View source for Emperor of Ethiopia

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{{For|the list of emperors|List of emperors of Ethiopia}}
{{Redirect|Atse|ATSE|Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering}}
{{Infobox former monarchy
| royal_title       = Emperor
| realm             = Ethiopia
| native_name       = {{nobold|{{lang|am|ዐፄ}}}}
| border            = imperial
| coatofarms        = Imperial Coat of Arms of Ethiopia (Haile Selassie).svg
| coatofarmssize    = 120px
| coatofarmscaption = '''[[Emblem of Ethiopia#History|Imperial coat of arms]]'''
| image             = Haile Selassie in full dress (cropped).jpg
| caption           = '''Longest and last to reign<br />[[Haile Selassie]]'''<br />2 April 1930 – 12 September 1974
| first_monarch     = [[Menelik I]]
| last_monarch      = [[Haile Selassie]]
| style             = [[Imperial Majesty|His Imperial Majesty]]
| residence         = [[Menelik Palace]]
| appointer         = Hereditary
| began             = 1270 AD
| ended             = 21 March 1975
| pretender         = [[Zera Yacob Amha Selassie]] <br />[[Girma Yohannes Iyasu]]
}}
{{Contains special characters|Ethiopic}}
[[File:Cristofano dell’Altissimo, Portrait of Lebnä-Dengel. c. 1552-1568.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Dawit II|Lebna Dengel]], ''nəgusä nägäst'' (emperor) of Ethiopia and a member of the [[Solomonic dynasty]].]]
The '''emperor of Ethiopia''' ({{langx|gez|ንጉሠ ነገሥት|nəgusä nägäst}}, "[[King of Kings]]"), also known as the '''Atse''' ({{langx|am|ዐፄ}}, "emperor"), was the [[hereditary monarchy|hereditary ruler]] of the [[Ethiopian Empire]], from at least the 13th century until the abolition of the monarchy in 1975. The emperor was the [[head of state]] and [[head of government]], with ultimate [[executive power|executive]], [[judicial power|judicial]] and [[legislative power]] in that country. A ''[[National Geographic]]'' article from 1965 called Imperial Ethiopia "nominally a [[constitutional monarchy]]; in fact it was a [[benevolent dictatorship|benevolent autocracy]]".<ref>Nathaniel T. Kenney, "Ethiopian Adventure", ''National Geographic'', '''127''' (1965), p. 555.</ref>

==Title and style==
{{See also|Ethiopian aristocratic and court titles#Imperial and royal titles}}
[[File:Téwodros_II_-_2.jpg|thumb|Emperor [[Tewodros II]] (1855–1868)]]
The title "[[King of Kings]]", often rendered imprecisely in English as "emperor," dates back to ancient [[Mesopotamia]], but was used in [[Aksumite Empire|Axum]] by King [[Sembrouthes]] ({{Circa|AD 250}}). However, [[Yuri Kobishchanov]] dates this usage to the period following the [[Persian Empire|Persian]] victory over the [[Roman Empire|Romans]] in 296–297.<ref>Yuri M. Kobishchanov, ''Axum'', translated by Lorraine T. Kapitanoff, and edited by Joseph W. Michels (University Park: University of Pennsylvania State Press,  1979), p. 195. {{ISBN|0-271-00531-9}}.</ref> The most notable pre-Solomonic usage of the title ''Nəgəsä Nägäst'' was by [[Ezana]] of Axum. Despite this, prior to the beginning of the [[Solomonic Dynasty]], most [[Axumite]] and [[Zagwe]] rulers went by [[negus]]. Ezana conquered [[Meroë]], capital of the [[Kushites]], after which he assumed the title of "King of Ethiopia"<ref>Munro-Hay, Stuart (1991). Aksum: An African Civilisation of Late Antiquity. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. pp. 15–16. ISBN 0748601066</ref> prior to the rise of the medieval Ethiopian Empire. This practice would continue into the modern period. 

The Ge'ez predecessor to the title Atse, recorded in Arabic by [[Ibn Hawqal]] as ''Haḍani,'' was ''Haṣ́ani'',<ref>{{Cite journal|title=The Queen of the Habasha in Ethiopian History, Tradition and Chronology|last=Andersen|first=Knud Tage|journal=[[Bulletin of the School of Oriental & African Studies]]|year=2000|volume=63|issue=1|pages=31–63|doi=10.1017/S0041977X00006443|jstor=1559587}}</ref> which would later become ''Hatse''. The Emperors at least from the time of Yekuno Amlak were thus known as ''Hatse'' in the region.<ref>L'ISLAM DI IERI E DI OGGI, Cerulli, Enrico (1971), english translation https://everythingharar.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ISLAM-YESTERDAY-AND-TODAY.pdf (1992) </ref> In 1436 [[Ibn Taghribirdi]] wrote a passage referring to the emperor as the "Lord of [[Bete Amhara|Amhara]], the Hatse, the Abyssinian King, the infidel and the Lord of [[Amhara people|the Amhara]] in [[Abyssinia]]."<ref>Cerulli, Enrico. Islam: Yesterday and Today translated by Emran Waber. Istituto Per L'Oriente. p. 315.</ref>

