List of royal consorts of Ethiopia

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The royal consorts of Ethiopia were spouses of the monarchs of Ethiopia. In ancient times the territory of modern day Ethiopia included the Kingdom of Axum. In medieval times, a kingdom ruled by the Zagwe dynasty developed but was later deposed by the Solomonic dynasty, who would establish the Ethiopian Empire. The following list includes known consorts from the Axumite period to the abolition of the Ethiopian monarchy in 1975.

Contents

Axumite period (c. 100 c. 960)

NameSpouseNotes
Sofya Ella Amida (r. early 320s to late 340s)Mother of Ezana and ruled as regent during his minority. The 1922 regnal list of Ethiopia includes Sofya as a reigning monarch in her own right under the name "Ahywa Sofya", with regnal dates of 299 to 306 (c. 306313 on the Gregorian calendar). [1]
Admas Ella Gabaz (r. mid-6th century)According to legend, this queen was a daughter of a king named Ilassahl, who was murdered by Ella Gabaz (or Elagabaz). [2] Her brother, Suhal or Shahel, later murdered Elagabaz and his pagan wife Lab and proclaimed himself king. [2]
LabAccording to legend, Lab was a pagan woman from a neighbouring district to Axum. [2] She was murdered along with her husband by Shahel, brother of Admas. [2] According to the 1922 regnal list of Ethiopia, this took place in 398 (c. 405 on the Gregorian Calendar).
Makia MaryamAyzur (r. 8th century)A manuscript from Gojjam stated that she was the wife of a king named Ayzur, who only reigned for half a day due to being suffocated by a crowd on the day he was crowned. [3] According to the 1922 regnal list of Ethiopia, this took place in 780 (c. 787 on the Gregorian calendar).

Zagwe dynasty (c. 960 or 1137 1270)

The following table is incomplete.

NameSpouseNotes
Masoba Warq Mara Takla Haymanot According to one tradition, this woman was a daughter of Dil Na'od (the last king of Axum) who was overthrown by Mara Takla Haymanot in the 10th century. [4] However, many historians doubt the dating of the Zagwe dynasty beginning this early and other traditions do not mention Masoba Warq. A manuscript from Dabra Libanos listed 44 kings who ruled at Shewa following the deposition of Dil Na'od by Gudit, with Masoba Warq being named. [5] This list suggests that Masoba Warq may have been a Queen Regnant of Shewa.
Masqal Kibra Lalibela One tradition claims that she persuaded her husband to give the throne to Na'akueto La'ab, but convinced him to take the throne back 18 months later when La'ab's soldiers appropriated a poor farmer's only cow for the king's dinner table. The church of Biete Abba Libanos is said to have been built by this queen in memory of her husband. [6]

Solomonic dynasty

Pre-Gondarine period (1270 1682)

The following table is incomplete.

NamePictureSpouseNotes
Jan Mogassa [7] Amda Seyon I
(r. 13141344)
Formally a concubine of Wedem Arad.
3 wives (possibly including Lazzab Warqa) Newaya Krestos
(r. 13441372)
Newaya Krestos married these three women after he became king. [8]
Lazzab WarqaMother of Dawit I.
Seyon Mangasha [9] Dawit I
(r. 13821413)
Mother of Tewodros I.
Igzi Kebra [9] Mother of Zara Yaqob. [10]
Eleni Eleni of Hadiya.jpg Zara Yaqob
(r. 14341468)
Born in the Hadiya Sultanate. Following the Sultanate's invasion by Zara Yaqob, she was captured, baptised and married to the Ethiopian Emperor. She was given the title of "Queen Mother" by her step-son Baeda Maryam I following his accession to the throne in 1468. Ruled as Queen Regent from 1507 to 1516 during the minority of Dawit II. Died in April 1522.
Seyon MorgasaMother of Baeda Maryam I. Died in 1462.
Gera Ba'altihat (or Fere Maryam) [11] Her children were named Berhan Zamada, Madhen Zamada, Sabala Maryam and Del Debaba. [11]
Romna Wark [12] Baeda Maryam I
(r. 14681478)
Mother of two sons, Eskender and 'Enkua 'Esra'el. [13] She ruled as regent during the reign of her son Eskender. [12]
Eresh-Gazet [14] Mother of Theodore. [14]
Kalyupe [14] Mother of Na'od. [15]
Na'od Mogesa Na'od
(r. 14941508)
Mother of Dawit II.
Seble Wongel Dawit II
(r. 15081540)
Married in either 1512 or 1513. Mother of Gelawdewos and Menas. Died on 5 December 1567.
Adimas Moas Menas
(r. 15591563)
Daughter of Robel, governor of Bora and Selawe. Married Menas before he became Emperor.
Admas Mogasa [16] Mother of Sarsa Dengel. [16] Outlived her husband. [16]
Maryam Sena Sarsa Dengel
(r. 15631597)
Influenced her husband to choose Yaqob instead of Za Dengel as his successor.
Nazarena Yaqob
(r. 15971603 and 16041607)
A foreigner. Had 3 sons.
Woizero Wangelawit Za Dengel
(r. 16031604)
Daughter of Susenyos I.
Seltan Mogasa Susenyos I
(r. 16061632)
Also known as Wald Sa'ala. [16] Mother of Fasilides and six other children. [16] Died in 1661. [16]

