Monarchies of Ethiopia
Encyclopedia
This is a list of Monarchies
that existed throughout the history of Ethiopia
. This list is divided into kingdoms that were subdivisions of Ethiopia
, and kingdoms that were later conquered by Ethiopia. Ancient kingdoms fall into neither category.
) Mikael of Wollo
1914 - 1916
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
that existed throughout the history of Ethiopia
History of Ethiopia
This article covers the prehistory and history of Ethiopia.-Prehistory:Lucy, discovered in the Awash Valley of Ethiopia's Afar region, is considered the world's second-oldest, but most complete and best preserved, adult Australopithecine fossil...
. This list is divided into kingdoms that were subdivisions of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, and kingdoms that were later conquered by Ethiopia. Ancient kingdoms fall into neither category.
Ancient Ethiopia
- Dʿmt Kingdom (8th century BC – 7th/5th century BC)
- Kingdom of Aksum – used title "Nəguśä nägäśt" meaning "King of Kings" like later Emperors, but traditionally called a Kingdom (Early period 5th/4th century BC – 1st century BC; Main period 1st century BC/AD – 7th century; Late Aksumite period 7th century – 9th/10th/11th/12th? century)
Medieval Ethiopia (to 1527)
- Transition from Aksumite period to Zagwe dynastyZagwe dynastyThe Zagwe dynasty was an historical kingdom in present-day Ethiopia. It ruled large parts of the territory from approximately 1137 to 1270, when the last Zagwe King Za-Ilmaknun was killed in battle by the forces of Yekuno Amlak...
somewhere between 9th–12th centuries. - Transition from Zagwe dynasty to Solomonic dynastySolomonic dynastyThe Solomonic dynasty is the Imperial House of Abyssinia. Its members claim lineal descent from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, the latter of whom tradition asserts gave birth to the first King Menelik I after her Biblically described visit to Solomon in Jerusalem .-Overview:The dynasty, a...
in 1270.
Vassal Kingdoms
- AdalAdal- Places :*Ådal, valley and former municipality in Buskerud county, Norway*Illerup Ådal, archeological site in Denmark*Adal Sultanate, former sultanate and geographic region in Northeast Africa**Adal , breed of sheep from Ethiopia**F. C...
(see Walashma dynastyWalashma dynastyThe Walashma dynasty was a Muslim noble family based in the Horn of Africa. It ruled the Ifat Sultanate, in parts of what are now eastern Ethiopia, Djibouti and western Somalia.-History:...
) - BaliBale Province, EthiopiaBale is the name of two former polities located in the southeastern part of modern Ethiopia.- The medieval dependency of Bale :...
(later Bale) - Damot
- Dawaro
- Fet'egar
- GojjamGojjamGojjam was a kingdom in the north-western part of Ethiopia, with its capital city at Debre Marqos. This region is distinctive for lying entirely within the bend of the Abbay River from its outflow from Lake Tana to the Sudan...
- HadiyaHadiyaThe Hadiya Kingdom was an ancient kingdom in located in southwestern Ethiopia, south of the Abbay River and west of Shewa. It was ruled by the Hadiya people, who spoke the Cushitic Hadiyya language. The historical Hadiya area was situated between Kembata, Gamo, and Waj, southwest of Shewa...
- IfatIfatThe Ifat Sultanate was a medieval Muslim sultanate in the Horn of Africa. Led by the Walashma dynasty, it was centered in Zeila. The kingdom ruled over parts of what is now eastern Ethiopia, Djibouti and northern Somalia.-Location:...
- Innarya
- Mereb Mellash (ruled by Bahr negus)
- Mora
- WagWagWag is a traditional highland district in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia, in the approximate location of the modern Wag Hemra Zone. Weld Blundell described the district as bounded on the south by the mountains of Lasta, on the east and north by the Tellare River, and the west by the Tekezé...
Vassal Kingdoms
- Aussa Sultanate (created in 1577 from remnant of Adal as an Imamate; independent before reign of SusenyosSusenyos of EthiopiaSusenyos was of Ethiopia...