Its use meant that both subordinate officials and tributary rulers, notably the gubernatorial [[vassal]]s of [[Gojjam]] (who ranked 12th in the states non-dynastic protocol as per 1690), [[Welega Province|Welega]], the seaward [[Provinces of Ethiopia|provinces]] and later [[Shewa]], received the honorific title of ''nəgus'', a word for "king."

The consort of the emperor was referred to as the ''ətege''. Empress [[Zewditu]] used the feminized form ''Nəgəstä Nägäst'' ("Queen of Kings") to show that she [[Queen regnant|reigned in her own right]], and did not use the title of ''ətege''.

==Succession==
On the death of a monarch any male or female descendant of the various dynastic lines could claim succession to the throne. Though in many cases the practice favoured [[primogeniture]] for at least one subsequent succession to the imperial throne, it often, as in the case of Emperor [[Yohannes IV]] of Tigray's claim to the throne after the death of Emperor [[Tewodros II]] from [[Gondar]], would leave the direct lineage of one royal family in favor of another.

The system developed two approaches to controlling the succession: the first involved the selection of emperors by a council of [[vassal]] regional royals and powerful clergy members from throughout the country who supported their claim to the Imperial throne; the combined military and religious strength would use their influence to contain and put down any competing claims. The second involved interning all of the emperor's possible rivals in a secure location, which drastically limited their ability to disrupt the empire with revolts or to dispute the succession of an [[heir apparent]]. Ethiopian traditions do not all agree as to exactly when the custom started of imprisoning rivals to the throne on a "Mountain of the Princes". One tradition credits this practice to the [[Zagwe dynasty|Zagwe]] king [[Yemrehana Krestos]] (fl. 11th century), who allegedly received the idea in a dream;<ref>[[Francisco Álvares]], ''The Prester John of the Indies'', translated by Lord Stanley of Alderley, revised and edited with additional material by C.F. Beckingham and G.W.B. Huntingford, (Cambridge: The [[Hakluyt Society]], 1961), p. 237ff.</ref> [[Taddesse Tamrat]] discredits this tradition, arguing that the records of the Zagwe dynasty betray too many disputed successions for this to have been the case.<ref>Taddesse Tamrat, ''Church and State in Ethiopia (1270–1527)'' (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1972), p. 275, n. 3. {{ISBN|0-19-821671-8}}.</ref> Another tradition, recorded by historian [[Thomas Pakenham (historian)|Thomas Pakenham]], states that this practice predates the Zagwe dynasty (which ruled from {{Circa|AD 900}}), and was first practiced on [[Debre Damo]], which was captured by the 10th-century queen Yodit or "[[Gudit]]", who then isolated 200 princes there to death; however, Pakenham also notes that when questioned, the abbot of the monastery on Debre Damo knew of no such tale.<ref>
[[Thomas Pakenham (historian)|Thomas Pakenham]], ''The Mountains of Rasselas'' (New York: Reynal & Co., 1959), p. 84. {{ISBN|0-297-82369-8}}.
</ref>
Taddesse Tamrat argues that this practice began in the reign of [[Wedem Arad]] (1299–1314), following the struggle for succession that he believes lies behind the series of brief reigns of the [[sons of Yagbe'u Seyon]] (reigned 1285–1294). A constructivist approach{{which|date=September 2015}} states that the tradition was used on occasion, weakened or lapsed sometimes, and was sometimes revived to full effect after some unfortunate disputes – and that the custom started in time immemorial as Ethiopian common inheritance patterns allowed all [[agnate]]s to also succeed to the lands of the monarchy – which however is contrary to keeping the country undivided.

The potential royal rivals were incarcerated at [[Amba Geshen]] until the site was destroyed in 1540 during the [[Ethiopian-Adal war]]; then, from the reign of [[Fasilides]] (1632–1667) until the mid-18th century, at [[Wehni]]. Rumors of these royal mountain residences were part of the inspiration for [[Samuel Johnson]]'s short story, ''[[Rasselas]]''.

Although the emperor of Ethiopia had theoretically unlimited power over his subjects, his councillors came to play an increasing role in governing Ethiopia, because many emperors were succeeded either by a child, or one of the incarcerated princes, who could only successfully leave their prisons with help from the outside. As a result, by the mid-18th century the power of the emperor had been largely transferred to his deputies, like Ras [[Mikael Sehul]] of [[Tigray Province|Tigray]] ({{Circa|1691}} – 1779), who held actual power in the empire and elevated or deposed emperors at will.