Gondarine period (1682 1769)

The following table is incomplete.

PictureNameBirthMarriageBecame ConsortCoronationCeased to Be ConsortDeathSpouse
Sabla Wangel [17] Unknown19 July 1682
Husband's death
January 1689 [18] Yohannes I
Walatta SeyonUnknownSeptember 1683UnknownMay 1693 [19] Iyasu I
First wife of Bakaffa UnknownUnknown
Died on the day of her coronation
Bakaffa
The Empress Mentewab (2380768777).jpg Mentewab c. 17066 September 1722Unknown19 September 1730
Husband's death
27 June 1773
Woman from Amhara [20] Unknown Iyasu II
Welete BersabeUnknown

Era of the Princes (1769 1855)

The following table is incomplete.

PictureNameBirthMarriageBecame ConsortCoronationCeased to Be ConsortDeathSpouse
Waletta SelassieUnknown Yohannes II
Walatta IyasusUnknown1801Unknown12 June 1818
Husband's death
Unknown Egwale Seyon
Menen Liben Amede UnknownBefore 184030 August 1840
Husband's accession
UnknownOctober 1841
Husband's deposition [nb 1]
1858 Yohannes III

Modern Ethiopia (1855 1975)

PictureNameBirthMarriageBecame ConsortCoronationCeased to Be ConsortDeathSpouse
Tewabech Ali 1831184811 February 1855
Husband's accession
Unknown19 August 1858 Tewodros II
Tiruwork Wube UnknownFebruary 1860Unknown13 April 1868
Husband's death
16 May 1868
Dinqinesh Mercha 1815Before 186811 June 1868
Husband's accession
Unknown11 July 1871 [nb 2]
Husband's deposition
August 1907 Tekle Giyorgis II
Taicron.gif Taytu Betul 1851188210 March 1889
Husband's accession
4 November 188912 December 1913
Husband's death
11 February 1918 Menelik II
Seble Wongel Hailu.gif Sabla Wangel Hailu 1895 or 18961909 or 191012 December 1913
Husband's accession
Not crowned [nb 3] 27 September 1916
Husband's deposition
1969 Lij Iyasu
Iyasu V
Gugsa Welle.gif Gugsa Welle 1875190027 September 1916
Wife's accession
Not crowned21 March 1930
Died at the Battle of Anchem
Zewditu
Empress Menen Asfaw with Crown.jpg Menen Asfaw 25 March 18891909 [21] 2 April 1930
Husband's accession
12 September 1974
Husband's deposition
15 February 1962 Haile Selassie
Medferiashwork Abebe 1922194512 September 1974 [nb 4]
Husband's accession
Not crowned12 March 1975 [nb 5]
Monarchy abolished
13 March 2009 Amha Selassie

Italian occupation of Ethiopia (1936 1943)

Victor Emmanuel III, king of Italy, was declared Emperor of Ethiopia in 1936 after the Italian victory in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. Italy was later defeated in the East African campaign and lost control of its Ethiopian territories in April 1941, but Victor Emmanuel did not formally renounce his title until November 1943.

