List of emperors of Ethiopia

This article lists the emperors of Ethiopia, from the founding of the Zagwe dynasty in the 9th/10th century until the Ethiopian Revolution of 1974, when the last emperor from the Solomonic dynasty was deposed.

Imperial Flag of Ethiopia

Imperial Coat of Arms of Ethiopia

Kings of Aksum and Dʿmt are listed separately due to numerous gaps and large flexibility in chronology.

For legendary and archeologically unverified rulers of Ethiopian tradition, see Regnal lists of Ethiopia and 1922 regnal list of Ethiopia.

Names in italics indicate rulers who were usurpers or not widely recognized.

Zagwe dynasty

Name	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family
Mara Takla Haymanot Kidus Abebaw				Zagwe
Tatadim			Son of Mara Takla Haymanot	Zagwe
Jan Seyum			Son of Mara Takla Haymanot	Zagwe
Germa Seyum			Son of Mara Takla Haymanot	Zagwe
Yemrehana Krestos			Son of Germa Seyum	Zagwe
Kedus Harbe			Son of Jan Seyum	Zagwe
Gebre Mesqel Lalibela	1181	1221	Son of Jan Seyum	Zagwe
Na'akueto La'ab			Son of Kedus Harbe	Zagwe
Yetbarak			Son of Gebre Mesqel Lalibela	Zagwe
Mairari			Very little information; identity unascertained	Zagwe
Harbai			Very little information; likely Kedus Harbe	Zagwe

Solomonic dynasty

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family
Yekuno Amlak ይኩኖ አምላክ	Died 19 June 1285	10 August 1270	19 June 1285		Solomonic
Yagbe'u Seyon ይግብአ ጽዮን	Died 1294	19 June 1285	1294	Son of Yekuno Amlak	Solomonic
Senfa Ared IV ሰይፈ አርድ አርብእቱ		1294	1295	Son of Yagbe'u Seyon	Solomonic
Hezba Asgad ሕዝበ አስግድ		1295	1296	Son of Yagbe'u Seyon	Solomonic
Qedma Asgad ቅድመ አስግድ		1296	1297	Son of Yagbe'u Seyon	Solomonic
Jan Asgad ጃን አሰግድ		1297	1298	Son of Yagbe'u Seyon	Solomonic
Saba Asgad ሳባ አሰገድ		1298	1299	Son of Yagbe'u Seyon	Solomonic
Wedem Arad ወደም አራድ	Died 1314	1299	1314	Brother of Yagbe'u Seyon	Solomonic
Amda Seyon I ዐምደ ጽዮን ቀዳማዊ	Died 1344	1314	1344	Son of Wedem Arad	Solomonic
Newaya Krestos ንዋየ ክርስቶስ	Died 1372	1344	1372	Son of Amda Seyon I	Solomonic
Newaya Maryam ንዋየ ማርያም	Died 1382	1372	1382	Son of Newaya Krestos	Solomonic
Dawit I ዳዊት ቀዳማዊ	Died 6 October 1413	1382	6 October 1413	Son of Newaya Krestos	Solomonic
Tewodros I ቴዎድሮስ ቀዳማዊ	Died 1414	12 October 1413	23 June 1414	Son of Dawit I	Solomonic
Yeshaq I ይሥሓቅ ቀዳማዊ	Died 1429	1414	1429	Son of Dawit I	Solomonic
Andreyas እንድርያስ	Died March 1430	1429	March 1430	Son of Yeshaq I	Solomonic
Takla Maryam ተክለ ማርያም	Died 1433	1430	1433	Son of Dawit I	Solomonic
Sarwe Iyasus ሥርወ ኢየሱስ	Died 1433	1433	1433	Son of Takla Maryam	Solomonic
Amda Iyasus ዐምደ ኢየሱስ	Died June 1434	1433	June 1434	Son of Takla Maryam	Solomonic
Zara Yaqob ዘርዐ ያዕቆብ	1399 – 26 August 1468 (aged 69)	19/20 June 1434	26 August 1468	Son of Dawit I	Solomonic
Baeda Maryam I በእደ ማርያም ቀዳማዊ	1448 – 8 November 1478 (aged 30)	26 August 1468	8 November 1478	Son of Zara Yaqob	Solomonic
Eskender እስክንድር	(1471-07-15)15 July 1471 – 7 May 1494(1494-05-07) (aged 22)	1478	7 May 1494	Son of Baeda Maryam I	Solomonic
Amda Seyon II ዐምደ ጽዮን	c. 1487 – 26 October 1494 (aged ≈ 7)	1494	26 October 1494	Son of Eskender	Solomonic
Na'od ናዖድ	Died 31 July 1508	1494	31 July 1508	Son of Baeda Maryam I	Solomonic
Dawit II or Libne Dengel ዳዊት ዳግማዊ or ልብነ ድንግል	1501 – 2 September 1540 (aged 39)	1508	2 September 1540	Son of Na'od	Solomonic
Gelawdewos ገላውዴዎስ	1521/1522 – 23 March 1559 (aged 38–37)	3 September 1540	23 March 1559	Son of Dawit II	Solomonic
Menas ሚናስ	Died 1 February 1563	1559	1 February 1563	Son of Dawit II	Solomonic
Sarsa Dengel ሠርጸ ድንግል	1550 – 4 October 1597 (aged 47)	1563	4 October 1597	Son of Menas	Solomonic
Yaqob ያዕቆብ	c. 1590 – 10 March 1606	1597 1604	1603 10 March 1606	Son of Sarsa Dengel	Solomonic
Za Dengel ዘድንግል	Died 24 October 1604	1603	24 October 1604	Nephew of Sarsa Dengel	Solomonic
Susenyos I Susenyos the Catholic ሱስንዮስ ቀዳማዊ	1572 – 17 September 1632 (aged 60)	1606	17 September 1632	Grandson of Dawit II	Solomonic

