The Emperor (Ge'ez ንጉሠ ነገሥት, nəgusä nägäst, "King of Kings") of Ethiopia was the hereditary ruler of Ethiopia until the abolition of the monarchy in 1975. The Emperor was not only the head of state, but the ultimate executive, judicial and legislative power in that country. As noted in a National Geographic Magazine article, Ethiopia is "nominally a constitutional monarchy; in fact [it is] a benevolent autocracy."¹ Geez (also transliterated Giiz, , and pronounced IPA ; ISO 639-2 gez) is an ancient language that developed in the Ethiopian Highlands of the Horn of Africa as the language of the peasantry. ... Places where monarchies maintain rule appear in blue. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... Queen Elizabeth II, is the Head of State of 16 countries including: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Jamaica, New Zealand and the Bahamas, as well as crown colonies and overseas territories of the United Kingdom. ... The judiciary, also referred to as the judicature, consists of justices, judges and magistrates among other types of adjudicators. ... A legislature is a governmental deliberative body with the power to adopt laws. ... The National Geographic Society was founded in the USA on January 27, 1888, by 33 men interested in organizing a society for the increase and diffusion of geographical knowledge. ... Constitutional monarchies with representative parliamentary systems are shown in red A constitutional monarchy is a form of monarchical government established under a constitutional system which acknowledges an elected or hereditary monarch as head of state. ... An Autocracy is a form of government in which unlimited power is held by a single individual. ...

The style "King of Kings", usually translated in English as "Emperor", dates back to ancient Mesopotamia, but was used in Axum by king Sembrouthes (c. 250 AD). However, Yuri Kobishchanov dates this usage to the period following the Persian victory over the Romans in 296-297.² Its use, from at least the reign of Yekuno Amlak onward, meant that both subordinate officials and tributary rulers received the title of nəgus or "king". The consort of the Emperor is referred to as the ətege, and the Empress Zauditu used that title in addition to nəgəstä nägäst (queen of kings). To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... King Ezanas Stele in Axum. ... Sembrouthes was a king of Axum. ... The Persian Empire was a series of historical empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau. ... For other senses of this name, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... Centuries: 2nd century - 3rd century - 4th century Decades: 240s - 250s - 260s - 270s - 280s - 290s - 300s - 310s - 320s - 330s - 340s Years: 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 Significant people Diocletian, Roman Emperor Maximian, Roman Emperor Categories: 290s ... Yekuno Amlak (throne name Tasfa Iyasus) was negus (1270 - 1285) of Ethiopia and founder of the Solomonid dynasty. ... Empress Zaiditu of Ethiopia Zauditu (also known as Zawditu or Zewditu) (1876 - 1930) was reigning Empress of Ethiopia from 1916 to 1930. ...

Succession

Succession to the throne at the death of the monarch could be claimed by any male blood relative of the Emperor: sons, brothers, uncles or cousins. Primogeneture was preferred but not always enforced. As a result, two steps were taken: the first, employed on occasion before the 20th century, was to intern all of the Emperor's possible rivals in a secure location, which drastically limited their ability to disrupt the Empire with revolts, or to dispute the succession of an heir apparent; the second was that, with increasing frequency, Emperors were selected by a council of the senior officials of the realm, both secular and religious. Contrasting with heir presumptive, an heir apparent is one who cannot be prevented from inheriting by the birth of any other person. ...