)
Independent
- AdalAdal- Places :*Ådal, valley and former municipality in Buskerud county, Norway*Illerup Ådal, archeological site in Denmark*Adal Sultanate, former sultanate and geographic region in Northeast Africa**Adal , breed of sheep from Ethiopia**F. C...
(until demise in 1577 - became Awsa sultanate) - HararHararHarar is an eastern city in Ethiopia, and the capital of the modern Harari ethno-political division of Ethiopia...
emirate - (independent of Aussa sultanate from 1647; ruled by Ali bin Da'ud dynast, see Emirs of Harrar, Walashma dynastyWalashma dynastyThe Walashma dynasty was a Muslim noble family based in the Horn of Africa. It ruled the Ifat Sultanate, in parts of what are now eastern Ethiopia, Djibouti and western Somalia.-History:...
)
Kingdoms annexed by the Ethiopian empire in the 19th century
- Harar emirate
- Kingdom of Garo or Bosha - foundation 1567
- title: Tatu
- dynasty: Tegra`i Bushasho dynasty
- See: Rulers of BoshaRulers of Bosha-List of Rulers of Bosha or Garo:The territory of Bosha is located in present-day Ethiopia.Source: Werner J. Lange, History of the Southern Gonga , p. 64.-See also:*Monarchies of Ethiopia...
- Kingdom of GeraKingdom of GeraThe Kingdom of Gera was one of the kingdoms in the Gibe region of Ethiopia that emerged in the late 19th century. It shared its northern border with the Kingdom of Gumma, its eastern border with the Kingdom of Gomma, and was separated from the Kingdom of Kaffa to the south by the Gojeb River...
- title Moti
- See: Rulers of the Gibe State of GeraRulers of the Gibe State of Gera-List of Rulers of the Gibe Kingdom of Gera:Territory located in present-day Ethiopia.Source: C.F. Beckingham and G.W.B. Huntingford, Some Records of Ethiopia, 1593-1646 , pp. lxxxivf-See also:*Monarchies of Ethiopia...
- Kingdom of GommaKingdom of GommaThe Kingdom of Gomma was one of the kingdoms in the Gibe region of Ethiopia that emerged in the 18th century. It shared its northern border with Limmu-Ennarea, its western border with Gumma, its southern border with Gera, and its eastern border with Jimma...
- foundation 1800- title Moti
- dynasty 'Awulyani dynasty
- See: Rulers of the Gibe State of GomaRulers of the Gibe State of Goma-List of Rulers of the Gibe kingdom of Gomma:The Gibe kingdom is located in the present-day Ethiopia.Source: C.F. Beckingham and G.W.B. Huntingford, Some Records of Ethiopia, 1593-1646 , p. lxxxix-See also:...
- Kingdom of GummaKingdom of GummaThe Kingdom of Gumma was one of the kingdoms in the Gibe region of Ethiopia that emerged in the 18th century. Its eastern border was formed by the bend of the Didessa River, which separated it from Limmu-Ennarea to the northeast, and Gomma and Gera to the south. Beyond its northern border were...
- title Moti
- See: Rulers of the Gibe State of GumaRulers of the Gibe State of Guma-List of Rulers of the Gibe Kingdom of Gumma:Territory located in present-day EthiopiaSource: Based on C.F. Beckingham and G.W.B. Huntingford, Some Records of Ethiopia, 1593-1646 , p. lxxxvif-See also:...
- Kingdom of JanjeroKingdom of JanjeroThe Kingdom of Janjero was a tiny kingdom located in what is now Ethiopia. It lay in the angle formed by the Omo and the Jimma Gibe Rivers; to the west lay the Kingdom of Jimma and to the south the Kingdom of Garo...
- founded before 1600
- See: Rulers of the Janjero state of GimirraRulers of the Janjero state of Gimirra-List of Rulers of the Janjero state of Gimira:Territory located in southwestern present-day Ethiopia.Koynab = Rulers-See also:*Monarchies of Ethiopia*Rulers and heads of state of Ethiopia...
