Ethiopian aristocratic and court titles

Until the end of the Ethiopian monarchy in 1974, there were two categories of nobility in Ethiopia and Eritrea. The Mesafint ( gez, መሳፍንት , modern , singular መስፍን , modern , "prince"), the hereditary nobility, formed the upper echelon of the ruling class. The Mekwanint ( gez, መኳንንት , modern , singular መኰንን , modern or am, መኮንን , "officer") 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'', who by then were essentially coterminous with the Ethiopian government.

The ''Mekwanint'' were officials who had been granted specific offices in the Abyssinian 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 programme of modernising reforms, and in line with his aims of centralising 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 when the title had been assumed irrespective of how the title was acquired.

Imperial and royal titles

''Negusa Nagast''

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Although several kings of Aksum used this style, until the restoration of the Solomonic dynasty under Yekuno Amlak, rulers of Ethiopia generally used the style of ''Negus'', although "King of Kings" was used as far back as Ezana of Axum (320's–360 CE/AD).

The full title of the Emperor of Ethiopia was ''Negusa Nagast'' and ''Seyoume Igziabeher'' ( gez, ሥዩመ እግዚአብሔር; "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 dignities of the formal ''Girmawi'' (, , "His Imperial Majesty"), in common speech as ''Janhoy'', lit. "great" but also translated as "royal"), group=nb ( , "Your mperialMajesty," or lit. "sire"), in his own household and family as ''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).

''Negesta Nagastat''

The Negesta Nagastat ( Ge’ez: ንግሥተ ነገሥታት ) was Empress Regnant in her own right, literally "Queen of Kings," or "Queen of Queens," or "female ruler of an empire."

Zewditu (reigned 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 feminine version of ''nigusa nigist'' to indicate that she reigned in her own right. She was accorded the dignity of ''Girmawit'' (" erImperial Majesty") and the title of ''Siyimta Igzi'abher'' ( Ge’ez: ሥይምተ እግዚአብሔር , "Elect of God"). She was commonly referred to as ''nigist'', translated as "Queen". The 1955 Constitution of Ethiopia excluded women from the succession to the throne so this title was effectively abolished.

''Itege''

An Itege (Amharic: እቴጌ ) was an Empress Consort. This refers to the wives of incumbent emperors.

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 dignity of ''Girmawit'' ("Her/Your Imperial Majesty").

''Negus''

A Negus ( , "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 during and after the Zemene Mesafint. The rulers of Begemder, Shewa, Gojjam, 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 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, Mikael of Wollo, in consideration of the hostile feelings this provoked in of 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, 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 this, 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 favour of Ethiopia in the west.

''Leul or Leoul''

Leul or Leoul ( , "Prince") was a princely style used by sons and grandson of the Emperor. It conferred upon its holder the title of ''Imperial Highness''. The style was introduced in 1916 by Ras Teferi Mekonen, following the enthronement of Empress Zewditu.

''Le'elt''

Le'elt ( , "Princess"). This title 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 Ras'', as well as the monarch's granddaughters in the female line upon their marriages. The notable exception to the rule was ''Leult'' Yeshashework Yilma, 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".

''Abeto''

Abetohun ( ) or Abeto ( , "Prince") Title reserved for males of imperial ancestry. The title fell into disuse by the late 19th century. ''Lij'' Iyasu attempted to revive the title as Abeto-hoy (, "Great Prince"), and this form is still used by the current Iyasuist claimant Girma Yohannes Iyasu.

''Ras''

Ras (, compare with Arabic Rais)One of the powerful non-imperial; historian Harold G. Marcus equates this to a duke. The combined title of Leul Ras (Amharic: ልዑል ራስ) 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.

''Emebet''

An Emebet Hoy (እመቤት ሆይ , "Great Royal Lady") was a title reserved for the wives of those bearing the title of ''Leul Dejazmach'' and other high ranking women of royal blood.

Alternatively, an Emebet (እመቤት , "Royal Lady") was a title reserved for the unmarried granddaughters of the monarch in the female line (they were generally granted the title of ''leult'' upon marriage), and to the daughters of the ''Leul Ras''.

''Bitwoded''

Bitwoded ()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". Marcus equates the style to an earl.

''Lij''

Lij ()Title issued at birth to sons of members of the Mesafint, the hereditary nobility.

Men's military titles

* Dejazmach (ደጃዝማች , short for Dejenazmach, Commander of the main army)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.Ethiopia Military Tradition in National Life
Library of Congress Marcus equates this to a count. The heirs of the " Leul Rases" were titled Leul Dejazmach (ልዑል ደጃዝማች ) to elevate them above the non-imperial blood Dejazmaches.
* (ፊታውራሪ , Commander of the Vanguard)a military title meaning commander of the vanguard of a traditional Ethiopian armed force. Marcus equates this to a baron.
* (ቀኛዝማች , Commander of the Right wing)a military title meaning commander of the right wing of a traditional Ethiopian armed force.
* (ግራዝማች , Commander of the Left wing)a military title meaning commander of the left wing of a traditional Ethiopian armed force.
* (አዝማች , Commander of the Rearguard)a military title meaning commander of the rearguard of a traditional Ethiopian armed force. This was usually a trustworthy counselor and the leader's chief minister.
* (ባላምባራስ , Commander of an Amba or fortress)these could also be commanders of the guards, artillery or cavalry of a traditional Ethiopian armed force, basically a man entrusted with important commands.

