APPENDIX 4
ETHIOPIAN IMPERIAL AND ROYAL TITLES
Until the end of the Ethiopian monarchy in 1974, there were two categories of nobility in Ethiopia. The Mesafint, the hereditary nobility, formed the upper echelon of the ruling class. The Mekwanint were the appointed nobles, often of humble birth, who formed the bulk of the aristocracy. Until the 20th century, the most powerful people at court were generally members of the Mekwanint appointed by the monarch, while regionally, the Mesafint enjoyed greater influence and power. Emperor Haile Selassie greatly curtailed the power of the Mesafint to the benefit of the Mekwanint.
The Mekwanint were officials who had been granted specific offices in the Abyssinian (Ethiopian) government or court. Higher ranks from the title of Ras through to Balambaras were also bestowed upon members of the Mekwanint. A member of the Mesafint, however, would traditionally be given precedence over a member of the Mekwanint of the same rank. For example, Ras Mengesha Yohannes, son of Emperor Yohannes IV and thus a member of the Mesafint, would have outranked Ras Alula Engida, who was of humble birth and therefore a member of the Mekwanint, even though their ranks were equal.
There were also parallel rules of precedence, primarily seniority based on age, on offices held, and on when they each obtained their titles, which made the rules for precedence rather complex. Combined with the ambiguous position of titled heirs of members of the Mekwanint, Emperor Haile Selassie, as part of his program of modernizing reforms, and in line with his aims of centralizing power away from the Mesafint, replaced the traditional system of precedence with a simplified, Western-inspired system that gave precedence by rank, and then by seniority based on when the title had been assumed – irrespective of how the title was acquired.
Some of the imperial and royal titles are as follows:
Some of the imperial and royal titles are as follows:
The Negusa Nagast -- the "King of Kings" -- would be the Emperor of Ethiopia. Although several kings of Aksum used this title, until the restoration of the Solomonic dynasty under Yekuno Amlak, rulers of Ethiopia generally used the title of Negus -- the "King" , although "King of Kings" was used as far back as Ezana.
The title of the Emperor of Ethiopia, Negusa Nagast, is typically accompanied with the honorific Seyoume Igziabeher -- "Elect of God"). The title Moa Anbessa Ze Imnegede Yehuda ("Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah") always preceded the titles of the Emperor. It was not a personal title but rather referred to the title of Jesus and placed the office of Christ ahead of the Emperor's name in an act of Imperial submission. Until the reign of Yohannes IV, the Emperor was also Neguse Tsion -- "King of Zion" -- whose seat was at Axum, and which conferred hegemony over much of the north of the Empire.
The Emperor was referred to by the dignitaries with the formal Girmawi -- "His Imperial Majesty" -- and, in common speech, as Janhoy --"Your [Imperial] Majesty",or literally "sire". In his own household, and by his own family members, the Emperor was called Getochu -- "Our Master" in the plural, and when referred to by name in the third person with the suffix of Atse -- effectively "Emperor", i.e. Atse Menelik.
All formal speech concerning the Emperor was in the plural, as was his own speech. Haile Selassie, for instance, referred to himself in the first-person plural at all times, even in casual conversation and when speaking in French (however, this was not the case when he spoke in English, in which he was not fully fluent).
A Negus -- a "king" -- was a hereditary ruler of one of Ethiopia's larger provinces, over whom collectively the monarch ruled, thus justifying his imperial title. The title of Negus was awarded at the discretion of the Emperor to those who ruled important provinces, although it was often used hereditarily. The rulers of Begember, Shewa, Gojjam, and Wollo all held the title of Negus at some point, as the "Negus of Shewa", "Negus of Gojjam", and so forth.
During and after the reign of Menelik II (1889-1913), virtually all of the titles either lapsed into the Imperial crown or were dissolved. In 1914, after having been appointed "Negus of Zion" by his son Lij Iyasu (Iyasu V), Mikael Wollo, chose a different title. In consideration of the hostile feelings the title of "Negus of Zion" -- or "King of the North" -- provoked in much of the nobility in northern Ethiopia (particularly Le'ul Ras Seyoum Mengesha, whose family had resented being denied the title by Menelik), who were now technically made subordinate to him, Mikael Wollo instead elected to use the title of Negus of Wollo. Tafari Makonnen, who later became Emperor Haile Selassie, was bestowed the title of Negus in 1928. He would be the last person to bear the title.
Despite the cultural impropriety, European sources referred to the Ethiopian monarch as the Negus well into the 20th century, switching to Emperor only after the Second World War – around the same time the name Abyssinia fell out of use in favor of Ethiopia in the west.
Le'ul or Leul -- Prince -- was a title used by sons and grandsons of the Emperor. It conferred upon its holder the title of Imperial Highness. The title first came into use in 1916, following the enthronement of Empress Zewditu.
Abetohun or Abeto – Prince -- is a title reserved for males of imperial ancestry in the male line. The title fell into disuse by the late 19th century. Lij Iyasu attempted to revive the title as Abeto-hoy ("Great Prince").
Ras – Duke - is a title held by one of the powerful non-imperial males. The combined title of Leul Ras was given to the heads of the cadet branches of the Imperial dynasty, such as the Princes of Gojjam, Tigray and the Selalle sub-branch of the last reigning Shewan Branch.
Bitwoded or Betwadad -- Beloved -- is an office thought to have been created by Zara Yaqob who appointed two of these, one of the Left and one of the Right. These were later merged into one office, which became the supreme grade of Ras. Ras Betwadad equates the European title of earl.
Lij -- child – is a title issued at birth to sons of members of the Mesafint, the hereditary nobility.
