This is a list of Ethiopian aristocratic and court titles used in Ethiopia until the end of the Monarchy in 1974. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Aristocracy is a form of government in which rulership is in the hands of an upper class known as aristocrats. ... A trial at the Old Bailey in London as drawn by Thomas Rowlandson and Augustus Pugin for Ackermanns Microcosm of London (1808-11). ... A title is a prefix or suffix added to a persons name to signify either veneration, an official position or a professional or academic qualification. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ...

There were two categories of Ethiopia's nobility. The Mesafint (Ge ez መሳፊንት masāfint, modern mesāfint, singular መስፍን masfin, modern mesfin, "prince") or princes were the hereditary nobles, and formed the upper echelon of the ruling .makʷanin, modern mekʷenin or መኮንን mekonnen, "governor") were the appointed nobles, often of humble birth, who formed the bulk of the noble class. Until the 20th Century, the most powerful people at court were generally Mekwanint appointed by the monarch, while regionally the Mesafint enjoyed greater influence and power. Emperor Haile Selassie greatly curtailed the power of the Mesafint to the benefit of the Mekwanint. Note: This article contains special characters. ... 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. ...

The Mesafint

Men's honorifics

• Nəgusä nägäst ("King of kings") -- Emperor of Ethiopia. Although several kings of Aksum used this style, until the restoration of the Solomonic dynasty under Yekuno Amlak, rulers of Ethiopia generally used the style of Negus, although "King of Kings" was used as far back as Ezana. (See below.) The full title of the Emperor of Ethiopia included the terms Atse(Emperor), Neguse Negest (King of kings), and Seyoume Igziabeher (Elect of God). The title of Moa Anbessa Ze Imnegede Yehuda(Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah) always preceded the titles of the Emperor. It was not a personal title, but rather referred to the title of Christ, and placed Christ ahead of the Emperor's name in an act of Imperial submission to the primacy of Jesus. Until Yohannes IV the Emperor was also Neguse Tsion(King of Zion). The Emperor was entitled to the dignities of Girmawi (His(Your) Imperial Majesty), and Janhoy (Sire), Atse (Emperor when referred to in the third person) and in his own household and family as Getochu(our Master in the plural).
• Negus ("king") -- This word was often used as part of the title to denote any important official. The rulers of Gondar, Shewa, Gojjam, Wollo, have all held the title of Negus at some .at Axum. That title was usually held by the Emperor of Ethiopia himself, but was last used by Emperor Yohannes IV. It was awarded to Negus Mikael, father of Iyasu V, but .to Negus of Wollo. Upon Lij Iyasu's deposition, Ras Wolde Giorgis Aboye, the senior Prince of the Imperial family at the time, was made Negus of Gondar to compensate him for not being made regent for his cousin Empress Zewditu. The regency went to the Crown Prince Taffari Makonnen instead. In 1928, not long after the death of Negus Wolde Giorgis, the then Crown Prince of Ethiopia, Ras Taffari Makonnen was crowned Negus Taffari by Empress Zewditu. He would be the last person to bear the title of Negus, as he refused to grant this title ever again once he succeeded as Emperor in 1930.
• Leul (ልዑል, "Prince") -- Title reserved for Princes of the Imperial blood.
• Abetohun (አቤቶሁን) or Abeto (አቤቶ) -- Prince. Title reserved for males of Imperial ancestry in the male line. Title fell into disuse by the late 1800s. Lij Iyasu attempted to revive the title as Abeto-hoy and this form is still used by the current Iyasuist claimant Lij Girma Yohannis Iyasu.
• Ras (ራስ, "head") -- One of the powerful non-imperial;.; Harold G. Marcus equates this to a duke. The combined title of Leul Ras was given to the heads of the cadet branches of the Imperial dynasty, such as the Princes of Gojjam, Tigray and Selale.
• Bitwoded (ቢትወደድ, "beloved") -- An office thought to have been created by Zara Yaqob who appointed two of these, one of the Left and one of the Right. These were later merged into one office, which became the supreme grade of Ras in the ., "Ras Betwadad". Marcus equates this to an earl.
• Dejazmach (ደጅአዝማች, "Commander or general of the Gate") -- Marcus equates this to a count. The heirs of the "Leul Rases" were titled Leul Dejazmach to elevate them above the non-Imperial blood Dejazmaches.
• Fitawrari (ፊትአውራሪ, . Marcus equates this to a baronet.
• Lij -- (ልጅ, Literally "child") Title given from birth to sons of members of the Mesafint.

