List of rulers of Mutapa

Last updated

This is a list of the rulers of the Mutapa Empire.

List of rulers of Kingdom of Mutapa

Territory located in present-day Zimbabwe.

Mwenemutapa = Lord of the Conquered Land. Coat of Arms of Kingdom of Monomatapa (Mutapa).png

TenureIncumbentNotes
c.1430Foundation of Mutapa Kingdom
c. 1430 to c. 1450 Nyatsimba Mutota , Great Zimbabwe
c. 1450 to 1480 Matope Nyanhehwe Nebedza , Mwenemutapa
1480 Mavura Maobwe , Mwenemutapa
1480 to 1490 Nyahuma Mukombero , Mwenemutapa
1490 to 1494 Mavhuramhande , Mwenemutapa
1494 to c. 1530 Chikuyo Chisamarengu , Mwenemutapa
c. 1530 to c. 1550 Neshangwe Munembire , MwenemutapaNeshangwe Munembiri ruled during the Rozvi Dynasty but was not part of the royal Moyo Chirandu clan (VaRozvi). Instead, he belonged to the Moyo Sinyoro clan of the Njanja people. His father, Gouveia, was a Jewish refugee who fled persecution in the Iberian Peninsula (modern-day Portugal and Spain) during the Inquisitions. Gouveia married Princess Mashawashe, the daughter of Chief Chirwa, and she became known as Gambiza, a term derived from the Hebrew Ger Tzedek, meaning "righteous convert" or "righteous foreigner."

When their son Neshangwe rose to the position of Mutapa (King), Princess Mashawashe, in accordance with Hebrew tradition, was recognized as Gebirah, meaning "Queen Mother." Over time, the terms Ger Tzedek and Gebirah evolved into "Gambiza," now understood to mean "stranger among us" or "righteous convert." In Njanja culture, "Gambiza" has since been adopted as a title for all women who marry Njanja men, symbolizing a form of cultural conversion.

Today, Neshangwe is one of the Njanja chieftainship located in Buhera.

c. 1550 to 1560 Chivere Nyasoro , Mwenemutapa
1560 to 1589 Negomo Chirisamhuru , MwenemutapaGranted Coat of Arms by King of Portugal
1589 to 1623 Gatsi Rusere , Mwenemutapa
1623 to 1629 Nyambo Kapararidze , MwenemutapaOverthrown by the Portuguese
1629Mutapa becomes a Portuguese Vassal
1629 to 1652 Mavura Mhande Felipe , MwenemutapaSigns treaty of Vassalage with Portuguese; Dies of accidental gunshot wound.
1652 to 1663 Siti Kazurukamusapa , MwenemutapaSon of Mavura; assassinated by Prazos merchants
1663Mutapa becomes a Rozvi Vassal
1663 to 1692 Kamharapasu Mukombwe , MwenemutapaAllies with Rozvi and throws out Prazos
1692 to 1694 Nyakambira , MwenemutapaAssumes throne with Rozvi support; Rozwi vassal king of Manyika after 1694
1694Mutapa returns to Portuguese vassalage
1694 to 1707 Nyamhande , MwenemutapaDefeats Nyakiambira with Portuguese support
1707 to 1711 Nyenyedzi Zenda , Mwenemutapa
1711 to 1712 Baroma Mugwagwa , MwenemutapaOverthrown and retreats to Chidima
1712Mutapa returns to Rozvi vassalge
1712 to 1723 Samatambira Nyamhandu I , MwenemutapaInstalled by Rozvi invasion
1720Mutapa independent of Rozvi; moves capital to Chikova in 1723
1723 to 1735 Samatambira Nyamhandu I , MwenemutapaRules in close alliance with Portuguese at Tete
1735 to 1740 Nyatsusu , Mwenemutapa
1740 to 1759 Dehwe Mapunzaguta , MwenemutapaHas Portuguese garrison reinstated at royal capital.
1760Mutapa collapses in Civil War; dynasty survives in Chidima
? to 1917ChiokoKilled in battle with the Portuguese

Sources