Women's honorifics

*Woyzero (ወይዘሮ , Dame)Originally high noble title that over time came to be the general accepted form of address for married women in general (Mrs.). It was still awarded by the Emperor on rare occasions in the 20th century to non-royal women, and sometimes with the higher grade of Woizero Hoy (ወይዘሮ ሆይ , Great Dame).
*Woyzerit (ወይዘሪት , Lady)Originally high ranking noble title for unmarried women, now the general accepted form of address for unmarried women in general (Miss). It was sometimes awarded with the added distinction of Woizerit Hoy (ወይዘሪት ሆይ , Great Lady), but only to widows.

Important regional offices

*Tsahife Lam of Amhara (ጻሕፈ ላም) - governor of the Bete Amhara province and the most senior military officer next to the Emperor.
*Gojjam Negash (ጎጃም ነጋሽ) - Ruler of Gojjam referred to as "The Lord of Lords" junior only to the Tsahife Lam of Amhara. Senior military title abolished somwhere during the Era of the Princes.
* Bahr Negus (ባሕር ንጉሥ , or Bahr Negash, "King of the sea")King of the territories north of the Mareb River, a powerful official in medieval Ethiopia. As a result of the revolts of the Bahr negus Yeshaq, this office lost much of its power. Although men are mentioned as holding this office into the early 18th century, they were of little consequence.
* Merid Azmach (መርዕድ አዝማች , "Fearsome Commander" or "supreme general")This title is related to " Dejazmach" or " Qeñazmach" above. Beginning in the 18th century, this came to denote the rulers of Shewa until Sahle Selassie dropped it in favor of the title of ''Negus''. Later revived in 1930 in Wollo for Crown Prince Asfaw Wossen.
*Mesfina Harar (መስፍነ ሐረር )Duke of Harar. Hereditary title created in 1930 for Emperor Haile Selassie's second son, Prince Makonnen. (The wife of the Mesfin was properly titled ''Sefanit'', but was more commonly referred to as the ''Mesfinit''). Upon the death of the Prince, his son Prince Wossen Seged was elevated as ''Mesfin Harar'' and would currently be second in line in the line of succession if Ethiopia were still a monarchy after Prince Zera Yacob.
* Nebura ed (ንቡረ እድ , one put in office through the laying of hands")civil governor of Axum reserved for the clergy. Also called ''Liqat Aksum''. Because of the historical and symbolic importance of this city, the rules of precedence promulgated in 1689 ranked the ''Nebura ed'' ahead of all of the provincial governors. Indeed, when the title was granted with ''Ras Warq'' (the right to wear a coronet), it was higher than even the title of Ras. Although a civil title granted by the Emperor, it was usually bestowed on a clergyman due to Axum's status as the holiest site of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church within the country. The title of Nebure ed was also granted to the administrator of the Church of St. Mary at Addis Alem, founded by Menelik II west of Addis Ababa. However the Nebura ed of Addis Alem was much further down the hierarchy than the Nebura ed of Axum, and was not accorded the ''Ras Warq''.
* Tigray Mekonnen (ትግራይ መኮንን )created for Ras Alula governor of the province of Tigray. Under the rule of Emperor Yohannes IV in the late 19th century, the Tigray Mekonnen briefly became responsible for the territories once controlled by the Bahrnegus, and became the most powerful governor of Eritrea.
* Wagshum (ዋግሹም )governor (or ''shum'') of the province of Wag. The Wagshum was a hereditary title, and these rulers traced their ancestry back to the imperial family of the Zagwe dynasty.
*Shum Agame (ሹም ዓጋመ ) - Governor of Agame province of Tigray, and hereditary in the family of ''Dejazmach'' Sabagadis Woldu, a major figure of the Zemene Mesafint (Era of the Princes) period. ''Ras'' Sebhat Aregawi, a longtime rival of the family of Emperor Yohannes IV was one of the more famous of the ''Shum Agame''.
*Shum Tenbien (ሹም ተንቢየን )Governor of Tembien district of Tigray. Emperor Yohannes IV was the son of Shum Mercha of Tembien.
*Jantirar (ጃንጥራር )Title reserved for the males of the family who ruled over the mountain fortress of Ambassel in Wollo (now Debub Wollo Zone). The title of Jantirar is among the oldest in the Ethiopian Empire. Empress Menen, consort of Emperor Haile Selassie, was the daughter of Jantirar Asfaw.

Important offices of the Imperial Court

Enderase

The Enderase () 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.

The title used by the monarch's representatives to fiefs and vassals (in this sense, a Viceroy). In the 20th century, the title was used by some provincial governors, chiefly that of the autonomous province of Eritrea which was restored to Ethiopia in 1952. The title was still used after the dissolution of the federal arrangement, and was uniformly adopted by the rulers of the other provinces as well.