- Kingdom of JimmaKingdom of JimmaThe Kingdom of Jimma was one of the kingdoms in the Gibe region of Ethiopia that emerged in the 19th century. It shared its western border with Limmu-Ennarea, its eastern border with the Sidamo kingdom of Janjero, and was separated from the Kingdom of Kaffa to the south by the Gojeb River. Jimma...
- title Moti
- See: Rulers of the Gibe state of Jimma
- Kingdom of KaffaKingdom of KaffaThe Kingdom of Kaffa was an early modern state located in what is now Ethiopia, with its capital at Bonga. The Gojeb River formed its northern border, beyond which lay the Gibe kingdoms; to the east the territory of the Konta and Kullo peoples lay between Kaffa and the Omo River; to the south...
- foundation 1390 old Kaffa Kingdom; 1700 for new Kaffa Empire- title: Emperor (or Kafi Atio, last two also Atiojo)
- dynasty: Bushasho dynasty, one of the Minjo families
- rulers:
- c.1390 Minjo
- 1425 - 1460 Shongetato (also known as the Girra king)
- 1460 - 1495 Odhe/Addiotato
- 1495 - 1530 Sadi or Shaddi/Shaditato
- 1530 - 1565 Madi Gafine/Gafo or Shonge, possibly the same as Borrete
- 1565 - 1605 Bong-he or Borrete or Bongatato, said to be the son of Madi Gafo
- 1605 - 1640 Giba Nekiok or Bonge or Galo Nechocho
- 1640 - 1675 Gali Gafocho or Gali Ginok
- 1675 - 1710 Gali Ginocho or Tan Ginok
- 1710 - 1742 Gaki Gaocho or Otti Sheroch, Taki Gaok
- 1742 - 1775 Gali Gaocho or Kanechoch, Galli
- 1775 - 1795 Shagi Sherocho or Gali Keffoch, Sagi Saro
- 1795 - 1798 Beshi Ginocho or Kaye Sheroch, Beshi Gino
- 1798 - 1821 Hoti Gaocho or Beshi Sheroch, Oto
- 1821 - 1845 Gaha Nechocho or Gali Sheroch, Ganecho
- 1845 - 1854 Gawi Nechocho or Haji Ginoch, Gaul Saro
- 1854 - November 1870 Kaye Sherocho or Kamo
- November 1870 - April 1890 Gali Sherocho
- 6 April 1890 - 10 September 1897 Gaki SherochoGaki SherochoGaki Sherocho was the last king of the Kingdom of Kaffa in what is now Ethiopia. He is usually called by the Kaffa "Chinito", the diminutive of Taten Chini ....
- Source: C.F. Beckingham and G.W.B. Huntingford, Some Records of Ethiopia, 1593-1646 (London: Hakluyt Society, 1954), p. lvi. Amnon Orent, "Refocusing on the History of Kafa prior to 1897: A Discussion of Political Processes" in African Historical Studies, Vol. 3, No. 2. (1970), p. 268.
- Leqa Naqamte - foundation before 1871, ruled Welega from NekemteNekemteNekemte is a market town in western Ethiopia. Located in the Misraq Welega Zone of the Oromia Region , Nekemte has a latitude and longitude of and an elevation of 2,088 meters....
- title: Moti
- rulers:
- (until mid-1870s) Bakare
- (mid-1870s)-1889 Moroda
- 1889-1932 Kumsa Moroda (later known as Gebre Iziabiher)
- Limmu-EnnareaLimmu-EnnareaThe Kingdom of Limmu-Ennarea was one of the kingdoms in the Gibe region of Ethiopia that emerged in the 19th century. It shared its eastern border with Jimma, its southern border with Gomma, and its western border with Gumma. Beyond its northern border lay tribes of the Macha Oromo...