Ethiopian traditions do not all agree as to exactly when the custom started of imprisoning rivals to the throne on a Mountain of the Princes. One tradition credits this practice to the Zagwe king Yemrehana Krestos, who is said to have received the idea in a dream;³ Taddesse Tamrat discredits this tradition, arguing that the records of the Zagwe dynasty betray too many disputed successions for this to have been the case.⁴ Another tradition, recorded by Thomas Pakenham, states that this practice predates the Zagwe dynasty, and was first practiced on Debre Damo, which was captured by the 10th century queen Gudit, who then put 200 princes isolated there to death; however, Pakenham also notes that when questioned, the abbot of the monastery on Debre Damo knew of no such tale.⁵ Taddesse Tamrat argues that this practice began in the reign of Wedem Arad, following the struggle for succession that he believes lies behind the series of brief reigns of the sons of Yagbe'u Seyon. A constructivist approach states that the tradition was used on occasion, weakened or lapsed sometimes, and was sometimes revived to full effect after some unfortunate disputes - and that the custom started in time immemorial as Ethiopian common inheritance pattern allowed all agnates to also succeed to the lands of the monarchy - which however is contrary to keeping the country undivided. The Zagwe Dynasty ruled Ethiopia from the end of the Kingdom of Axum to 1270, when Yekuno Amlak defeated and killed the last Zagwe king in battle. ... Yemrehana Krestos (called Abraham by Francisco Alvarez) was negus of Ethiopia, and a member of the Zagwe dynasty. ... Debre Damo is the name of a mountain and a monastery in northern Ethiopia, lying west of Adigrat in the region of Tigray. ... Gudit (or Judith; also known as Esato) is a semi-legendary non-Christian queen (flourished c. ... Wedem Arad was negus (1299 - 1314) of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonid dynasty. ... Senfa Ared IV was negus negust (1294 - 1295) of Ethiopia. ... Patrilineality (a. ...

These potential rivals were incarcerated at Amba Geshen until Ahmed Gragn captured and destroyed that site; then, from the reign of Fasilides until the mid-18th century, at Wehni. Rumors of these royal mountain residences were part of the inspiration for Samuel Johnson's short story, Rasselas. Amba Geshen is the name of a mountain in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia, northwest of Dessie. ... Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi (c. ... Fasilides or Basilides (throne name `Alam Sagad), b at Magazaz, Shewa, in 1603 before 10 November, was (1632 - October 18, 1667) of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonid dynasty. ... Wehni is the name of one of the mountains of Ethiopia where most of the male heirs to the Emperor of Ethiopia were interned, usually for life. ... Samuel Johnson circa 1772, painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds. ... This article is in need of attention. ... The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia, often abbreviated to Rasselas, is a short story by Samuel Johnson, which he wrote in 1759 to help pay for his mothers funeral. ...

Although the Emperor of Ethiopia possessed unlimited powers over his subjects, his councilors came to play an increasing role in governing Ethiopia because many Emperors were succeeded either by a child, or one of the incarcerated princes, who could only successfully leave their prisons with help from the outside. As a result, by the mid-18th century the power of the Emperor had been largely transferred to his deputies, like Ras Mikael Sehul of Tigray, who held the actual power of the Empire and elevated or deposed Emperors at will in their struggle for control of the entire realm. Mikael Sehul (Tigrigna Mikael the Astute; his name at birth was Blatta Mikael; c. ... Map of Ethiopia highlighting the Tigray region. ...

Ideology

The Emperors of Ethiopia derived their right to rule based on two claims: their descent from the kings of Axum, and their descent from Menelik I, the son of Solomon and Makeda, Queen of Sheba. King Ezanas Stele in Axum. ... Menelik I first Emperor of Ethiopia, traditionally believed to be the son of King Solomon of ancient Israel and Makeda, Queen of Sheba. ... Solomon (Hebrew, Shlomo from Shalom for peace, also Arabic as Suleiman or Sulyaman meaning peace) can mean any of the following: 1. ... The Queen of Sheba, referred to in the Bible books of 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles, the Quran, and Ethiopian history, was the ruler of Sheba, an ancient kingdom which modern archeology speculates was located in present-day Ethiopia or Yemen . ...

The claim to their relationship to the Kings of Axum derives from Yakuno Amlak's claim that he was the descendant of Dil Na'od, through his father, although he defeated and killed the last Zagwe king in battle. His claim to the throne was also helped by the fact he married that king's daughter, even though Ethiopians commonly do not acknowledge claims from the distaff side. Dil Naod was the last Axumite king or emperor before the Zagwe dynasty of Ethiopia. ...