Emperor-in-exile Amha Selassie appointed Prince Bekere Fikre-Selassie "Enderase" in right of the Crown Council of Ethiopia in 1993, as his representative, and who still holds the office, as Crown Prince Zera Yacob Amha Selassie has not declared himself Emperor.

Reise Mekwanint

Reise Mekwanint (ርእሰ መኳንንት , "head of the nobles") was a title granted during the Zemene Mesafint, which raised its holder over all appointed nobles. It was bestowed upon the ''Enderase'', who during that period held most of the (considerably diminished) imperial power. It was last granted to Yohannes IV by his brother-in-law Tekle Giyorgis II (Wagshum Gobeze) before the former deposed the later and seized the throne for himself.

Tsehafi Taezaz

The Tsehafi Taezaz (, translated as "Minister of the Pen") was the most powerful post at the Imperial court. According to John Spencer, he was "the one who traditionally walked two steps behind the Emperor to listen to and write down all orders that the latter gave out in the course of an audience or an inspection tour." Spencer adds that under Haile Selassie the ''Tsehafe Tezaz'' safeguarded the Great Seal, kept the records of all important appointments, and was responsible for publishing all laws and treaties; "his signature, rather than that of the Emperor, appeared on those fficialpublications although the heading in each case referred to His Imperial Majesty." The office was combined with that of Prime Minister during the tenure of Aklilu Habte-Wold (1961–1974).

Afe Negus

Afe Negus (, lit: "mouth of the King") Title for the Imperial Supreme Court Justices that is equivalent to "Lord Justice" or "Lord Chief Justice" (in the case of the Chief Justice). The title was originally given to the two chief heralds who acted as official spokesmen for the Emperor, hence the name "mouth of the King". Since the Emperor never spoke in public, these officials always spoke in public on his behalf (speaking as if they were the Emperor). By 1942, this title was granted only to Justices of the Imperial Supreme Court.

Liqe Mekwas

The Liqe Mekwas (ሊቀ መኳስ ) was the impersonator or double of the Emperor, who accompanied him in battle. Two trusted and highly favored officials were given this title. They always walked or rode on either side of the monarch in battle, or in public processions, dressing as magnificently, or more magnificently then he, in order to distract assassins.Perham, ''The Government of Ethiopia'', p. 86

Aqabe Se'at

The Aqabe Se'at (ዐቃቤ ሰዓት , "keeper of time") was a high official, often a clergyman, who was responsible for keeping the Emperor's schedule and had authority over the clergy assigned to the Imperial Court. The position was one of immense power in medieval times, but became largely titular under the Gondarine Emperors and eventually went out of existence.

Blattengeta

The Blattengeta (ብላቴን ጌታ , "lord of the pages") was a high court official that served as administrator of the Palaces. The title was later used as an honorific.

Blatta

Blatta (ብላታ , "page") was the rank of high court officials in charge of maintaining palace protocol and meeting the personal needs of the Imperial family.

Basha

Basha (ባሻ ) was a rank originally derived from the Turkish (Ottoman)/Egyptian title of Pasha, but considered a lower rank in Ethiopia, whereas Pasha was a high rank at the Turkish and Egyptian courts.

Important offices of the civil government

Negadras

A Negadras (ነጋድራስ , "head of the merchants") was the appointed leader of a larger town's merchants, who supervised the operations of the markets, the administration of customs, and the collection of taxes. By the end of the 19th century a ''negadras'' was often the single most important official in a town, essentially acting as its mayor.

By 1900 the various ''negadrasoch'' had been subordinated to the ''negadras'' of Addis Ababa, Haile Giyorgis Woldemikael, who by 1906 supervised foreign businesses and diplomatic missions in the capital, the organisation of hand was responsible for granting concessions and contracts to foreign enterprises, making the post the ''de facto'' Mayor of Addis Ababa, Chief of police, Minister of Commerce and Minister of Foreign Affairs. These functions were separated by the formation of the first cabinet in 1907, with Haile Giyorgis appointed to those posts. With Haile Giyorgis' removal from office by then-Regent ''Ras'' Tafari Makonnen in 1917, the post of ''negadras'' of Addis Ababa lost most of its powers to the office of ''Kantiba'', the head of the municipal government, which had been created in 1910, with other towns later following suit.

Kantiba

Kantiba (ከንቲባ , "mayor" or "Lord Mayor") is a mayor of a large town or city in modern times. In ancient times a kantiba was a chief, the king's lieutenant that used to govern a province or more provinces. He had soldiers. The kantiba had the task to administrate the given areas. In certain cases the title of kantiba could have passed down from father to son, and in some others the title was given to elected individuals for a few years, where at the end of the mandate another person was elected.

See also

*Ethiopian ecclesiastical titles
*Ethiopian military titles
* Balabat

References

Sources

* ''Ethiopia: a country study''. Edited by Thomas P. Ofcansky and LaVerle Berry. 4th ed. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. For sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. G.P.O., 1993. Online at http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/ettoc.html#et0163

External links

Ethiopia's Aristocracy

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ethiopian Aristocratic And Court Titles

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Noble titles
Royal titles
Titles of national or ethnic leadership
Ethiopian given names