==Ideology==
The emperors of Ethiopia derived their right to rule based on two dynastic claims: their descent from the kings of [[Kingdom of Aksum|Axum]], and their descent from [[Menelik I]], the legendary son of [[Solomon]] and Makeda, [[Queen of Sheba]].

The claim to their relationship to the Kings of Axum derives from Yakuno Amlak's claim that he was the descendant of [[Dil Na'od]], through his father, although he defeated and killed the last Zagwe king in battle. His claim to the throne was also helped by his marriage to that king's daughter, even though Ethiopians commonly do not acknowledge claims from the distaff side. The claim of descent from Menelik I is based on the assertion that the kings of Axum were also the descendants of Menelik I; its definitive and best-known formulation is set forth in the ''[[Kebra Nagast]]''.

However, there is no historical evidence supporting the legends or Yekuno Amlak's ancestry. There is no credible basis to the claims that the Aksumite royal house was descended from Solomon (or that any Aksumite king even claimed such an ancestry) or that Yekuno Amlak was descended from the Aksumite royal house. Solomon is dated to the 10th century BCE, hundreds of years before the founding of Aksum.<ref name=Kaplan>{{cite book|last= Kaplan|first=Stephen |editor-last1=Bausi |editor-first1=Alessandro|editor-last2= Appleyard|editor-first2=David L.|editor-last3=Uhlig |editor-first3=Siegbert |editor-last4=Kaplan |editor-first4= Steven|editor-last5= Hahn|editor-first5=Wolfgang |chapter=Solomonic dynasty |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h-g7DwAAQBAJ&dq=no+evidence+Solomonic+dynasty&pg=PA111 |title= Ethiopia: History, Culture and Challenges|year= 2017|publisher=Michigan State University Press|isbn=978-3-643-90892-6|page=111}}</ref> Historian Harold G. Marcus describes the stories of the ''Kebra Nagast'' as a "pastiche of legends" created to legitimize Yekuno Amlak's seizure of power.<ref>{{cite book |last= Marcus|first=Harold G. |title=A History of Ethiopia |year=2002 |isbn= 978-0-520-22479-7|publisher= University of California Press|page=17 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q7AwDwAAQBAJ&dq=The+Golden+Age+of+the+Solomonic+dynasty,+to+1500&pg=PA17}}</ref> [[David Northrup (historian)|David Northrup]] notes that {{blockquote|the ''Kebra Nagast's'' imaginative and emotive account of a line of descent from Solomon and Sheba to the kings of Aksum and the new Solomonic dynasty is highly improbable and unsupported by evidence. It is a myth.<ref>{{cite book |last=Northrup |first=David |title= Seven Myths of Africa in World History|year= 2017|isbn=978-1-62466-641-4 |publisher=Hackett Publishing |page= 27|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G34zDwAAQBAJ&dq=Solomonic+Ethiopia+%22highly+improbable%22&pg=PA27}}</ref>}} Although the story originated as a medieval political myth, it nevertheless became embedded in the Ethiopian sense of nationhood. This and the dynasty's continued propagation of the myth was reflected in the [[1955 Constitution of Ethiopia|1955 Ethiopian constitution]], which declared that the emperor "descends without interruption from the dynasty of Menelik I, son of Queen of Ethiopia, the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon of Jerusalem".<ref>{{cite book|last1= Witakowski|first1=Witold |last2=Balicka-Witakowska |first2= Ewa|editor-last1= Verheyden|editor-first1= Jozef|chapter= Solomon in Ethiopian tradition |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=28aDJyH-3FgC&dq=Solomonic+legend+constitution+1955&pg=PA221 |title=The Figure of Solomon in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic Tradition |year= 2013|publisher=Brill|isbn=978-90-04-24232-6|page=221}}</ref>

==History==
The [[Solomonic dynasty]], which claimed descent from the old Aksumite rulers, ruled Ethiopia from the 13th century until 1974.

===Modern era===
The [[Amhara people|Amhara]] warrior turned emperor, Kassa of [[Qwara Province|Qwara]], [[Gonder]], in 1855 took complete control over Ethiopia and was crowned Emperor [[Tewodros II]]. Of the valley nobility, he claimed paternal descent from Emperor Fasilides, by way of one of the aforementioned emperor's daughters. After Emperor Tewodros' reign, one of the many rebels leaders that helped the [[British people|British]] in their expedition into Abyssinia was Dejazmatch Kassa, he was rewarded with articles of war for his services and went on to assume power through his claim of Solomonic descent from his mothers Gondarian ancestry and was crowned Emperor [[Yohannes IV]]. Sahle Maryam of Shewa, who descended from Solomonic emperors directly paternally through the Shewan Branch (junior only to the Gondar line), ascended the imperial throne following Emperor Yohannes IV's death and thus, purporting to restore the male-line Solomonic tradition, for which he adopted the throne name of Menelik II.

