View source for List of kings of Burundi

{{Short description|None}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox monarchy
| royal_title        = ''Mwami''
| realm              = Burundi
| native_name        = <!-- Optional. -->
| border             = <!-- Optional. Accepted values: provincial / federal / imperial -->
| coatofarms         = Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Burundi.svg
| coatofarmssize     = 150px
| coatofarmscaption  = [[Coat of arms of Burundi|Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Burundi]],<br>with the royal ''[[karyenda]]'' drum surmounted on the top
| coatofarms_article = <!-- Required if {{{coatofarms}}} field is used. -->
| coatofarms_link    = <!-- Optional. If {{{coatofarms}}} field is used. -->
| type               = Majesty
| his/her            = His
| image              = Ntare V.png
| caption            = '''Last to reign<br>[[Ntare V of Burundi|Ntare V Ndizeye]]'''<br>8 July 1966 – 28 November 1966
| incumbent          = 
| incumbentsince     = 
| other              = <!-- Optional. Other caption below incumbent's name instead of enthronement date. -->
| image2             = <!-- Optional. Just the image name, no File: or Image: coding -->
| caption2           = <!-- Optional. -->
| incumbent2         = <!-- Optional. for a co-principality -->
| incumbent2since    = <!-- Optional. Enthronement date. -->
| other2             = <!-- Optional. Other caption below co-incumbent's name instead of enthronement date. -->
| heir_apparent      = <!-- Optional. -->
| heir_presumptive   = <!-- Optional. -->
| first_monarch      = [[Ntare I of Burundi|Ntare III Rushatsi]]
| last_monarch       = [[Ntare V of Burundi|Ntare V Ndizeye]]
| formation          = {{circa}} 1680
| abolition          = 28 November 1966
| residence          = [[Gitega]] and [[Bujumbura]], [[Burundi]]
| appointer          = [[Hereditary monarchy|Hereditary]]
| pretender          = Princess [[Rosa Paula Iribagiza]]
| website            = <!-- Optional. -->
}}

This article contains two versions of the '''list of kings of Burundi''', the traditional version before 1680 and the modern genealogy. The [[Kingdom of Burundi]] was ruled by sovereigns, titled ''[[mwami]]'' (plural ''abami''), whose [[regnal name]]s followed a cycle: Ntare (meaning 'lion'), Mwezi (meaning 'moon'), Mutaga, and Mwambutsa. Traditionally, it was thought that there had been four complete cycles but the modern genealogy indicates that there were only two complete cycles, starting with Ntare III Rushatsi.

In the 16th century, [[Burundi]] was a kingdom characterized by a hierarchical political authority and tributary economic exchange. A ''mwami'' headed a princely aristocracy (''[[ganwa]]'') which owned most of the land governing its subjects with superiority and required a tribute, or tax, from local farmers and herders who lived in forests. The [[Tutsi]] monarchy ruled the nation for centuries, but became largely ceremonial with the colonization of the nation by the [[German Empire]] in 1899. The kings continued to nominally rule through [[German colonial empire|German]] and [[Belgian colonial empire|Belgian]] colonial periods, and the monarchy continued after the nation gained independence from [[Belgium]] in 1962. Burundi ceased to be a monarchy when King [[Ntare V of Burundi|Ntare V Ndizeye]] was deposed by [[Prime Minister of Burundi|Prime Minister]] and Chief of Staff, Colonel [[Michel Micombero]], who [[Abolition of monarchy|abolished the monarchy]] and declared a republic following the [[November 1966 Burundian coup d'état|November 1966 coup d'état]].<ref name=29Nov>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1966/11/29/archives/burundi-premier-sets-up-republic-micombero-asserts-he-has.html|title=BURUNDI PREMIER SETS UP REPUBLIC; Micombero Asserts He Has Overthrown the King|date=1966-11-29|work=The New York Times|access-date=18 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/18/obituaries/michel-micombero-43-dies-former-president-of-burundi.html|title=MICHEL MICOMBERO, 43, DIES; FORMER PRESIDENT OF BURUNDI|date=1983-07-18|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=24 April 2020}}</ref>

==Kings of Burundi==

===Traditional list===
The dates before 1900 are estimates.