PictureNameBirthMarriageBecame ConsortCoronationCeased to Be ConsortDeathSpouse
Bundesarchiv Bild 102-00061, Elena von Montenegro.jpg Elena of Montenegro 8 January 187324 October 18969 May 1936
Husband declared Emperor
Not crowned5 May 1941
De facto end of Italian rule

November 1943
( De jure )
28 November 1928 Victor Emmanuel III

See also

Notes

  1. Became Empress again during the brief second and third reigns of her husband in 1845 and 18501851 respectively.
  2. Retained the title of "Empress" during the reign of her brother Yohannes IV (r. 1871-1889) as he was a widower throughout his reign.
  3. Her husband was never crowned.
  4. Assumed the title of "Empress-in-exile" on 8 April 1989 when her husband assumed the title of "Emperor-in-exile".
  5. Retained the title of "Empress-in-exile" until her husband's death on 17 January 1997.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zagwe dynasty</span> Kingdom in northern Ethiopia and Eritrea (1137–1270)

The Zagwe dynasty was a medieval Agaw monarchy that ruled the northern parts of Ethiopia and Eritrea. The Agaw are a Cushitic ethnic group native to the northern highlands of Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea. It ruled large parts of the territory from approximately 1137 to 1270 AD, when the last Zagwe King Za-Ilmaknun was killed in battle by the forces of the Amhara King Yekuno Amlak. The Zagwe are most famous for their king Gebre Meskel Lalibela, who is credited with having ordered the construction of the rock-hewn monolithic churches of Lalibela.

Na'od was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1494 to 31 July 1507, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty. His regnal name was Anbasa Bazar. His reign was marked by internal tension between territories with the assistance of Queen Eleni. He began construct an extravagant church in Amhara province, called Mekane Selassie. The church was completed by his successor Dawit II in 1530.

Tekle Haymanot I, throne name Le`al Sagad was Emperor of Ethiopia from 27 March 1706 until his death in 1708, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty. He was the son of Iyasu I and Empress Malakotawit. He is often referred to as "Irgum Tekle Haymanot" or "Tekle Haymanot the Cursed".

Five men known as sons of Yagbe'u Seyon ruled as Emperor of Ethiopia in succession between 1294 and 1299. Their names were:

Newaya Krestos was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1344 to 1372, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty. He was the eldest son of Amda Seyon I.

Dawit I was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1382 to 6 October 1413, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty. He was the younger son of Newaya Krestos.

Tewodros I, throne name Walda Anbasa was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1413 to 1414, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty. He was the son of Dawit I by Queen Seyon Mangasha.

Zara Yaqob was Emperor of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty who ruled under the regnal name Qostantinos I. He is known for the Geʽez literature that flourished during his reign, the handling of both internal Christian affairs and external wars with Muslims, along with the founding of Debre Birhan as his capital. He reigned for 34 years and 2 months.

Baeda Maryam I, otherwise known as Cyriacus was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1468 to 1478, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty. His reign was characterized by a number of military campaigns, most notably against the Dobe'a who lived along the western escarpment of the Ethiopian Highlands.

Amda Seyon II was Emperor of Ethiopia briefly during 1494, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty.

Eskender was Emperor of Ethiopia and a member of the Solomonic dynasty. His throne name was Kwestantinos II. He was the son of Emperor Baeda Maryam I by his wife Queen Romna. His early years would see the jostling for power between the nobility and the ecclesiastical elite.

Egwale Seyon, throne name Newaya Sagad, was Emperor of Ethiopia from June 1801 to 12 June 1818, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty. He was the son of Hezqeyas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaleb of Axum</span> King of Aksum from 514 to 542

Kaleb, also known as Elesbaan, was King of Aksum, which was situated in what is now Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Kedus Harbe was King of Zagwe dynasty. According to Taddesse Tamrat, he was the son of Jan Seyum, the brother of Tatadim. Some authorities date his reign to the years 1079–1119. G.W.B. Huntingford does not include him in his list of kings of the Zagwe dynasty. On some regnal lists he is known as Gabra Maryam.

