite general or relative of Gudit, who established the Zagwe dynasty. In Ethiopia tradition holds that prior to his accession to the throne, Gebre Meskel Lalibela was guided by Christ on a tour of Jerusalem, and instructed to build a second Jerusalem in Ethiopia. Accordingly this led to the commissioning of eleven rock-hewn churches outside the capital in Roha, which was renamed Lalibela in his honour, and quickly became a holy city in Ethiopian Christianity. According to oral traditions, Motolomi Sato of the Wolaita-Mala dynasty established the Kingdom of Damot in the 13th century, locally known as the Kingdom of Wolaita, which followed a traditional religion. The history continues to be murky, however regional hegemony was contested between the Kingdom of Damot, the Zagwe, and the Sultanate of Shewa. Damot likely drew its economic power from gold production, which was exported to Zeila. The Zagwe and Shewa were forced into a conditional alliance to counter Damot, with Shewa at times forced to pay tribute to the pagans. In the 13th century the Ajuran clan established the Ajuran Sultanate on the eastern coast of the Horn and expanded, conquering the Tunni and vassalising Mogadishu, coming to dominate the Indian Ocean trade, while the Warsangali clan formed the Warsangali Sultanate on the Horn's north-eastern coast.
trAdiTionally, GUDit's dYnAsty reiGneD unTil 1137 whEn tHeY WeRE oVerthrowN or conquerEd bY mARa TaKLA hayManOT, wiTh TRaditions DifferiNg ON whethEr he wAs aN aKSumite gEneral or RElative OF GUdit, who established tHe zaGwE dynAsty. in eThIopia TradiTioN holds tHaT Prior TO hiS ACcessIon To tHe thRonE, GEBRE MESkel lAlibElA Was guiDeD By chrisT on a toUR of JeRusALEM, AND instrUcted tO BuiLD a Second JeRusaLem in etHIoPiA. accordiNglY this led To the COMmissiONiNg oF eleven rocK-Hewn ChuRcheS OutsIde THe caPital in Roha, whicH wAs renameD LAlIBEla IN his HONouR, And QuIcKly becAme A HoLY CItY in EthiopIaN cHRiStiANiTy. According tO OrAl trAdiTions, MotOloMI saTo of THE wolAita-MaLA dynasty estaBlIShEd tHe Kingdom OF damoT in thE 13tH ceNtury, loCaLlY knOWN aS the KIngdOM oF wolaItA, whiCh FOllowED a TraDItIonAl reliGIOn. THe HisTORy CoNtinueS To be Murky, hOwEver reGionAl hegEmony Was COntEStEd betweeN ThE kIngDom of DAmoT, ThE zAGwe, aNd the sULtAnaTe OF shEwa. DaMot liKely DRew its Economic Power from gold produCtIon, Which was expoRTeD to Zeila. the zagwe And SHewA were foRceD INtO a CoNdiTiONAl aLlIAnCe to cOunter damot, wItH sHewA aT tImEs ForcEd to pay triBute to the pagaNS. In the 13th CenturY thE Ajuran CLan estaBliShed thE AJuran sUltanAtE on tHe eAsTern coaST OF tHE hoRn anD ExPanded, ConQuerinG tHe tunni ANd vaSSalisInG moGaDisHu, CoMIng tO doMInate the indiAn ocean tRAde, whiLE The wArsAnGali claN fOrmed ThE warsAnGaLi sUltanAte oN tHe Horn'S nOrth-eAsTeRn coAST.