The claim of descent from Menelik I is based on the assertion that the kings of Axum were also the descendants of Menelik I. While the surviving records of these kings fail to shed light on their origins, this genealogical claim is first documented in the 10th century by an Arab historian. Interpretations of this claim vary widely. Some (including many inside Ethiopia) accept it as evident and undisputed fact. At the other extreme, others (mostly interested non-Ethiopians) understand this as an expression of propaganda, attempting to connect the legitimacy of the state to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Some scholars take an approach in the middle, attempting to either find a connection between Axum and the South Arabian kingdom of Saba, or between Axum and the pre-exilic Kingdom of Judah. Due to lack of primary materials, it is not possible as of 2006 to determine which theory is the more plausible. As a means of recording the passage of time, the 10th century was that century which lasted from 901 to 1000. ... It has been suggested that Propaganda in the United States be merged into this article or section. ... The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church is an Oriental Orthodox church in Ethiopia that was part of the Coptic Church until it was granted its own Patriarch by Cyril VI, the Coptic Pope, in 1959. ... National motto: Remis Velisque. ... Babylonian captivity also refers to the permanence of the Avignon Papacy. ... Kingdom of Judah (Hebrew מַלְכוּת יְהוּדָה, Standard Hebrew Malḫut Yəhuda, Tiberian Hebrew Malḵûṯ Yəhûḏāh) in the times of the Hebrew Bible, was the nation formed from the territories of the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin after the Kingdom of Israel was divided, and was named after Judah... 2006 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

History

The restored Solomonid dynasty, which claimed descent from the old Aksumite rulers, ruled Ethiopia from 13th century until 1974, with only a couple of usurpers. The most significant usurper was Kassa of Kwara, who in 1855 took complete control over Ethiopia and was crowned Tewodros II (he developed a claim to have been descended from Solomonids in distaff side). After his defeat and demise, another non-Solomonid, Dejazmatch Kassai took over as Yohannes IV - however, his distaff descent from Solomonids was a well-attested fact. Menelik of Shewa, who descended from Solomonic Emperors, in the direct male line (junior only to the Gondar line), ascended the imperial throne following Yohannis IV's death, thus purporting to restore the male-line Solomonid tradition. The Solomonid dynasty is the traditional royal house of Ethiopia, claiming descent from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, who is said to have given birth to the traditional first king Menelik I after her Biblically-described visit to Solomon in Jerusalem. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1974 calendar). ... 1855 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Tewodros II (also known as Theodore II) (1818 - 1868) was an Emperor of Ethiopia (1855 - 1868). ... ...

The most famous of the post-Theodorean Emperors were Yohannes IV, Menelik II and Haile Selassie. Emperor Menelik II struck a major military victory against Italian invaders in March of 1894 at the Battle of Adwa, the first major victory of an African nation against a colonial power. After Menelik, all monarchs were of distaff descent from Solomonids. The male line, through the descendants of Menelik's cousin Dejazmatch Taye Gulilat, still exists, but had been pushed aside largely because of Menelik's personal distaste for this branch of his family. Menelik's successors ruled the country until the military coup in 1974, apart from the years 1936 - 1941, when the country was under fascist Italian occupation and Victor Emmanuel III claimed the title — a claim that was disputed by the international community. ... Menelik II (August 17, 1844 - December 12, 1913), Conquering Lion of Judah, Elect of God, King of Kings of Ethiopia was negus negust (emperor) of Ethiopia from 1889 to his death. ... Haile Selassie Haile Selassie (Power of Trinity) (July 23, 1892 – August 27, 1975) was the last Emperor (1930–1936; 1941–1974) of Ethiopia, and is a religious symbol in the Rastafarian movement. ... 1894 (MDCCCXCIV) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Battle of Adowa Conflict First Italo-Abyssinian War Date March 1, 1896 Place Adwa, Ethiopia Result Ethiopian victory; end of First Italo-Abyssinian war The Battle of Adowa (also known as Adwa or sometimes by the Italian name Adua) was fought on March 1, 1896 between Italy near the town... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1974 calendar). ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... For the movie, see 1941 (film) 1941 (MCMXLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1941 calendar). ... Fascism (in Italian, fascismo), capitalized, was the authoritarian political movement which ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943 under the leadership of Benito Mussolini. ... Victor Emmanuel III of Italy , Vittorio Emanuele III in Italian (11 November 1869 – 28 December 1947), was the King of Italy (29 July 1900 – 9 May 1946), Emperor of Ethiopia (1936 - 1943) and King of Albania (1939 - 1943). ...