Gondarine period

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family
Fasilides ፋሲለደስ	(1603-11-20)20 November 1603 – 18 October 1667(1667-10-18) (aged 63)	1632	18 October 1667	Son of Susenyos I	Solomonic
Yohannes I ዮሐንስ ቀዳማዊ	c. 1640 – 19 July 1682 (aged ≈ 42)	1667	19 July 1682	Son of Fasilides	Solomonic
Iyasu I Iyasu the Great ኢያሱ ቀዳማዊ	1654 – 13 October 1706 (aged 52)	19 July 1682	13 October 1706	Son of Yohannes I	Solomonic
Yeshaq Iyasu	Died 1685	1685	1685	Claimed to be grandson of Susenyos I	Claimed Solomonic
Tekle Haymanot I Tekle Haymanot the Cursed ተክለ ሃይማኖት ቀዳማዊ	(1684-03-28)28 March 1684 – 30 June 1708(1708-06-30) (aged 24)	27 March 1706	30 June 1708	Son of Iyasu I	Solomonic
Amda Seyon	Died September 1707	September 1707	September 1707		Non-dynastic
Tewoflos ቴዎፍሎስ	Died 14 October 1711	1 July 1708	14 October 1711	Son of Fasilides	Solomonic
Nebahne Yohannes		1709	July 1710		Non-dynastic
Yostos ዮስጦስ	Died 1716	14 October 1711	19 February 1716	Grandson of Iyasu I	Solomonic
Dawit III Dawit the Singer ዳዊት ሣልሳዊ	1695 – 18 May 1721 (aged 26)	8 February 1716	18 May 1721	Son of Iyasu I	Solomonic
Bakaffa በካፋ	Died 19 September 1730	18 May 1721	19 September 1730	Son of Iyasu I	Solomonic
Iyasu II ኢያሱ ዳግማዊ	(1723-10-21)21 October 1723 – 27 June 1755(1755-06-27) (aged 31)	19 September 1730	27 June 1755	Son of Bakaffa	Solomonic
Hezqeyas		1736	1737		Solomonic
Iyoas I ኢዮአስ ቀዳማዊ	c. 1740 – 14 May 1769 (aged ≈ 29)	27 June 1755	7 May 1769	Son of Iyasu II	Solomonic