The Emperor Tewodros spent his youth fighting with invading Ottoman Egyptians (termed 'Turks' by the Ethiopians), then unifying the empire after the dark age of the '[[Zemene Mesafint]]' (Era of the Princes). Emperor Yohannes IV defeated an invading [[Egypt]]ian army in modern day [[Eritrea]] and died while working to address the situation regarding the [[Mahdist (follower)|Mahdist]] presence in Ethiopia. Emperor [[Menelik II]] achieved a major military victory against Italian invaders in March 1896 at the [[Battle of Adwa]] and conquered the modern borders of Ethiopia.

===Italian occupation of Ethiopia===
{{main|Italian Ethiopia|Italian East Africa}}

[[Fascist Italy (1922–1943)|Italy under Benito Mussolini]] attacked Ethiopia in 1935, starting the [[Second Italo-Ethiopian War]]. Italian successes in the war caused the emperor [[Haile Selassie]] to be voted into exile by his nobles in 1936; he pled Ethiopia's case against Italy before the [[League of Nations]], but aid from the League was not forthcoming. Italy added Ethiopia to its already existing colonies of Eritrea and Italian Somalia, creating the new dependent state of [[Italian East Africa]] and was the first to associate Ethiopia as part of the [[Horn of Africa]]. 

On 9 May 1936, King [[Victor Emmanuel III of Italy]] proclaimed himself emperor of Ethiopia, replacing Haile Selassie. He was recognised as emperor in the following year by all the countries in the world (with the exception of the [[USSR]]).

Victor Emmanuel's claim to emperorship was not entirely accepted, with the [[Soviet Union]] never considering the Italian conquest legitimate, and Haile Selassie continuing to contest the occupation from exile in the United Kingdom. With Italy's entry on the side of the [[Axis powers]] in [[World War II]], the African part of the British Empire aided Haile Selassie and anti-Italian Ethiopian forces in the [[East African campaign (World War II)|East African campaign]]. Italy was defeated and Selassie restored to the throne, with most combat in Ethiopia ending in 1941. The [[Armistice of Cassibile]] was signed in September 1943 with the Kingdom of Italy's surrender, and Victor Emmanuel III officially renounced his title as emperor of Ethiopia in November 1943.

===Return of Haile Selassie, post-war period, and end of the monarchy===
In January 1942, Haile Selassie was officially reinstated to power in Ethiopia. The position of the emperor and the line of succession were strictly defined in both of the constitutions adopted during the reign of Selassie: the [[1931 Constitution of Ethiopia|one adopted on July 16, 1931]]; and the [[1955 Constitution of Ethiopia|revised one of November 1955]].

Haile Selassie was the last Solomonic monarch to rule Ethiopia. He was deposed by the [[Derg]], the committee of lower-ranking military and police officials on September 12, 1974. The Derg offered the throne to Selassie's son [[Amha Selassie]], who – understandably mistrustful of the Derg – refused to return to Ethiopia to rule. The Derg abolished the monarchy on 21 March 1975. In April 1989, Amha Selassie was proclaimed emperor in exile at London, with his succession backdated to the date of Haile Selassie's death in August 1975 rather than his deposition in September 1974. In 1993 a group called the "[[Crown Council of Ethiopia]]", which included several descendants of Haile Selassie, affirmed Amha as emperor and legal head of Ethiopia. However, the [[1995 Constitution of Ethiopia]] confirmed the abolition of the monarchy.

==Symbols==
{{Main|Emblem of Ethiopia}}

<gallery widths="260px" heights="260px">
File:Lion of Judah emblem of the Ethiopian Empire.svg|The conquering [[Lion of Judah]], a title of the Ethiopian emperor and a national symbol of Ethiopia.
File:Imperial coat of arms of Ethiopia (Haile Selassie).svg|Coat of arms of the Emperor of Ethiopia
File:Ethiopian imperial standard of Haile Selassie I (obverse).svg|Imperial Standard of Haile Selassie (obverse)
File:Ethiopian imperial standard of Haile Selassie I (reverse).svg|Imperial Standard of Haile Selassie (reverse)
</gallery>

==Family tree==

{{chart top|width=100%<!--|Add alternativ name here-->}} (Note: This family tree only includes the historical figures' paternal ancestries)
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|{{(!}}  style="border-spacing: 2px; border: 1px solid darkgray;"
{{!}}+'''Legend'''
{{!}} [[File:Lion of Judah.svg|35px|link=]]
{{!}} '''EMPEROR''' (bold, capital letters)
<br />
{{!}}-
{{!}} {{tree chart/start}}{{tree chart|~}}{{tree chart/end}}
{{!}} Marriage