King of Kings is a lofty title that has been used by several monarchies (usually empires in the informal sense of great powers) throughout history, and in many cases the literal title meaning King of Kings, i. ... The Emperor (Geez ንጉሠ ነገሥት, , King of Kings) of Ethiopia was the hereditary ruler of Ethiopia until the abolition of the monarchy in 1975. ... 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. ... ... Negus is the Amharic word for king. The term negus negust means king of kings, or Emperor. ... Overview of the city with Fasilides castle in the center. ... Shewa (also spelled Shoa) is a historical region of Ethiopia. ... Gojjam, or Gojam, was a province in the north-western part of Ethiopia, with its capital city at Debra Markos. ... Wollo was a province in the north-eastern part of Ethiopia, with its capital city at Dessye. ... Iyasu (Joshua) (4 February 1887 - 25 November 1935) was the ruler of Ethiopia from 1913 to 1916, when he was deposed. ... Prince (Abeto Lij) Girma Yohannis Iyasu Menelik (born 1961) is the Iyasuist claimant to the abolished throne of Ethiopia. ... This article is about the nobility title. ... Zara Yaqob (throne name Kuestantinos I or Constantine I) (1399 - 1468) was negus (1434 - 1468) of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonid dynasty. ... For people, see Earl (given name) and Earl (surname). ... This article is about the style or title of nobility. ... For the brush-footed butterfly species, see Euthalia nais. ...

Women's honorifics

• Nigiste .were generally crowned as consorts by the Emperor at the Imperial Palace. However, Empress Taitu Bitul, consort of Menelik II, became the first Itege to be crowned by the Emperor at church rather than at the Palace. Her coronation took place on the second day of the Emperor's coronation holiday. Empress Menen Asfaw became the first Itege to be crowned by the archbishop on the same day and during the same ceremony as her husband, Emperor Haile Selassie. The Itege was entitled to the dignity of Girmawit(Her(Your)Imperial Majesty).
• Leult (ልዕልት) -- Princess. Reserved at birth for daughters of the monarch, and granddaughters in the male line. Usually bestowed on the wives of "Leul Rases" as well as the monarch's granddaughters in the female line upon their marriages. The notable exception to the rule was "Leult" Yeshashework Yilma, Emperor Haile Selassie's niece by his elder brother, who received the title with the dignity of "Highness" from Empress Zauditu upon the princesses marriage to 'Leul Ras' Gugsa Araya in 1918, and then again from her uncle upon his coronation in 1930 with the enhanced dignity of "Imperial Highness".
• Emebet Hoy (እመቤት ሆይ, "Great Royal Lady") --Reserved for the wives of those bearing the title of "Leul Dejazmatch"
• Emebet (እመቤት, "Royal Lady") --Reserved for the unmarried granddaughters of the monarch in the female line (they were generally granted the title of "leult" upon marriage), and to the daughters of the "Leul Rases".
• Woizero (ወይዘሮ, Dame) -- Originally high noble title that over time came to be the general accepted form of address for married women in general (Mrs.). It was still awarded by the Emperor on rare occasions in the 20th century to non-royal women, and sometimes with the higher grade of Woizero Hoy (Great Dame).
• Woizerit (ወይዘሪት, Lady) -- Originally high ranking noble title for unmarried women, now the general accepted form of address for unmarried women in general (Miss). It was sometimes awarded with the added distinction of Woizerit Hoy, (Great Lady) but only to widows.

Taytu Betul (c. ... Empress Menen Asfaw (March 1889 - February 15, 1962) was the wife and consort of Emperor Haile Selassie I 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. ... Princess Yeshashework Yilma was the daughter of Dejazmatch Yilma Makonnen, governor of Harrar and neice of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. ... Empress Zaiditu of Ethiopia Zauditu (also known as Zawditu or Zewditu) (1876 - 1930) was reigning Empress of Ethiopia from 1916 to 1930. ...

Important regional offices

• Bahr negus (ባሕር ንጉሥ, "ruler of the Seas") -- King of the territories north of the Mareb River, and as a result the most powerful office in medieval Ethiopia after the Emperor himself. As a result of the revolts of the Bahr negus Yeshaq in the later 16th century, this office lost much of its power. Although men are mentioned as holding this office into the early 18th century, they were of little consequence.
• Meridazmach (መርዕድ አዝማች, " Fearsome Commander or supreme general") -- This title is related to "Dejazmach" or "Kenyazmach" above. Beginning in the 18th century this came to denote the ruler of Shewa until Sahle Selassie dropped it in favor of the title of Negus. Later revived in 1930 in Wollo for Crown Prince Asfaw Wossen.
• Mesfin Harrar (መስፍን ሐረር) --Duke of Harrar. Hereditary title created in 1930 for Emperor Haile Selassie's second son, Prince Makonnen. (The wife of the Mesfin was properly titled Sefanit but was more commonly referred to as the Mesfinit).
• Nebura ed ("one put in office through the laying of hands") -- civil governor of Aksum. Also called Liqat Aksum. Because of the historical and symbolic importance of this city, the rules of precedence promulgated in 1689 ranked the Nebura ed ahead of all of the provincial governors. Indeed, when the title was granted with Ras Warq (the right to wear a coronet), it was higher than even the title of Ras. Although a civil title granted by the Emperor, it was usually bestowed on a clergyman due to Axum's status as the holiest site of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church within the country.

