List of Kings of Burundi
Encyclopedia
This page contains two versions of the list of Kings of Burundi, the traditional version and the modern genealogy. The names of the Kings of Burundi
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 more 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 king (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 through the colonial period, but each of the last kings was deposed in a coup d'état
. Burundi ceased to be a monarchy when king Ntare V Ndizeye was deposed by his Prime Minister and Chief of Staff, Capt. Michel Micombero
, who abolished the monarchy and declared a republic in 1966.
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
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 more 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 king (mwami
Mwami
Mwami is the chiefly title in Kirundi and Kinyarwanda, the Congolese Nande and Bashi languages, Luhya in Kenya and various other Bantu languages, such as the Tonga language . The word is usually translated as king...
) 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
Tutsi
The Tutsi , or Abatutsi, are an ethnic group in Central Africa. Historically they were often referred to as the Watussi or Watusi. They are the second largest caste in Rwanda and Burundi, the other two being the Hutu and the Twa ....
monarchy ruled the nation for centuries, but became largely ceremonial with the colonization of the nation by the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
in 1899. The kings continued through the colonial period, but each of the last kings was deposed in a coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
. Burundi ceased to be a monarchy when king Ntare V Ndizeye was deposed by his Prime Minister and Chief of Staff, Capt. Michel Micombero
Michel Micombero
Michel Micombero was the first President of Burundi from November 28, 1966 to November 1, 1976. He was member of the Tutsi ethnicity....
, who abolished the monarchy and declared a republic in 1966.
Kings of Burundi
The traditional list of Kings of Burundi. The dates before 1900 are estimates.- Ntare I Kivimira Savuyimba Semuganzashamba Rushatsi Cambarantama: c.1530–c.1550
- Mwezi I: c.1550–c.1580
- Mutaga I: c.1580–c.1600
- Mwambutsa I: c.1600–c.1620
- Ntare II: c.1620–c.1650
- Mwezi II: c.1650–c.1680
- Mutaga II: c.1680–c.1700
- Mwambutsa II: c.1700–c.1720
- Ntare III: c.1720–c.1750
- Mwezi III Ndagushimiye: c.1750–c.1780
- Mutaga III Senyamwiza Mutamo: c.1780–c.1800
- Mwambutsa III Mbariza: c.1800–c.1830
- Ntare IV Rutaganzwa Rugamba: c.1830–c.1850
- Mwezi IV Gisabo Bikata-Bijogu: c.1850–1908
- Mutaga IV Mbikije: c.1908–1915
- Mwambutsa IV Bangiricenge: 1915–1966
- Ntare V Ndizeye: 1966–[1972]
Kings of Burundi, c.1680-1966
This is the modern genealogy:- Ntare III RushatsiNtare I Kivimira Savuyimba Semunganzashamba Rushatsi CambarantamaNtare I Kivimira Savuyimba Semunganzashamba Rushatsi Cambarantama was the king of Burundi from 1680 to 1709. He was a legendary descendant of the Ntwero family, and was probably the first king of Burundi....
: c.1680–c.1709 - Mwezi III NdagushimiyeMwezi III Ndagushimiye of BurundiMwami Mwezi III Ndagushimiye was the king of Burundi from 1709 to 1739....
: c.1709–c.1739 - Mutaga III Senyamwiza MutamoMwami Mutaga III Senyamwiza MutamoMwami Mutaga III Senyamwiza Mutamo was the king of Burundi from 1739 to 1767. He died in Butare. He succeeded king Ntare I Kivimira Savuyimba Semunganzashamba Rushatsi Cambarantama....
: c.1739–c.1767 - Mwambutsa III Serushambo ButamaMwambutsa I MbarizaMwambutsa I Mbariza was the king of Burundi from 1767 to 1796. His only son was Ntare IV Rutaganzwa Rugamba. He succeeded Mwami Mutaga III Senyamwiza Mutamo....
: c.1767–c.1796 (also known as Mwambutsa III Mbariza) - Ntare IV Rutaganzwa RugambaNtare IV Rutaganzwa RugambaNtare IV Rutaganzwa Rugamba was the king of Burundi from 1796 to 1850. He was the son of king Mwambutsa I Mbariza....
: c.1796–c.1850 - Mwezi IV GisaboMwezi IV Gisabo of BurundiMwami Mwezi IV Gisabo Bikata-Bijoga was the king of Burundi from 1852 to 1908. He was the son of king Ntare IV Rutaganzwa Rugamba....
: c.1850–21 August 1908 - Mutaga IV MbikijeMutaga IV Mbikije of BurundiMutaga IV Mbikije was the king of Burundi from August 21, 1908 until November 30, 1915. He was the son of king Mwami Mwezi IV. He had two sons:* Mwambutsa IV Bangiriceng of Burundi* Prince Ignace Kamatari -External links:**...
: 1908–30 November 1915 - Mwambutsa IV BangiricengMwambutsa IV Bangiriceng of BurundiKing Mwambutsa IV Bangiricenge was the king of Burundi from December 16, 1915 to July 8, 1966. He was given the title of Mwami,King. He succeeded Mutaga IV Mbikije. Like other Burundian kings, he was an ethnic Ganwa. During the early part of his reign, Burundi was transferred from Germany to...
: 16 December 1915–8 July 1966 - Ntare V Ndizeye: 1 September–28 November 1966
See also
- History of BurundiHistory of BurundiBurundi is one of the few countries in Africa, along with its closely linked neighbour Rwanda among others, to be a direct territorial continuation of a pre-colonial era African state.-Kingdom of Burundi:...
- Kingdom of Burundi
- List of Presidents of Burundi