{{!}}-
{{!}} {{tree chart/start}}{{tree chart|!}}{{tree chart/end}}
{{!}} Descent
<br />
{{!}}-
{{!}} {{tree chart/start}}{{tree chart|Q}}{{tree chart/end}}
{{!}} Uncertain/purported/legendary descent
{{!)}}
{{tree chart/start|align=center|style=font-size:112%|summary=Ethiopian emperors family tree.}}
{{tree chart|border=2| | | | | | | | | | | | | |ho1  | ho1='''<big>HOUSE OF DAVID</big>'''| boxstyle_ho1=border-width:0px}}
{{tree chart|border=2| | | | | | | | | | | | | | SOL |~|r2|~| MKD | SOL=[[File:Star of David.svg|20px|link=]]<br />'''[[Solomon|SOLOMON]]'''<br />{{small|King of Israel}}| MKD=<br />'''[[Queen of Sheba#Ethiopian|MAKEDA]]'''<br />{{small|Queen of Sheba}}}}
{{tree chart|border=2| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Q}}
{{tree chart|border=2| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MK1 | MK1=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]][[File:OrthodoxCross.svg|20px|link=]]<br />'''[[Menelik I|MENELIK I]]'''<br />{{small|Legendary first emperor}}}}
{{tree chart|border=2| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Q}}
{{tree chart|border=2| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |ho2  | ho2='''<big>[[List of kings of Axum|KINGS OF AXUM]]</big>'''<br />(mostly <br />legendary genealogy)| boxstyle_ho2=border-width:0px}}
{{tree chart|border=2| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Q}}
{{tree chart|border=2| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DLN | DLN='''[[Dil Na'od|DIL NA'OD]]'''<br />{{small|Last King of Axum}}}}
{{tree chart|border=2| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| }}
{{tree chart|border=2| | | | | | | MTH |~|~|~|~|~| MSB | | MWD | MTH=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Mara Takla Haymanot|MARA TAKLA<br />HAYMANOT]]<br />{{small|(1)}}'''| MSB=Masoba Warq| MWD=Mkhbara Widam<br />(Mahbere-Widam)}}
{{tree chart|border=2| | |ho3  | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | |!| ho3='''<big>ZAGWE DYNASTY</big>'''| boxstyle_ho3=border-width:0px}}
{{tree chart|border=2| | | |,|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|.| | | | | | | |!}}
{{tree chart|border=2| | | TAT | | JSY | | GSY | | | | | | AGB | TAT=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Tatadim|TATADIM]]<br />{{small|(2)}}'''| JSY=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Jan Seyum|JAN SEYUM]]<br />{{small|(3)}}'''| GSY=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Germa Seyum|GERMA SEYUM]]<br />{{small|(4)}}'''| AGB=Agba Seyun<br />(Yakob)}}
{{tree chart|border=2| | | |,|-|-|-|(| | | |!| | | | | | | |!}}
{{tree chart|border=2| | | KDH | | LAL | | YMK | | | | | | SNF | KDH=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Kedus Harbe|KEDUS HARBE]]<br />{{small|(6)}}'''| LAL=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Gebre Mesqel Lalibela|GEBRE MESQEL<br /> LALIBELA]]<br />{{small|(7)}}'''| YMK=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Yemrehana Krestos|YEMREHANA<br />KRESTOS]]<br />{{small|(5)}}'''| SNF=Sinfa Ar'ad}}
{{tree chart|border=2| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | |!}}
{{tree chart|border=2| | | NKL | | YTB | | | | | | | | | | NZR | NKL=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Na'akueto La'ab|NA'AKUETO LA'AB]]<br />{{small|(8)}}'''| YTB=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Yetbarak|YETBARAK]]<br />{{small|(9)}}'''| NZR=Negus Zaré}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |S|P|W|P|P|P|Z| | | | | | | | | | | |!}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ASF | ASF=Asfiha}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |!}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | YKB | YKB=Yakob}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |!}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | BHR | BHR=Bahr Seggad}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |!}}
{{tree chart|border=2| no1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ADM | no1=''[[Zagwe dynasty]]''<ref>Zagwe dynasty continued to rule in [[Lasta]] for centuries; restored to imperial throne in 1868.</ref>| ADM=Adam Asgad<br />(Widma Asgad)}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |!}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | TSF | TSF=Tasfa Iyasus}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |!}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | YKA | YKA=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Yekuno Amlak|YEKUNO AMLAK]]'''<br />{{small|1270–1285}}}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | | | | | | | | |ho4  | | |!| ho4='''<big>SOLOMONIC<br />DYNASTY</big>'''| boxstyle_ho4=border-width:0px}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | | | | | |,|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|.