Emperor of Ethiopia

The Emperor of Ethiopia (Amharic ??? ????, niguse negest, "King of Kings") was the hereditary ruler of Ethiopia until the abolition of the monarchy in 1975. The Emperor was not only the head of state, but the ultimate executive, judicial and legislative power in that country. As noted in a National Geographic Magazine article, Ethiopia is "nominally a constitutional monarchy; in fact a benevolent autocracy."1

Related Topics:
Amharic - Ethiopia - Monarchy - 1975 - Head of state - Executive - Judicial - Legislative power - National Geographic Magazine - Constitutional monarchy - Autocracy - 1

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The style "King of Kings", usually translated in English as "Emperor", dates back to ancient Mesopotamia, but was used in Axum by king Sembrouthes. Yuri Kobishchanov dates this usage to the period following the Persian victory over the Romans in 296-297.2 Its use, from at least the reign of Yekuno Amlak onward, meant that both subordinate officials and tributary rulers received the title of negus or "king". The consort of the Emperor is referred to as the Itege, and the Empress Zauditu used that title.

Related Topics:
Mesopotamia - Axum - Sembrouthes - Persian - Romans - 296-297 - 2 - Yekuno Amlak - Zauditu

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