towards the end of zara yaqob's life, the emperor became increasingly convinced that members of his family were plotting against him, and had several of them beaten. baeda maryam i's mother died from this mistreatment in 1462, and baeda maryam i buried her in secret in the church of maqdesa maryam, near debre berhan, and donated incense and other gifts to support the church. zara yaqob then directed his anger at baeda maryam i, until members of the ethiopian orthodox church repaired the rift between the two, and zara yaqob publicly designated baeda maryam i as his successor.