| }}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | | | | | SM1 | | | | | | WED | | QID | SM1=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Yagbe'u Seyon|Yagbe'u Seyon<br />(SALOMON I)]]'''<br />{{small|1285–1294}}| WED=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Wedem Arad|WEDEM ARAD]]'''<br />{{small|1299–1314}}| QID=Prince<br />Qidma Seggada}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| | | |!}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| SN4 | | HEZ | | QED | | JIN | | SAB | | AS1 | SN4=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Sons of Yagbe'u Seyon of Ethiopia|SENFA ARED IV]]'''<br />{{small|1294–1295}}| HEZ=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Sons of Yagbe'u Seyon of Ethiopia|HEZBA ASGAD]]'''<br />{{small|1295–1296}}| QED=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Sons of Yagbe'u Seyon of Ethiopia|QEDMA ASGAD]]'''<br />{{small|1296–1297}}| JIN=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Sons of Yagbe'u Seyon of Ethiopia|JIN ASGAD]]'''<br />{{small|1297–1298}}| SAB=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Sons of Yagbe'u Seyon of Ethiopia|SABA ASGAD]]'''<br />{{small|1298–1299}}| AS1=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Amda Seyon I|AMDA SEYON I]]'''<br />{{small|1314–1344}}}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |!| }}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NKR | NKR=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Newaya Krestos|NEWAYA KRESTOS]]'''<br />{{small|1344–1372}}}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |,|-|-|-|(| }}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DW1 | | NMR | DW1=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Dawit I|DAWIT I]]'''<br />{{small|1382–1413}}| NMR=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Newaya Maryam|NEWAYA MARYAM]]'''<br />{{small|1372–1382}}}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|(}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| TD1 | | YSQ | | TMR | | | | | | ZRY | TD1=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Tewodros I|TEWODROS I]]'''<br />{{small|1413–1414}}| YSQ=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Yeshaq I|YESHAQ I]]'''<br />{{small|1414–1429}}| TMR=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Takla Maryam|TAKLA MARYAM]]'''<br />{{small|1430–1433}}| ZRY=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Zara Yaqob|ZARA YAQOB]]'''<br />{{small|1434–1468}}}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | |!| | | |)|-|-|-|.| | | |!}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | AND | | SAR | | AMD | | BM1 | AND=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Andreyas|ANDREYAS]]'''<br />{{small|1429–1430}}| SAR=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Sarwe Iyasus|SARWE IYASUS]]'''<br />{{small|1433}}| AMD=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Amda Iyasus|AMDA IYASUS]]'''<br />{{small|1433–1434}}| BM1=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Baeda Maryam I|BAEDA MARYAM I]]'''<br />{{small|1468–1478}}}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | | | | | | | | | |,|-|-|-|(}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | | | | | | | | | ESK | | NAO | ESK=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Eskender|ESKENDER]]'''<br />{{small|1478–1494}}| NAO=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Na'od|NA'OD]]'''<br />{{small|1494–1507}}}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | | | | | | | | | |!| | | |!}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | | | | | | | | | AS2 | | DW2 | AS2=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Amda Seyon II|AMDA SEYON II]]'''<br />{{small|1494}}| DW2=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Dawit II|DAWIT II]]'''<br />{{small|1507–1540}}}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|(}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| GEL | | MEN | | | | | | | | | | YAK | GEL=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Gelawdewos|GELAWDEWOS]]'''<br />{{small|1540–1559}}| MEN=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Menas of Ethiopia|MENAS]]'''<br />{{small|1559–1563}}| YAK=Prince Yakob}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | |!| | |ho5  | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | |ho6  | ho5='''<big>SOLOMONIC<br />DYNASTY</big><br />GONDAR BRANCH'''| boxstyle_ho5=border-width:0px| ho6='''<big>SOLOMONIC<br />DYNASTY</big><br />SHEWA BRANCH'''| boxstyle_ho6=border-width:0px}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| |,|-|-|-|(| | | |,|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|^|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q|SAR2 | | LKR | | FAS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | SEG | SAR2=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Sarsa Dengel|SARSA DENGEL]]'''<br />{{small|1563–1597}}| LKR=Prince <br />Lesana Krestos| FAS=Prince Fasilidas| SEG=Prince <br />Segwa Qal}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| |!| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |!