Mentewab ("How beautiful") was Empress of Ethiopia, the consort of Emperor Bakaffa, mother of Iyasu II and grandmother of Iyoas I. She was also known officially by her baptismal name of Welete Giyorgis ("Daughter of St. George"). Bakaffa was negus negust (throne name Asma Sagad, later Masih Sagadwas) (May 18, 1721 - 1730) of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonid dynasty. ... Iyasus II or Jesus II was negus negust (throne name Adyam Sagadwas) (19 September 1730 - 26 June 1755) of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonid dynasty. ... Iyoas I or Joas I (throne name Adyam Sagad) (1755 - 14 May 1769) was negus negusti (26 June 1755 - 7 May 1769) of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonid dynasty. ...

Mentewab was a native of Qwara, and is said to have had a Portuguese grandparent. As such she was often suspected of harboring secret Roman Catholic sympathies. Following the death of her husband, Empress Mentewab took up a romantic liason with her late husband's nephew. The Empresses much younger lover was dirisively called "Melmal Iyasu" (Iyasu the Kept) by members of the court. Mentewab would have three daughters by "Melmal Iyasu", including Woizero Aster Iyasu, who would marry the powerful Tigrean warlord Ras Mikael Sehul. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Map of Ethiopia highlighting the Tigray region. ...

Empress Mentewab built several significant structures in Gondar, inluding her own castle in the Imperial Precinct, and a large banqueting hall as well. Most significantly she built a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary at Qusquam (named for a site in Egypt where the Holy Family had stayed during their exile) in the mountains outside of Gondar. Empress Mentewab built a palace adjoining her church which became her favored residence. Gondar (less commonly spelled Gonder) was the old imperial capital of Ethiopia and the historic Begemder province, now part of the Amhara region. ...

Empress Mentewab was crowned co-ruler upon the succession of her son (a first for a woman in Ethiopia), and held unprecidented power over government during his reign. Her attempt to continue in this role following the death of her son led her into conflict with Wubit (Welete Bersabe), his widow, who believed that it was her turn to preside at the court of her own son Iyoas. The conflict between these two queens led to Mentewab summoning her Kwaran relatives and their forces to Gondar to support her. Wubit responded by summoning her own Oromo relatives and their considerable forces from Yejju. Mentewab summoned her son-in-law Mikael Sehul to mediate the dispute and prevent a bloodbath. She hoped that he would land firmly on her side, but instead Ras Mikael seized power for himself, and eventually engineered the murder by strangulation of Emperor Iyoas I. The Oromo are an African ethnic group found in Ethiopia and to a lesser extent Kenya. ...

Empress Mentewab was distraught at the murder of her grandson. She retreated to Qusquam and buried her grandson there next to her son, and refused to return to the city of Gondar. She lived at her palace there in seclusion till the end of her life.