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" | Portrait
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Reign
! scope="col" | ''Ikigabiro''
|-
|
| '''Ntare I''' Rushatsi Cambarantama
| {{circa}} 1530–{{circa}} 1550
|
|-
|
| '''Mwezi I''' Baridamunka
| {{circa}} 1550–{{circa}} 1580
|
|-
|
| '''Mutaga I''' Mutabazi
| {{circa}} 1580–{{circa}} 1600
|
|-
|
| '''Mwambutsa I''' Nkomati
| {{circa}} 1600–{{circa}} 1620
|
|-
|
| '''Ntare II''' Kibogora
| {{circa}} 1620–{{circa}} 1650
|
|-
|
| '''Mwezi II''' Nyaburunga
| {{circa}} 1650–{{circa}} 1680
|
|-
|
| '''Mutaga II''' Senyamwiza Mutamo
| {{circa}} 1680–{{circa}} 1700
|
|-
|
| '''Mwambutsa II''' Nyarushamba
| {{circa}} 1700–{{circa}} 1720
|
|-
|
| '''Ntare III''' Kivimira Semuganzashamba
| {{circa}} 1720–{{circa}} 1750
|
|-
|
| '''Mwezi III''' Kavuyimbo (Ndagushimiye)
| {{circa}} 1750–{{circa}} 1780
|
|-
|
| '''Mutaga III''' Sebitungwa
| {{circa}} 1780–{{circa}} 1800
|
|-
|
| '''Mwambutsa III''' Mbonyuburundi (Mbariza)
| {{circa}} 1800–{{circa}} 1830
|
|-
|
| '''Ntare IV''' Runzi (Rutaganzwa Rugamba)
| {{circa}} 1830–{{circa}} 1850
|
|-
|
| '''Mwezi IV''' Gisabo Bikata-Bijoga
| {{circa}} 1850–1908
|
|-
|
| '''Mutaga IV''' Mbikije
| {{circa}} 1908–1915
| [[File:Ikigabiro de Mutaga Mbikije.jpg|80px]]
|-
| [[File:Mwambutsa 1962.jpg|80px]]
| '''Mwambutsa IV''' Bangiricenge Rubangishamiheto
| 1915–1966
| [[File:Ikigabiro du roi Mwambutsa IV Bangiricenge (1).jpg|80px]]
|-
| [[File:Ntare V.png|80px]]
| '''Ntare V''' Ndizeye
| 1966
| [[File:Ikigabiro du roi Ntare V Ndizeye.jpg|80px]]
|}

===Modern list===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" | Portrait
! scope="col" | Name<br />{{small|(Lifespan)}}
! scope="col" | Reign
! scope="col" | Notes
|-
|
| [[Ntare I of Burundi|'''Ntare III''' Rushatsi]]
| {{circa}} 1680–{{circa}} 1709
|
|-
|
| [[Mwezi III of Burundi|'''Mwezi III''' Ndagushimiye]]
| {{circa}} 1709–{{circa}} 1739
|
|-
|
| [[Mutaga III of Burundi|'''Mutaga III''' Senyamwiza Mutamo]]
| {{circa}} 1739–{{circa}} 1767
|
|-
|
| [[Mwambutsa I of Burundi|'''Mwambutsa III''' Serushambo Butama]]
| {{circa}} 1767–{{circa}} 1796
| Also known as '''Mwambutsa III''' Mbariza.
|-
|
| [[Ntare IV of Burundi|'''Ntare IV''' Rutaganzwa Rugamba]]<br />{{small|({{circa}} 1800–{{circa}} 1850)}}
| {{circa}} 1796–{{circa}} 1850
|
|-
|
| [[Mwezi IV of Burundi|'''Mwezi IV''' Gisabo]]<br />{{small|({{circa}} 1840–1908)}}
| {{circa}} 1850 – 21 August 1908
|
|-
|
| [[Mutaga IV of Burundi|'''Mutaga IV''' Mbikije]]<br />{{small|({{circa}} 1892–1915)}}
| 21 August 1908 – 30 November 1915
|
|-
| [[File:Mwambutsa 1962.jpg|80px]]
| [[Mwambutsa IV of Burundi|'''Mwambutsa IV''' Bangiriceng]]<br />{{small|(1912–1977<ref name=1May77>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/05/01/archives/exking-of-burundi-dies.html|title=Ex-King of Burundi Dies|date=1977-05-01|work=The New York Times|access-date=28 February 2024}}</ref>)}}
| 16 December 1915 – 8 July 1966
| Left the country following the [[1965 Burundian coup attempt|1965 coup attempt]];<ref name=20Oct>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/10/20/archives/burundi-coup-reported-foiled-premier-shot-but-king-escapes-central.html|title=Burundi Coup Reported Foiled; Premier Shot, but King Escapes|date=1965-10-20|work=The New York Times|access-date=20 July 2025}}</ref> deposed in the [[July 1966 Burundian coup d'état|July 1966 coup d'état]].<ref name=9Jul>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1966/07/09/archives/power-in-burundi-seized-by-absent-kings-son-21.html|title=Power in Burundi Seized By Absent King's Son, 21|date=1966-07-09|work=The New York Times|access-date=18 January 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:Ntare V.png|80px]]
| [[Ntare V of Burundi|'''Ntare V''' Ndizeye]]<br />{{small|(1947–1972<ref name=1May72>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/05/01/archives/burundi-says-exking-is-dead-as-coup-fails.html|title=Burundi Says Ex-King Is Dead as Coup Fails|date=1972-05-01|work=The New York Times|access-date=28 February 2024}}</ref>)}}
| 8 July 1966 – 28 November 1966
| Deposed in the [[November 1966 Burundian coup d'état|November 1966 coup d'état]].<ref name=29Nov/>
|}