- ruling title: Supera
- See: Rulers of the Gibe State of Limu-'EnaryaRulers of the Gibe State of Limu-'Enarya-List of Rulers of the Gibe kingdom of Limmu-Ennarea:The Gibe kingdom is located in present-day Ethiopia.Source: Information about pre-Oromo kings from Werner J. Lange, History of the Southern Gonga , , pp. 28-30.-See also:*Monarchies of Ethiopia*Rulers and heads of state of Ethiopia*Rulers of...
; Innarya
- WelaytaWelayta peopleWolayta is the name of an ethnic group and its former kingdom, located in southern Ethiopia. According to the most recent census , they number 1.7 million people or 2.31 percent of the country's population, of whom 289,707 are urban inhabitants...
- foundation 1250 (not under Tigray dynasty until 1600)- ruling title: Kawa
- ruling dynasty: Tigray dynasty
- See: Rulers of WelaytaRulers of Welayta-List of Rulers of Welayta:A former kingdom and province located in southern present-day Ethiopia.-Source:* C.F. Beckingham and G.W.B. Huntingford, Some Records of Ethiopia, 1593–1646 , pp. lxv – lxvii.-See also:...
Other
Kingdom of Zion (consisting of Tigray, Gondar, Gojjam, and Semien) under King (NegusNegus
Negus is a title in Ge'ez, Tigrinya, Tigre and Amharic, used for a king and at times also a vassal ruler in pre-1974 Ethiopia and pre-1890 Eritrea. It is subsequently used to translate the word "king" in Biblical and other literature...
) Mikael of Wollo
Mikael of Wollo
Mikael of Wollo , born Mohammed Ali, was an army commander and a member of the nobility of the Ethiopian Empire. He was the father of the "uncrowned" Emperor Iyasu V. He changed his name to Mikael upon converting to Christianity.- Life :Mohammed Ali, an Oromo, was born in Wollo...
1914 - 1916
Unidentified kingdoms or chiefdoms
(The following can not be located in Ethiopia, nor are mentioned in standard references.)- Leqa Qellam: foundation before 1870
- title Moti
- rulers:
- x-188? Jote Talu
- Sheka - foundation 1560
- title: Tato
- rulers
- 1670-1740 Bedi Goechi
- 1740-1780 Giba Goechi
- 1780-1782 Tuge Nechochi
- 1782-1785 Tume Afochi
- 1785-1800 Shagi Nechochi
- 1800-1805 Bedi Nechochi
- 1805-1810 Techi Nechochi
- 1810-1820 unknown
- 1820-1850 Galli Goechi
- 1850-1887 Deji Goechi
- 1887-1898 Techi Goechi
See also
- Solomonic DynastySolomonic dynastyThe Solomonic dynasty is the Imperial House of Abyssinia. Its members claim lineal descent from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, the latter of whom tradition asserts gave birth to the first King Menelik I after her Biblically described visit to Solomon in Jerusalem .-Overview:The dynasty, a...
- Rulers of ShewaRulers of ShewaThe following is a list of rulers of Shewa. Shewa is an historical region of Ethiopia, formerly an autonomous kingdom within the Ethiopian Empire.-List of the rulers of Shewa:-See also:* Ethiopia** Rulers and Heads of State of Ethiopia...
- Yejju OromoYejju OromoYejju Oromo is a tribe of the Barentu branch of Oromo people. They are one of the northernmost tribes of the Oromo people, which is the second largest ethnicity in Ethiopia....
- Zagwe dynastyZagwe dynastyThe Zagwe dynasty was an historical kingdom in present-day Ethiopia. It ruled large parts of the territory from approximately 1137 to 1270, when the last Zagwe King Za-Ilmaknun was killed in battle by the forces of Yekuno Amlak...
- Kingdom of SemienKingdom of SemienThe Kingdom of Semien , sometimes referred to as the Kingdom of Beta Israel , was an ancient Jewish kingdom of the Beta Israel people, centered in north western part of the Ethiopian kingdom of Abyssinia, which came to an end in 1627 during the reign of emperor Susenyos of Ethiopia.There is a...