Note: Edward Ullendorff notes that the title of "Nebura ed" is also used by the head of Basilica Church of St Maryam at Addis Alem, "built by Menelik as the southern Aksum". (The Ethiopians, 2nd ed. [London: Oxford, 1960], p. 109)

• Tigray Mekonnen (ትግራይ መኮንን) -- governor of the province of Tigray. Under the rule of Emperor Yohannes IV in the late 19th century, the Tigray Mekonnen briefly became responsible for the territories once controlled by the Bahrnegus, and became the most powerful governor .of Eritrea.
• Wagshum (ዋግሹም) -- governor (or shum) of the province of Wag. The Wagshum was a hereditary title, and these rulers traced their ancestry back to the kings of the Zagwe dynasty.
• .
• Shum Tembien (ሹም ታምብየን) -- Governor of Tembien district of Tigrai. Emperor Yohannis IV was the son of Shum Mercha of Tembien.

The Mareb River (or Gash River), is the most northerly of the highland rivers of Ethiopia which flow to the northwest, and forms part of the border with Eritrea. ... Bahr negus Yeshaq (died 1578) was a Bahr negus, or noble of medieval Ethiopia. ... Shewa (also spelled Shoa) is a historical region of Ethiopia. ... Sahle Selassie (c. ... Wollo was a province in the north-eastern part of Ethiopia, with its capital city at Dessye. ... 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). ... 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. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Axum, also Aksum, is a city in northern Ethiopia, located at the base of the Adoua mountains. ... Year 1689 (MDCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... Edward Ullendorff (b. ... For other places with the same name, see Addis Alem. ... Tigray was a province of Ethiopia. ... ... WAG has several uses: WAG can be: The symbol for Walgreens WAG IATA airport code for Wanganui Airport, Wanganui, New Zealand WAG may be an abbreviation for: The Welsh Assembly Government. ... 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. ... Emperor Yohannes IV (c. ...

The Mekwanint

Important offices of the Imperial Court

• Enderase (እንደራሴ, Literally "As Myself") -- Regent of the Empire. Also title used by the monarch's representatives to fiefs and vassals.
• Reise Mekwanint (ርዕሰ መኳንንት, Head of the Nobles) -- Title granted during the Zemene Mesafint to the holder of the "Enderase-ship," which raised the holder over all appointed nobles. Last granted to Yohannes IV by his brother-in-law Tekle Giyorgis II before the former deposed the later and seized the throne for himself.
• Tsehafi Tezaz (ጸሐፊ ትእዛዝ, Literally "Scribe by Command") -- Minister of the Pen. Holder of the most powerful post at the Imperial court. All Imperial decisions, announcements, edicts, laws, and schedules were arranged through this minister's office and were issued by him. The office was combined with that of Prime Minister during the tenure of Aklilu Habte-Wold (1961-1974).
• Afe Negus -- (አፈ ንጉሥ, Literally "Mouth of the King") Originally title given to the two chief heralds who acted as official spokesmen for the Emperor. As the Emperor never spoke in public, these officials always spoke in public for him, speaking as if they were the Emperor. Later, the title was granted only to Justices of the Imperial Supreme Court.
• Lique Mekwas (ሊቀ መኳስ) -- The Emperor's seconds in battle. Two trusted and highly favored officials were given this title. They always walked or rode on either side of the monarch in battle, or in public processions, dressing as magnificently or more magnificently then he in order to attract the attention of would be assassins in his stead.
• Blattengeta (ብላቴና) -- "Lord of the Pages", High court official that served as administrator of the Palaces. Later used as an honorific.
• Blatta (ብላታ) -- "Page", high court officials in charge of maintaining palace protocol and meeting the personal needs of the Imperial family.
• Basha (ባሻ) -- Originally derived from the Turkish (Ottoman)/Egyptian title of Pasha, but considered a lower rank in Ethiopia, whereas Pasha was a high rank at the Turkish and Egyptian courts.

Note: Higher ranks from the title of Ras through Balambaras were also bestowed upon members of the Mekwanint. A Ras who was a member of the Mesafint (such as Ras Mengesha Yohannis, son of Emperor Yohannes IV) would usually be given precedence over a Ras who was a member of the Mekwanint, (such as Ras Alula Engida who was of humble birth) even though their ranks were equal. There were also however parallel rules of precedence based on seniority based on age, on offices held, and on when they each obtained their titles, which made the rules fo precedence fairly complicated. Some historians date the murder of Iyasu I, and the resultant decline in the prestige of the dynasty, as the beginning of the Ethiopian Zemene Mesafint (Era of the Princes,) a time of disorder when the power of the monarchy was eclipsed by the power of local warlords. ... Tekle Giyorgis II (born Wagshum Gobeze; died 1873) was negus negust of Ethiopia (1868 - 1872). ... Tsehafi Taezaz Aklilu Habte-Wold (1912 - 1974) was an Ethiopian politician under Emperor Haile Selassie. ... Pasha, pascha or bashaw (Turkish: paÅŸa) was a high rank in the Ottoman Empire political system, typically granted to governors and generals. ...

See also

• Ethiopian ecclesiastical titles