upon the death of emperor dawit, his older brother tewodros ordered zara yaqob confined on amba geshen (around 1414). despite this, zara yaqob's supporters kept him a perennial candidate for emperor, helped by the rapid succession of his older brothers to the throne over the next 20 years, and left him as the oldest qualified candidate. david buxton points out the effect that his forced seclusion had on his personality, "deprived of all contact with ordinary people or ordinary life." thrust into a position of leadership "with no experience of the affairs of state, he [zara yaqob] was faced by a kingdom seething with plots and rebellions, a church riven with heresies, and outside enemies constantly threatening invasion." buxton continues,