Mengesha Yohannes (1868 - 1906) was the natural son of Emperor Yohannes IV of Ethiopia, Ras of Tigray, and as a claimant of the Imperial throne is often given the title of prince. Acknowledged as son and designated as heir by Yohannes IV on his deathbed at the Battle of Metemma. Fighting between various relatives of the slain Emperor split his camp and prevented Mengesha from making a viable bid for the Imperial throne, and the throne as assumed by Menelik of Shewa Ras Mengesha refused to submit to Menelik, and even flirted with joining the new Italian colony of Eritrea, hoping that they would support his rebellion against Emperor Menelik. However, encroachments by the Italians into his native Tigray, their previous enmity to his father Yohannes, and recognition that their ultimate goal was to conquer Ethiopia led him to finally submit to Menelik II, and fight at his side against them at the Battle of Adowa. 1868 (MDCCCLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... ... Ethiopian aristocratic and religious titles used in Ethiopia until the end of the Monarchy in 1974. ... Tigray was a province of Ethiopia. ... The Emperor (Geez ንጉሠ ነገሥት, , King of Kings) of Ethiopia was the hereditary ruler of Ethiopia until the abolition of the monarchy in 1975. ... 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. ... Combatants Ethiopia Kingdom of Italy Commanders Ras Makonnen Oreste Baratieri Strength about 120,000; artillery, machine guns, cavalry; 20,000 were armed only with spears 14,527 men, 56 guns Casualties 10,000 5,900 The Battle of Adowa (also known as Adwa or sometimes by the Italian name Adua...

Ras Mengesha was married to Woizero Kefey Welle, the niece of Empress Taytu Betul. He rebelled again against Menelik when he was denied the title of Negus of Zion. (His descendants would be outraged decades later when Ras Mikael was crowned with this title by Lij Iyasu). Emperor Menelik had Ras Mengesha captured and imprisoned under house arrest at the old Shewan royal palace at Ankober. Familial rivalry between the two lines of decent from Emperor Yohannes IV (through his elder legitimate son Ras Araya Selassie Yohannes and his younger natural son Mengesha) proved to be a difficult issue for Emperor Menelik II and his successors. Ras Araya's son Gugsa, and Ras Mengesha's son Seyoum would for a time divide Tigray between them, with Ras Gugsa ruling the eastern half, and Ras Seyoum the western half. Eventually Mengesha's son Ras Seyoum Mengesha was made prince of all Tigray in succession to his father after the death of his cousin Ras Gugsa, and the treason of Gugsa's son, Dejazmatch Haile Selassie Gugsa, who joined forces with the Italian fascists in 1936. Ras Mengesha is thus regarded as the founder of one of the two senior cadet branches of the Ethiopian Imperial Solomonic Dynasty. Taytu Betul (c. ... Iyasu (Joshua) (4 February 1887 - 25 November 1935) was the ruler of Ethiopia from 1913 to 1916, when he was deposed. ... Shewa (also spelled Shoa) is a historical region of Ethiopia. ... Ankober is a town of Ethiopia, at one time the capital of the historical Shewa kingdom and later district. ...