Dejazmach -- Commander or General of the Gate – is a military title meaning commander of the central body of a traditional Ethiopian armed force composed of a vanguard, main body, left and right wings and a rear body. A dejazmach equates to a the European title of "count". The heirs of the Leul Rases were titled Leul Dejazmach to elevate them above the non-Imperial blood Dejazmaches.
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Nigiste Negestatt -- "Empress Regnant" -- literally "Queen of Kings" was a title held by Zewditu. Zewditu (r. 1917–1930) was the only woman to be crowned in Ethiopia in her own right since ancient times. Rather than take the title Itege, which was reserved for empress consorts, Zewditu was given the feminized version of Nigusa Nigist to indicate that she reigned in her own right. She was accorded the dignity of Girmawit ("[Her] Imperial Majesty") and the title of Siyimta Igzi'abher ("Electress of God"). She was commonly referred to as Nigist "Queen". The 1955 Constitution of Ethiopis excluded women from the succession to the throne so the title of Nigiste Negestatt was effectively abolished.
Itege -- "Empress Consort" -- was the title held for the non-ruling mate of the Emperor. Empresses were generally crowned as consorts by the emperor at the Imperial Palace. However, Taytu Betul, consort of Menelik II, became the first Itege to be crowned by the Emperor at church rather than at the Palace. Her coronation took place on the second day of the emperor's coronation holiday. Menen Asfaw became the first Itege to be crowned by the archbishop on the same day and during the same ceremony as her husband, Haile Selassie. The Itege was entitled to the honorific of Girmawit ("Her/Your Imperial Majesty").
Le'elt -- "Princess" -- was a title that came into use in 1916 upon the enthronement of Zewditu. Reserved at birth for daughters of the monarch and patrilineal granddaughters. Usually bestowed on the wives of "Leul Rases" as well as the monarch's granddaughters in the female line upon their marriages. The notable exception to the rule was Leult Yeshashework Vilma, Emperor Haile Selassie's niece by his elder brother, who received the title with the dignity of "Highness" from Zewditu upon the princess' marriage to Leul Ras Gugsa Araya Selassie in 1918, and then again from her uncle upon his coronation in 1930 with the enhanced dignity of "Imperial Highness".
The Enderase -- the "Regent" -- acted as the Regent of the Empire in times of the Emperor's youth, infirmity, or other limited capacity. Empress Zewditu, who reigned from 1917 to 1930, was obliged to share power with an Enderase, Ras Tafari Makonnen, who was also her designated heir, and thus assumed the throne as Emperor Haile Selassie in 1930.
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Ras – Duke - is a title held by one of the powerful non-imperial males. The combined title of Leul Ras was given to the heads of the cadet branches of the Imperial dynasty, such as the Princes of Gojjam, Tigray and the Selalle sub-branch of the last reigning Shewan Branch.
Bitwoded or Betwadad -- Beloved -- is an office thought to have been created by Zara Yaqob who appointed two of these, one of the Left and one of the Right. These were later merged into one office, which became the supreme grade of Ras. Ras Betwadad equates the European title of earl.
Lij -- child – is a title issued at birth to sons of members of the Mesafint, the hereditary nobility.
Dejazmach -- Commander or General of the Gate – is a military title meaning commander of the central body of a traditional Ethiopian armed force composed of a vanguard, main body, left and right wings and a rear body. A dejazmach equates to a the European title of "count". The heirs of the Leul Rases were titled Leul Dejazmach to elevate them above the non-Imperial blood Dejazmaches.
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There are special imperial and royal titles attributable to the female members of the royal court. They are as follows:
Nigiste Negestatt -- "Empress Regnant" -- literally "Queen of Kings" was a title held by Zewditu. Zewditu (r. 1917–1930) was the only woman to be crowned in Ethiopia in her own right since ancient times. Rather than take the title Itege, which was reserved for empress consorts, Zewditu was given the feminized version of Nigusa Nigist to indicate that she reigned in her own right. She was accorded the dignity of Girmawit ("[Her] Imperial Majesty") and the title of Siyimta Igzi'abher ("Electress of God"). She was commonly referred to as Nigist "Queen". The 1955 Constitution of Ethiopis excluded women from the succession to the throne so the title of Nigiste Negestatt was effectively abolished.
Itege -- "Empress Consort" -- was the title held for the non-ruling mate of the Emperor. Empresses were generally crowned as consorts by the emperor at the Imperial Palace. However, Taytu Betul, consort of Menelik II, became the first Itege to be crowned by the Emperor at church rather than at the Palace. Her coronation took place on the second day of the emperor's coronation holiday. Menen Asfaw became the first Itege to be crowned by the archbishop on the same day and during the same ceremony as her husband, Haile Selassie. The Itege was entitled to the honorific of Girmawit ("Her/Your Imperial Majesty").
Le'elt -- "Princess" -- was a title that came into use in 1916 upon the enthronement of Zewditu. Reserved at birth for daughters of the monarch and patrilineal granddaughters. Usually bestowed on the wives of "Leul Rases" as well as the monarch's granddaughters in the female line upon their marriages. The notable exception to the rule was Leult Yeshashework Vilma, Emperor Haile Selassie's niece by his elder brother, who received the title with the dignity of "Highness" from Zewditu upon the princess' marriage to Leul Ras Gugsa Araya Selassie in 1918, and then again from her uncle upon his coronation in 1930 with the enhanced dignity of "Imperial Highness".
The Enderase -- the "Regent" -- acted as the Regent of the Empire in times of the Emperor's youth, infirmity, or other limited capacity. Empress Zewditu, who reigned from 1917 to 1930, was obliged to share power with an Enderase, Ras Tafari Makonnen, who was also her designated heir, and thus assumed the throne as Emperor Haile Selassie in 1930.
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