Era of the Princes

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family
Yohannes II ዮሐንስ ዳግማዊ	1699 – 18 October 1769 (aged 70)	7 May 1769	18 October 1769	Son of Iyasu I	Solomonic
Tekle Haymanot II ተክለ ሃይማኖት ዳግማዊ	1754 – 7 September 1777 (aged 23)	18 October 1769 December 1770	August 1770 13 April 1777	Son of Yohannes II	Solomonic
Susenyos II ሱስንዮስ ዳግማዊ	Died c. 1771	August 1770	December 1770	Possibly the illegitimate son of Iyasu II	Solomonic
Salomon II ሰሎሞን ዳግማዊ	Died 1782	13 April 1777	20 July 1779	Son of Abeto Adigo	Solomonic
Tekle Giyorgis I ተክለ ጊዮርጊስ ቀዳማዊ	c. 1751 – 12 December 1817 (aged ≈ 66)	20 July 1779 24 April 1788 January 1794 December 1795 4 January 1798 24 March 1800	8 February 1784 26 July 1789 15 April 1795 20 May 1796 20 May 1799 June 1800	Son of Yohannes II	Solomonic
Iyasu III እያሱ ሣልሳዊ	Died by 1810	16 February 1784	24 April 1788	Grandson of Iyasu II	Solomonic
Iyasu	Died May 1813	1787	1788	In opposition to Iyasu III	Non-dynastic
Baeda Maryam		1787	1788	In opposition to Iyasu III	Non-dynastic
Tekle Haymanot	Died before 1810	February 1788	1789	In opposition to Iyasu III	Non-dynastic
Hezqeyas ሕዝቅያስ	Died 13 September 1813	26 July 1789	January 1794	Son of Iyasu III	Solomonic
Baeda Maryam II በእደ ማርያም ዳግማዊ	1749 – 1833 (aged 84)	15 April 1795	December 1795	Possibly son of Salomon II	Possibly Solomonic
Salomon III ሰሎሞን ሣልሳዊ		20 May 1796 20 May 1799	15 July 1797 15 July 1799	Son of Tekle Haymanot II	Solomonic
Yonas ዮናስ	Died May 1813	18 August 1797	4 January 1798	Grandson of Fasilides	Solomonic
Demetros ድሜጥሮስ	Died 1802	25 July 1799 June 1800	24 March 1800 June 1801	Son of Arqedewos	Non-dynastic
Egwale Seyon እጓለ ጽዮን	Died 12 June 1818	June 1801	12 June 1818	Son of Hezqeyas	Solomonic
Iyoas II ኢዮአስ ዳግማዊ	Died 3 June 1821	14 June 1818	3 June 1821	Son of Hezqeyas	Solomonic
Gigar ጊጋር	c. 1745 – 26 November 1832 (aged ≈ 87)	3 June 1821 April 1826	April 1826 18 June 1830	Possibly son of Iyasu II	Possibly Solomonic
Baeda Maryam III		April 1826	April 1826		Non-dynastic
Iyasu IV ኢያሱ አርባእዊ		18 June 1830	18 March 1832	Son of Salomon III	Solomonic
Gebre Krestos ገብረ ክሪስቶስ		18 March 1832 1832	1832 8 June 1832	Allegedly a descendant of Fasilides	Allegedly Solomonic
Sahle Dengel ሣህለ ድንግል	1778 – 11 February 1855 (aged 77)	1832 October 1832 October 1841 1845 1851	1832 29 August 1840 1845 1850 11 February 1855	Brother of Gebre Krestos	Solomonic
Egwale Anbesa		1832	1832		Non-dynastic
Yohannes III ዮሐንስ ሣልሳዊ	c. 1797 – c. 1873 (aged ≈ 76)	30 August 1840 1845 1850	October 1841 1845 1851	Son of Tekle Giyorgis I	Solomonic

Modern Era

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family
Tewodros II ቴዎድሮስ	c. 1818 – 13 April 1868 (aged ≈ 50)	11 February 1855	13 April 1868[lower-alpha 1]	Son of Haile Giorgis Wolde Giorgis	Solomonic
Tekle Giyorgis II ተክለ ጊዮርጊስ ዳግማዊ	Died c. 1873	11 June 1868	11 July 1871	Son of Wagshum Gebre Medhin	Solomonic[lower-alpha 2]
Yohannes IV ዮሓንስ አርባእዊ	(1837-07-11)11 July 1837 – 10 March 1889(1889-03-10) (aged 51)	11 July 1871	10 March 1889[lower-alpha 3]	Son of Dejazmatch Mercha	Solomonic

Shewan line

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family
Menelik II[lower-alpha 4] ምኒልክ ዳግማዊ	(1844-08-17)17 August 1844 – 12 December 1913(1913-12-12) (aged 69)	10 March 1889	12 December 1913	Son of Negus Haile Melekot	Solomonic
Lij Iyasu[lower-alpha 5] Iyasu V[lower-alpha 6] ልጅ ኢያሱ	(1895-02-04)4 February 1895 – 25 November 1935(1935-11-25) (aged 40)	12 December 1913	27 September 1916	Grandson of Menelik II	Solomonic
Zewditu[lower-alpha 7] ዘውዲቱ	(1876-04-29)29 April 1876 – 2 April 1930(1930-04-02) (aged 53)	27 September 1916	2 April 1930[lower-alpha 8]	Daughter of Menelik II	Solomonic
Haile Selassie[lower-alpha 9][lower-alpha 10][lower-alpha 11] ኀይለ ሥላሴ ቀዳማዊ	(1892-07-23)23 July 1892 – 27 August 1975(1975-08-27) (aged 83)[1][2]	2 April 1930[lower-alpha 12]	12 September 1974[lower-alpha 13]	Son of Ras Makonnen Wolde Mikael	Solomonic
Amha Selassie[lower-alpha 14][lower-alpha 15] Crown Prince Asfaw Wossen አምሃ ሥላሴ	(1916-07-27)27 July 1916 – 17 January 1997(1997-01-17) (aged 80)[7]	12 September 1974	21 March 1975[8]	Son of Haile Selassie	Solomonic