The position of the Emperor and the Line of succession were strictly defined in both of the constitutions adopted during the reign of Haile Selassie: the one adopted on July 16, 1931; and the revised one of November, 1955. The line of succession to the Ethiopian throne is described in the first section of the 1955 Revised Constitution of Ethiopia. ... Haile Selassie Haile Selassie (Power of Trinity) (July 23, 1892 – August 27, 1975) was the last Emperor (1930–1936; 1941–1974) of Ethiopia, and is a religious symbol in the Rastafarian movement. ... July 16 is the 197th day (198th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 168 days remaining. ... 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1931 calendar). ... 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The last Solomonid monarch to reign over Ethiopia was Amha Selassie, who was offered the throne by the Derg after his father Haile Selassie's deposition September 12, 1974. When Amha Selassie, understandably mistrustful of the Derg, refused to return to Ethiopia to rule, the Derg announced that the monarchy had come to an end March, 1975. The Ethiopian constitution of 1995 confirmed the abolition of the Emperorship. However, in 1993 a group called the "Crown Council of Ethiopia", which includes several descendants of Haile Selassie, claimed that the nəgusä nägäst was still in existence, and was the legal head of Ethiopia. Emperor Amha Selassie of Ethiopia Emperor Amha Selassie of Ethiopia (1916 - February 17, 1997) was the exiled claimant of the Ethiopian Imperial Throne (also known as Crown Prince Asfaw Wossen). ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... September 12 is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years). ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1974 calendar). ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Crown Council of Ethiopia is the Constitutional body which advises the reigning Emperors of Ethiopia, acts on behalf of the Crown and the council’s members are appointed by the Emperor. ...

References

1. Nathaniel T. Kenney, "Ethiopian Adventure", National Geographic, 127 (1965), p. 555.
2. Yuri M. Kobishchanov, Axum, translated by Lorraine T. Kapitanoff, and edited by Joseph W. Michels (University Park: University of Pennsylvania State Press, 1979), p. 195. ISBN 0271005319.
3. Francisco Alvarez, The Prester John of the Indies, translated by Lord Stanley of Alderley, revised and edited with additional material by C.F. Beckingham and G.W.B. Huntingford, (Cambridge: The Hakluyt Society, 1961), p. 237ff.
4. Taddesse Tamrat, Church and State in Ethiopia (1270 - 1527) (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1972), p. 275, n. 3. ISBN 0198216718.
5. Thomas Pakenham, The Mountains of Rasselas (New York: Reynal & Co., 1959), p. 84. ISBN 0297823698.
6. Taddesse Tamrat, Church and State in Ethiopia, p. 275n.3, citing Hiob Ludolf, A New History of Ethiopia.

Francisco Alvarez (1465?-1541?) was a Portuguese missionary and explorer. ... The Hakluyt Society is a society named after Richard Hakluyt. ... Thomas Francis Dermot Pakenham, 8th Earl of Longford (born 14 August 1933), known simply as Thomas Pakenham, is an Anglo-Irish historian and arborist who has authored several prize winning books on the diverse subjects of Victorian and post-Victorian British history and trees. ... Hiob Ludolf (or Job Leutholf) (June 15, 1624 - April 8, 1704) was a German orientalist, and born at Erfurt. ...

See also

• History of Ethiopia
• Kebra Nagast
• List of Emperors of Ethiopia

To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Kebra Nagast, or the Book of the Glory of Kings of Ethiopia, has been in existence for at least a thousand years, and is considered by many Ethiopian Christians and Rastafarians to contain the true history of the origin of the Solomonic line of kings in Ethiopia. ... The accuracy of this list is disputed, since it was based on worldstatesmen. ...

External link

• Crown Council of Ethiopia