Morin interprets the chart of Zaga Christ (Ṣägga Krәstos)

Recently I came across an online article published by Cambridge University Press (21 Jan 2022) entitled The narrative of Zaga Christ (Ṣägga Krәstos): (1635). The abstract of this paper reads as follows:

“In the 1630s, a young traveller by the name of Ṣägga Krәstos (1616–38) crisscrossed Italy and France, claiming to be the heir of the late Ethiopian Emperor Yaʿǝqob and pledging to return to Ethiopia at the helm of a Catholic mission. While in Rome, intent on convincing the papacy of his identity, he authored a lengthy autobiographical statement that included a precise dynastic claim, an account of his father’s rise and demise, and an itinerary of his own journey from Ethiopia to Rome. Later, as he continued his journey, Ṣägga Krәstos shared his statement with his European acquaintances; once in Paris, he published it, dedicating it to Anne of Austria, Queen of France. This article sketches the contours of Ṣägga Krәstos’s journey and identity and offers a comprehensive genealogy of the autobiographical statement’s many extant versions. It also discusses the transfiguration that both his reputation and statement underwent after his death. Ṣägga Krәstos’s is the earliest known autobiography voluntarily written and published in Europe by an African-born author. Following this article is a complete annotated translation – the first in the English language – of what is likely to be the earliest extant version of the statement, followed by excerpts from later versions. A complete transcription of the source is available with the online supplementary materials published with this article.”

Portrait of Zaga Christ by Giovanna Garzoni, 1635.

Recalling that Morinus had discussed the chart of this individual, I looked up Morin’s comments about the nativity in Book 15 of Astrologia Gallica.

Birth chart of Zaga Christ and Morin’s interpretation from Book 15 of Astrologia Gallica.

Here is a modern version of the birth chart which Morin used for Zaga Christ. The accuracy of the birth data is somewhat questionable. In any case, this is a modern version of the birth chart which Morin calculated based on the data given to him by his sources.

Note that in this chart the Part of Fortune is calculated for a night chart. The Lot of Spirit lies at 16 Pisces 09′, which is the value Morin would have used for the Lot of Fortune in his practice.

Morin begins his interpretation by noting that in his system of planetary dignities (which included only domicile, exaltation and triplicity), except for Mercury all the planets in this chart are peregrine, that is, lacking any essential dignity. Mercury, in Morin’s system, has the dignity of being a triplicity ruler. Morin appears to be trying to account the Zaga Christ’s harsh treatment by his blood relatives in his homeland and his poverty, destitution and death at a young age in a foreign country.

Morin Triplicity Rulers

              Day             Night          Participating

Fire:              Sun             Mars            JupiterAir:               Saturn         Venus          MercuryWater:          Jupiter         Moon           MarsEarth:           Mercury      Saturn          Venus

Morin next comments that this chart exhibits a lack of benefic aspects. He notes the sextile between the Moon and Mercury, and the trine between the Moon and Saturn, but says that these aspectual configurations are corrupted (“depravatum” in Latin) aspects. In the case of the Moon-Saturn trine, the malefic Saturn lies in Aries (the sign of its fall), is Retrograde and occupies the unfortunate 12th house; hence, it is a “corrupted” and damaging trine. In the case of the Moon-Mercury sextile, Mercury rules and occupies the 6th and opposes the malefic Saturn which occupies the 12th, is Retrograde and lies in the sign of its fall. Thus, the sextile from the peregrine Moon becomes corrupted by the state of Mercury damaged by the opposition of Saturn in the 12th.

Nonetheless, sextiles and trines do indicate positive features. In this case Morin tells us that Mercury in Libra sextile to the Moon indicates a talented and refined person. In addition, the Moon lying at the 5th cusp and being in trine to Saturn and the Asc suggests eloquence and good powers of reasoning, but also extravagance because the Moon (at the 5th cusp of having fun) disposes Venus, ruler of the 2nd of his money.

Morin continues by studying Saturn, which rules the MC and lies in the 12th house just above the Ascendant degree. Saturn, however, has southern latitude, so that by primary motion the body of Saturn reaches the eastern horizon at about the same time that the Asc-degree arrives there. According to Morin, the primary direction of square of the 4th ruler (end of life) Moon to the natal Asc degree (which is in partile conjunction with the body of Saturn) was active at the time of Zaga Christ’s death in April of 1638.

The two Lights, the Sun and the Moon, which have to do with vitality and life force, are unfriendly to the 10th space (“inimici 10 spatio”, in Latin), and the Sun opposes the Part of Fortune, which lies at 16 Pisces. By unfriendliness, Morin means that neither the Sun nor the Moon would be happy visiting the 10th space because it contains parts of the unfriendly signs of the Lights: Capricorn (the detriment of the Moon) and Aquarius (the detriment of the Sun). In short, Saturn rules the signs which occupy the 10th space, and Saturn is inimical to both the Sun and the Moon. Thus, this native will be unfortunate in the actions he undertakes in the world and in his general fortune or material well-being (signified by the Lot of Fortune).

Regarding the native’s non-parental blood relatives, Morin notes that Mercury, which rules the 3rd house of siblings and close relatives, opposes a highly unfortunate Saturn and square the meridian (MC/IC axis). Mercury is also in a wide opposition to the Asc and a wide square to Mars, which rules the Ascendant. Thus, his blood relatives will not be kindly disposed toward him personally or toward his 10th house pursuits. In addition, Mercury in this chart is determined toward enemies because Mercury occupies the 6th and receives an opposition from malefic Saturn in the 12th (secret enemies).

Regarding his financial status, Jupiter is the dispositor of his 12th house Part of Fortune in Pisces. The placement of Jupiter in the 7th subjects this native’s wealth to his open enemies in the 7th, which is further indicated by Jupiter in the 7th of open enemies being in close square to peregrine Venus, ruler of the 2nd house of finances.

As far as personality traits go, Morin states that this native is likely to be melancholy because of Saturn so close to the Asc, and easily angered because the Fire sign Aries, ruled by Mars, governs the Ascendant.

Regarding the native’s long journeys and wandering away from this homeland, Morin notes that the Asc-ruler Mars occupies the 3rd (a travel house) and closely trines Jupiter, ruler of the 9th of long journeys and foreign lands. Furthermore, Jupiter occupies the angular 7th house and the cardinal sign Libra, whose ruler Venus disposes Jupiter. Venus, in turn, occupies the angular 4th house and the cardinal sign Cancer. Such places in angular houses and cardinal signs are indications of long and varied travels and intense experiences of life’s ups and downs.

Finally, Morin tells us, the fact that the malefic planet Mars rules both the Asc (the body and its vitality) and the 8th (the death of the native) and occupies the 3rd (a travel house) portends a wretched death away from his homeland, but not a violent death because Mars does not afflict the Ascendant, Saturn does not afflict Mars, the malefics do not afflict the Lights (Sun and Moon) which are also not in violent signs.

Morin concludes that this birth chart describes well the life of Zaga Christ and therefore it is unlikely that he was an imposter, as many believed him to be.