House of Savoy (Italian occupation)

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Victor Emmanuel III Vittorio Emanuele III	(1869-11-11)11 November 1869 – 28 December 1947(1947-12-28) (aged 78)	14 May 1936[9]	De jure renounced the title in November 1943[10] (de facto loss of control in April 1941[11])	King of Italy, proclaimed Emperor of Ethiopia after Italian victory in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War; the title was contested by Haile Selassie I in exile. Italian defeat in the East African campaign of World War II ended Italian pretensions of rulership over Ethiopia.	Savoy

Timeline from 1855

Notes

Committed suicide at the end of the Battle of Magdala.
Claimed the Solomonic lineage through his mother. Also claimed the Zagwe lineage through his father.
Killed in the Battle of Gallabat.
Previously King of Shewa from 1855 to 1856, and from 1865 to 1889. Ruled under the regency of Ras Betwoded Tessema Nadew from 1909 to 1911 and Lij Iyasu from 1911 to 1913.
Never officially crowned as Emperor. Deposed by nobility with the sanction of the Church.
Lij Iyasu was never referred to as "Iyasu V" or as an emperor during his rule, either by Ethiopians or by foreigners. Thus, in the treaty of commerce signed between the United States and Ethiopia in June 1914, the ruler of Ethiopia is referred to as "His Royal Highness, Prince Lidj Yassou".
Ruled under the regency of Ras Tafari Makonnen (future Emperor Haile Selassie).
Died in the immediate aftermath of the Gugsa Wale's rebellion.
De facto ruler of the country as regent from 1916 to 1930. Crowned as King in the aftermath of the 1928 coup d'état.
Exiled from 2 May 1936 to 5 April 1941, during the Italian occupation. During that time, the imperial title was claimed by the King of Italy Victor Emmanuel III.
Briefly deposed during the 1960 coup d'état attempt.
Crowned on 2 November 1930, at the St. George's Cathedral in Addis Ababa.[3]
Deposed by the Derg during the Ethiopian Revolution of 1974.[4][5]
Proclaimed Emperor by the Imperial Guards during the 1960 coup d'état attempt.
Designated "King" (not Emperor) by the Derg while out of the country,[6] did not take throne.

References

Alden Whitman (28 August 1975). "Haile Selassie of Ethiopia Dies at 83". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
"Death of a King". The New York Times. 28 August 1975. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
"Emperor is Crowned in Regal Splendor at African Capital". The New York Times. 3 November 1930. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
"REMOVAL IS QUIET". The New York Times. 13 September 1974. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
Paul Hofmann (13 September 1974). "The Lion at Sunset". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
"Ethiopian Crown Prince Hears News of Succession on Radio". The New York Times. 13 September 1974. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
David Orr (2 February 1997). "Funeral brings the royals back to Ethiopia". The Independent. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
"Ethiopia's Military Government Abolishes Monarchy and Titles". The New York Times. 22 March 1975. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
Arnaldo Cortesi (15 May 1936). "CHAMBER CONFIRMS EMPIRE FOR ITALY; Cheers for Army and Duce Mark Session Ratifying Ethiopia's Annexation". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
Indro Montanelli, Mario Cervi, Storia d'italia. L'Italia della guerra civile, RCS, 2003.
"THE FALL OF ADDIS ABABA". The New York Times. 7 April 1941. Retrieved 18 January 2021.

External links

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[1] Committed suicide at the end of the Battle of Magdala.

[2] Claimed the Solomonic lineage through his mother. Also claimed the Zagwe lineage through his father.

[3] Killed in the Battle of Gallabat.

[4] Previously King of Shewa from 1855 to 1856, and from 1865 to 1889. Ruled under the regency of Ras Betwoded Tessema Nadew from 1909 to 1911 and Lij Iyasu from 1911 to 1913.

[5] Never officially crowned as Emperor. Deposed by nobility with the sanction of the Church.

[6] Lij Iyasu was never referred to as "Iyasu V" or as an emperor during his rule, either by Ethiopians or by foreigners. Thus, in the treaty of commerce signed between the United States and Ethiopia in June 1914, the ruler of Ethiopia is referred to as "His Royal Highness, Prince Lidj Yassou".