Mara Takla Haymanot was King and the founder of the Zagwe dynasty. Some king lists give his name simply as "Mararah", and other King Lists as "Takla Haymanot".

Germa Seyum was King of Zagwe dynasty. He is known as Be'mnet on some regnal lists.

Yemrehana Krestos was the third king of the Zagwe dynasty, ruling during the second half of the twelfth century. His biography is recorded in the Gädlä Yəmrəḥannä Krəstos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gebre Meskel Lalibela</span> King of Zagwe dynasty from 1181 to 1221

Lalibela, regnal name Gebre Meskel, was a king of the Zagwe dynasty, reigning from 1181 to 1221. He was the son of Jan Seyum and the brother of Kedus Harbe. Perhaps the best-known Zagwe monarch, he is credited as the patron of the namesake monolithic rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. He is venerated as a saint by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church on 19 June.

Ethiopis or Itiyopp'is is the name of a legendary king from Ethiopian tradition who was the inspiration behind the name of the country, Ethiopia.

According to an Ethiopian tradition, the term Ethiopia is derived from the word Ethiopis, a name of the Ethiopian king, the seventh in the ancestral lines. Metshafe Aksum or the Ethiopian Book of Aksum identifies Itiopis as the twelfth king of Ethiopia and the father of Aksumawi. The Ethiopians pronounce Ethiopia እትዮጵያ with a Sades or the sixth sound እ as in incorporate and the graph ጰ has no equivalent in English or Latin graphs. Ethiopis is believed to be the twelfth direct descendant of Adam. His father is identified as Kush, while his grandfather is known as Kam.

References

  1. Rey, C. F. (1927). In the Country of the Blue Nile. London: Camelot Press. p. 270.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Budge, E. A. Wallis (1928). A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia (Volume 1). London: Methuen & Co. p. 259.
  3. Selassie, Sergew Hable (1972). "The Problem of Gudit". Journal of Ethiopian Studies. 10 (1): 115. JSTOR   41965849.
  4. Taddesse Tamrat. "The Legacy of Aksum and Adafa" in Church and State in Ethiopia. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1972, pp. 53–64.
  5. Budge, E. A. Wallis (1928). A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia (Volume 1). London: Methuen & Co. pp. 218–219.
  6. Budge, E. A. Wallis (1928). A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia (Volume 1). London: Methuen & Co. p. 177.
  7. Budge, E. A. Wallis (1928). A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia (Volume 1). London: Methuen & Co. p. 290.
  8. Taddesse Tamrat, Church and State in Ethiopia (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1972), pp. 117f.
  9. 1 2 Budge, E. A. Wallis (1928). A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia (Volume 1). London: Methuen & Co. p. 301.
  10. Danver, Steven L (2015). Native Peoples of the World: An Encyclopedia of Groups, Cultures and Contemporary Issues. Routledge. pp. 15–16. ISBN   9781317464006.
  11. 1 2 Budge, E. A. Wallis (1928). A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia (Volume 1). London: Methuen & Co. p. 307.
  12. 1 2 Budge, E. A. Wallis (1928). A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia (Volume 1). London: Methuen & Co. p. 320.
  13. Budge, E. A. Wallis (1928). A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia (Volume 1). London: Methuen & Co. p. 317.
  14. 1 2 3 Budge, E. A. Wallis (1928). A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia (Volume 1). London: Methuen & Co. p. 319.
  15. James Bruce, Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile (1805 edition), vol. 3, p. 148
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Budge, E. A. Wallis (1928). A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia (Volume 2). London: Methuen & Co. p. 384.
  17. Budge, E. A. Wallis (1928). A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia (Volume 2). London: Methuen & Co. p. 406.
  18. Budge, E. A. Wallis (1928). A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia (Volume 2). London: Methuen & Co. p. 411.
  19. Budge, E. A. Wallis (1928). A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia (Volume 2). London: Methuen & Co. p. 415.
  20. Budge, E. A. Wallis (1928). A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia (Volume II). London: Methuen & Co. p. 459.
  21. Haile Selassie, My Life and Ethiopia's Progress (Chicago: Frontline Distribution International, 1999), pp. 41f.