}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| YAQ | | ZAD | | SS1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | WAR | YAQ=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Yaqob of Ethiopia|YAQOB]]'''<br />{{small|1597–1603<br />1604–1606}}| ZAD=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Za Dengel|ZA DENGEL]]'''<br />{{small|1603–1604}}| SS1=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Susenyos I|SUSENYOS I]]'''<br />{{small|1606–1632}}| WAR=Warada Qal}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |!}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | | | | |FAS2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | LEB | FAS2=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Fasilides|FASILIDES]]'''<br />{{small|1632–1667}}| LEB=Lebsa Qal}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | | | | | |o|P|P|P|P|P|P|P|P|P|P|P|P|P|T| | |!}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | | | | | YH1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |Q| | NeK | YH1=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Yohannes I|YOHANNES I]]'''<br />{{small|1667–1682}}| NeK=[[Negasi Krestos]]<br />{{small|Ruler of Shewa}}}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| |,|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.| | | | | |Q| | |!}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| AML | | | | | | IY1 | | | | | | TEW | | | | |Q| | SEB | AML=Princess Amlakawit| IY1=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Iyasu I|IYASU I]]'''<br />{{small|1682–1706}}| TEW=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Tewoflos|TEWOFLOS]]'''<br />{{small|1708–1711}}| SEB=[[Sebestyanos]]<br />{{small|Ruler of Shewa}}}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| |!| | | |,|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| | | | | |Q| | |!}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| DEL | | TH1 | | BAK | | DW3 | | YH2 | | | | |Q| | QEq | DEL=Delba Iyasus<br />{{small|''Dejazmatch'' of Tigray}}| TH1=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Tekle Haymanot I|TEKLE HAYMANOT I]]'''<br />{{small|1706–1708}}| BAK=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Bakaffa|BAKAFFA]]'''<br />{{small|1721–1730}}| DW3=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Dawit III|DAWIT III]]'''<br />{{small|1716–1721}}| YH2=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Yohannes II|YOHANNES II]]'''<br />{{small|1769}}| QEq=[[Qedami Qal]]<br />{{small|Ruler of Shewa}}}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| |!| | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | |)|-|-|-|.| |Q| | |!}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| YOS | | | | | | IY2 | | | | | | TH2 | | TG1 |Q| | AMH | YOS=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Yostos|YOSTOS]]'''<br />{{small|1711–1716}}| IY2=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Iyasu II|IYASU II]]'''<br />{{small|1730–1755}}| TH2=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Tekle Haymanot II|TEKLE <br />HAYMANOT II]]'''<br />{{small|1769–1770<br />1770–1777}}| TG1=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Tekle Giyorgis I|TEKLE GIYORGIS I]]'''<br />{{small|1779–1784; 1788–1789<br />1794–1795; 1795–1796<br />1798–1799; 1800}}| AMH=[[Amha Iyasus]]<br />{{small|Ruler of Shewa}}}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| |,|-|-|-|v|-|r|-|+|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | |!| |Q| | |!}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| ADI | | ATS |Q| IO1 | |HEZ2 | | SM3 | | YH3 |Q| | ASw | ADI=Prince Adigo| ATS=Prince Atsequ| IO1=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Iyoas I|IYOAS I]]'''<br />{{small|1755–1769}}| HEZ2=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Hezqeyas|HEZQEYAS]]'''<br />{{small|1789–1794}}| SM3=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Salomon III|SALOMON III]]'''<br />{{small|1796–1797<br />1799}}| YH3=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Yohannes III|YOHANNES III]]'''<br />{{small|1840–1841; 1845<br />1850–1851}}| ASw=[[Asfaw Wossen (ruler of Shewa)|Asfa Wossen]]<br />{{small|Ruler of Shewa}}}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| |!| | | |!| |Q| |,|-|-|-|(| | | |!| | | |S|P|Z| | |!}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| SM2 | | IY3 |Q| EGW | | IO2 | | IY4 | |no2  | | | WOS | SM2=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Salomon II|SALOMON II]]'''<br />{{small|1777–1779}}| IY3=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Iyasu III|IYASU III]]'''<br />{{small|1784–1788}}| EGW=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Egwale Seyon|EGWALE SEYON]]'''<br />{{small|1801–1818}}| IO2=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Iyoas II|IYOAS II]]'''<br />{{small|1818–1821}}| IY4=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Iyasu IV|IYASU IV]]'''<br />{{small|1830–1832}}| no2=''Unascertainable claims<br />of descent from Fasilides''<br />{{small|(intermediate generations omitted)}}| boxstyle_no2=border-width:1px| WOS=[[Wossen Seged]]<br />{{small|Ruler of Shewa}}}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| |!