A horse name is a secondary noble title or a popular name for members of Ethiopian royalty; in some cases the "horse names" are the only name known for a ruler. They take the form of "father of X", where "X" is the name of the person's warhorse.
Some known horse names of Ethiopian nobility include:
Name | Title | Horse Name | Literal/Synonymous meaning | Note | Sources |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alula Engida | Ras | Abba Nega | Father of dawn | Alula Aba Nega Airport is named after him and his horsename. | |
Balcha Safo | Dejazmach | Abba Nefso | Father of the Soul | [1] | |
Bashah Aboye | Dejazmach | Abba Däffar | Father of audacity | [2] | |
Belay Zeleke | Dejazmach | Abba Koster | Father of Sharpshooter | [3] | |
Darge Sahle Selassie | Ras | Abba Gersa [note 1] | Father of Recurring Impediment (i.e. impeding the enemy). | [4] [1] | |
Garmame | Dejazmach | Abba Mala | [5] | ||
Habte Giyorgis Dinagde | Fitawrari | Abba Mechal | Father of Tolerance | [1] | |
Haile Maryam Gebre | Dejazmach | Abba Dammana | Father of the Cloud | [6] | |
Lul Seged | Ras | Abba Balay | |||
Menelik II | Emperor of Ethiopia | Abba Dagnew | Father of Justice | [1] | |
Sabagadis Woldu | Dejazmach | Abba Garay | [7] | ||
Tekle Haymanot | Negus of Gojjam | Abba Tanna | [8] | ||
Tessema Nadew | Ras Bitwoded | Abba Qamaw | [9] | ||
Tewodros II | Emperor of Ethiopia | Abba Tatek | Father of readiness (of arms) | ||
Welde Giyorgis Aboye | Negus of Gondar | Abba Saggad [note 2] | Father of Commandeering | [10] [1] | |
Yohannes IV | Emperor of Ethiopia | Abba Bezibiz | Father of Plunder | [1] |
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