Emperor of Ethiopia - Definition and Overview

The Imperial Dynasty of the Emperors of Ethiopia is one of the oldest in the World, if not the oldest. The Dynasty claimed decent from the biblical King Solomon and Makeda, Queen of Sheba. Their son, Menelik I, is said to be the first person to assume the title of "Emperor of Ethiopia". The Dynasty became Christian during the reign of the brothers and co-Emperors Abreha and Atsbeha, also known as Ezana and Shezana in the 4th Century. The Solomonic dynasty was deposed around the turn of the first millenium, and was replaced by the Zagwe dynasty for about two hundred years. In the mid 1100's, the Solomonic dynasty was restored under Emperor Yekonu Amlak. His decendants would rule Ethiopia until 1974 with only a couple of usurpers. The most significant usurper was Kassa of Kwara who in 1855, became Theodore II took complete control over Ethiopia and was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia (Negus negusti (Neguse Negest), literally "King of Kings"). Solomonic Emperors were restored following his death. The most famous of the post-Theodorean Emperors were Yohannis IV and Menelik II. Emperor Menelik II struck a major military victory against Italian invaders in March of 1894 at the Battle of Adwa, the first major victory of an African nation against a colonial power. His successors ruled the country until the military coup in 1974 with the exception of the years 1936-1941, when the country was under Italian occupation and Victor Emmanuel III claimed the title, a claim not entirely undisputed in the international community. Emperor Haile Selassie was the last Solomonic monarch of Ethiopia to reign over the Empire. His son Crown Prince Asfaw Wossen was proclaimed "Emperor in Exile" as Emperor Amha Selassie, but the country itself was ruled first by a communist military dictatorship under a Junta known as the Dergue until 1991, when the EPRDF (Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front) took power.

See also: List of Emperors of Ethiopia, History of Ethiopia

Example Usage of Ethiopia