| | | | | |H|P|P|P|T|S|M|P|M|P|P|P|M|P|W|P|T| | |!| }}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| |!| | | | | |Q|no3  |Q|Q|Q| |Q| | | |Q| | | |Q| | |!| no3={{small|(alleged sons of Iyasu II)}}| boxstyle_no3=border-width:0px}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| BM2 | | | | SS2 | | GIG |Q| YON | | GBM | | DEM | |!| BM2=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Baeda Maryam II|BAEDA MARYAM II]]'''<br />{{small|1795}}| SS2=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Susenyos II|SUSENYOS II]]'''<br />{{small|1770}}| GIG=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Gigar|GIGAR]]'''<br />{{small|1821–1826<br />1826–1830}}| YON=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Yonas|YONAS]]'''<br />{{small|1797–1798}}| GBM=Gabre Masai| DEM=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Demetros|DEMETROS]]'''<br />{{small|1799–1800<br />1800–1801}}}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | | | | | | | | | |Q| | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | |!}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q| | | | | | | | | | | | | |Q| | | GKR | | SDL | | | SLS | GKR=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Gebre Krestos|GEBRE KRESTOS]]'''<br />{{small|1832}}| SDL=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Sahle Dengel|SAHLE DENGEL]]'''<br />{{small|1832–1840; 1841–1845<br />1845–1850; 1851–1855}}| SLS=[[Sahle Selassie]]<br />{{small|Ruler of Shewa}}}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Q|BM3  | | | |ho7  | | | |ho8  | | |,|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|(| BM3='''[[Baeda Maryam III|BAEDA MARYAM III]]''' (1826)<br />{{small|(unknown parentage)}}| boxstyle_BM3=border-width:1px| ho7='''<big>YOHANNES<br />DYNASTY </big>'''| boxstyle_ho7=border-width:0px| ho8='''<big>TEWODROS<br />DYNASTY</big>'''| boxstyle_ho8=border-width:0px}}
{{tree chart|border=2| |Y|P|T| | | | | MIR | | | | TD2 | | HLM | | | | | | | TEN | MIR=Mirtcha Wolde Kidane<br />{{small|Shum of Tembien}}| TD2=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Tewodros II|TEWODROS II]]'''<br />{{small|1855–1868}}| HLM=[[Haile Melekot]]<br />{{small|Ruler of Shewa}}| TEN=Princess<br />Tenagnework}}
{{tree chart|border=2| | |ho9  | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | | | | |!| ho9='''<big>ZAGWE DYNASTY</big><br />(RESTORED)'''| boxstyle_ho9=border-width:0px}}
{{tree chart|border=2| | | TG2 |~| DIN | | YH4 | | ALT |~| MK2 |y| WIV | | | MAK | TG2=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Tekle Giyorgis II|TEKLE GIYORGIS II]]'''<br />{{small|1868–1872}}| DIN=[[Dinqinesh Mercha|Empress Dinqinesh]]| YH4=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Yohannes IV|YOHANNES IV]]'''<br />{{small|1872–1889}}| ALT=''Woizero'' Altash| MK2=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Menelik II|MENELIK II]]'''<br />{{small|1889–1913}}| WIV=''Other wives''| MAK=[[Ras Makonnen]]<br />{{small|Governor of Harar}}}}
{{tree chart|border=2| | | | | | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | |!}}
{{tree chart|border=2| | | | | | | | | | | ARA |~|~|~|~|~| ZEW | | SHG | | | HLS | ARA=[[Araya Selassie Yohannes|Araya Selassie]]<br />{{small|King of Tigray}}| ZEW=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Zewditu|ZEWDITU]]'''<br />{{small|1916–1930}}| SHG=Princess<br />Shoagarad| HLS=[[File:Lion of Judah.svg|30px|link=]]<br />'''[[Haile Selassie|HAILE SELASSIE]]'''<br />{{small|1930–1974}}}}
{{tree chart|border=2| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |!| | | | |!}}
{{tree chart|border=2| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | IY5 | | | ASW | IY5=[[Lij Iyasu|LIJ IYASU]]<br />{{small|1913–1916}}<br />{{small|designated but uncrowned Emperor of Ethiopia}}| ASW=[[Amha Selassie|AMHA SELASSIE]]<br />{{small|1989–1997}}<br />{{small|Crown Prince<br />Titular Emperor}}}}
{{tree chart|border=2| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |!}}
{{tree chart|border=2| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |ZRY2 | ZRY2=[[Zera Yacob Amha Selassie|ZERA YACOB]]<br />{{small|1997–present}}<br />{{small|Crown Prince<br />Titular Emperor}}}}
{{tree chart/end}}
{{chart bottom}}

==See also==
* [[Kebra Nagast]]
* [[Fetha Negest]]
* [[History of Ethiopia]]
* [[Monarchies of Ethiopia]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150109144409/http://rastaites.com/HIM/lineage.htm Rasta Ites – List of Ethiopian Kings]
* [http://ethiopiancrown.org/ Crown Council of Ethiopia]

{{Emperors of Ethiopia}}
{{Ethiopia topics}}
{{Family trees}}
{{Heads of state and government of Africa}}

[[Category:Emperors of Ethiopia| ]]
[[Category:Descent from antiquity]]
[[Category:Family trees of royalty]]