==Timeline==
(''Based on the [[#Modern list|modern list]]'')

{{#tag:timeline|
ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:35
PlotArea  = top:20 bottom:30 right:150 left:30
AlignBars = justify

DateFormat = yyyy
Period     = from:1680 till:1966
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:20 start:1680
ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:5 start:1680

Colors     =
  id:canvas value:rgb(1,1,1)
  id:m      value:blue
  id:r      value:green
  id:eon  value:blue

Backgroundcolors = canvas:canvas

BarData =
  barset:Rulers
  bar:eon

PlotData =
  align:center textcolor:black fontsize:40 mark:(line,black) width:45 shift:(0,-5)
  bar:eon color:eon

  width:10 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till
  barset:Rulers

  from: 1680 till: 1709 color:m text:"[[Ntare I of Burundi|Ntare III Rushatsi]]"
  from: 1709 till: 1739 color:m text:"[[Mwezi III of Burundi|Mwezi III Ndagushimiye]]"
  from: 1739 till: 1767 color:m text:"[[Mutaga III of Burundi|Mutaga III Senyamwiza Mutamo]]"
  from: 1767 till: 1796 color:m text:"[[Mwambutsa I of Burundi|Mwambutsa III Serushambo Butama]] (Mwambutsa III Mbariza)"
  from: 1796 till: 1850 color:m text:"[[Ntare IV of Burundi|Ntare IV Rutaganzwa Rugamba]]"
  from: 1850 till: 1908 color:m text:"[[Mwezi IV of Burundi|Mwezi IV Gisabo]]"
  from: 1908 till: 1915 color:m text:"[[Mutaga IV of Burundi|Mutaga IV Mbikije]]"
  from: 1915 till: 1966 color:m text:"[[Mwambutsa IV of Burundi|Mwambutsa IV Bangiriceng]]"
  from: 1966 till: 1966 color:m text:"[[Ntare V of Burundi|Ntare V Ndizeye]]"

}}
{{-}}

==Royal Standard==
<gallery class="center">
File:Royal Standard of Burundi (1962–1966).svg|Royal Standard of Burundi (1962&ndash;1966).
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|Burundi}}
* [[History of Burundi]]
* [[Kingdom of Burundi]]
* [[Ruanda-Urundi]]
** [[List of colonial residents of Burundi]]
* [[President of Burundi]]
** [[List of presidents of Burundi]]
* [[Vice-President of Burundi]]
* [[Prime Minister of Burundi]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Monarchs of Burundi}}
{{Burundi topics}}
{{Heads of state and government of Africa}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Kings Of Burundi}}
[[Category:Lists of monarchs in Africa|Burundi]]
[[Category:Kingdom of Burundi]]
[[Category:Kings of Burundi| ]]
[[Category:Burundi history-related lists|Kings]]
[[Category:Lists of Burundian people|Kings]]