[7] Ruled under the regency of Ras Tafari Makonnen (future Emperor Haile Selassie).

[8] Died in the immediate aftermath of the Gugsa Wale's rebellion.

[9] De facto ruler of the country as regent from 1916 to 1930. Crowned as King in the aftermath of the 1928 coup d'état.

[10] Exiled from 2 May 1936 to 5 April 1941, during the Italian occupation. During that time, the imperial title was claimed by the King of Italy Victor Emmanuel III.

[11] Briefly deposed during the 1960 coup d'état attempt.

[15] Crowned on 2 November 1930, at the St. George's Cathedral in Addis Ababa.[3]

[18] Deposed by the Derg during the Ethiopian Revolution of 1974.[4][5]

[19] Proclaimed Emperor by the Imperial Guards during the 1960 coup d'état attempt.

[21] Designated "King" (not Emperor) by the Derg while out of the country,[6] did not take throne.

[12] Alden Whitman (28 August 1975). "Haile Selassie of Ethiopia Dies at 83". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 August 2020.

[13] "Death of a King". The New York Times. 28 August 1975. Retrieved 9 May 2023.

[14] "Emperor is Crowned in Regal Splendor at African Capital". The New York Times. 3 November 1930. Retrieved 25 August 2020.

[16] "REMOVAL IS QUIET". The New York Times. 13 September 1974. Retrieved 11 June 2021.

[17] Paul Hofmann (13 September 1974). "The Lion at Sunset". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 August 2020.

[20] "Ethiopian Crown Prince Hears News of Succession on Radio". The New York Times. 13 September 1974. Retrieved 25 August 2020.

[22] David Orr (2 February 1997). "Funeral brings the royals back to Ethiopia". The Independent. Retrieved 24 August 2020.

[23] "Ethiopia's Military Government Abolishes Monarchy and Titles". The New York Times. 22 March 1975. Retrieved 24 August 2020.

[24] Arnaldo Cortesi (15 May 1936). "CHAMBER CONFIRMS EMPIRE FOR ITALY; Cheers for Army and Duce Mark Session Ratifying Ethiopia's Annexation". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 January 2021.

[25] Indro Montanelli, Mario Cervi, Storia d'italia. L'Italia della guerra civile, RCS, 2003.

[26] "THE FALL OF ADDIS ABABA". The New York Times. 7 April 1941. Retrieved 18 January 2021.

Emperors of Ethiopia (list)
Family tree
Zagwe dynasty (1137–1270)	Mara Takla Haymanot Tatadim Jan Seyum Germa Seyum Yemrehana Krestos Kedus Harbe Gebre Mesqel Lalibela Na'akueto La'ab Yetbarak
Solomonic dynasty (1270–1632)	Yekuno Amlak Yagbe'u Seyon (Salomon I) Sons: Senfa Ared IV Hezba Asgad Qedma Asgad Jin Asgad Saba Asgad Wedem Arad Amda Seyon I Newaya Krestos Newaya Maryam Dawit I Tewodros I Yeshaq I Andreyas Takla Maryam Sarwe Iyasus Amda Iyasus Zara Yaqob (Kwestantinos I) Baeda Maryam I Eskender (Kwestantinos II) Amda Seyon II Na'od Dawit II Gelawdewos Menas Sarsa Dengel Yaqob Za Dengel Yaqob Susenyos I
Gondarine period (1632–1769)	Fasilides Yohannes I Iyasu the Great Tekle Haymanot I Tewoflos Yostos Dawit III Bakaffa Iyasu II Iyoas I
Era of the Princes (1769–1855)	Yohannes II Tekle Haymanot II Susenyos II Tekle Haymanot II Salomon II Tekle Giyorgis I Iyasu III Tekle Giyorgis I Hezqeyas Tekle Giyorgis I Baeda Maryam II Tekle Giyorgis I Salomon III Yonas Tekle Giyorgis I Salomon III Demetros Tekle Giyorgis I Demetros Egwale Seyon Iyoas II Gigar Baeda Maryam III Gigar Iyasu IV Gebre Krestos Sahle Dengel Gebre Krestos Sahle Dengel Yohannes III Sahle Dengel Yohannes III Sahle Dengel Yohannes III Sahle Dengel
Modern Ethiopia (1855–1974)	Tewodros II Tekle Giyorgis II Yohannes IV Menelik II Lij Iyasu¹ Zewditu Haile Selassie² Amha Selassie¹ ³
¹ Never crowned. ² Between 1936–1941, Haile Selassie went into exile following the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. During that time, the imperial title was claimed by King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy. ³ Emperor-in-exile.