List of rulers of Shewa

This article lists the rulers of Shewa, a historical region of Ethiopia.

Ruler of Shewa
Provincial
Family tree of the Shewan rulers
Details
StyleHis Majesty
First monarchAbeto Nagasi Krestos
Last monarchSahle Mariam
Formationc. 1682
Abolition10 March 1889
ResidenceAnkober
Debre Birhan
Qundi (1808–1813)
Doqaqit (1745–1805)
Yifat
AppointerHereditary
Location of Shewa province (red) within the Ethiopian Empire.

c. 960–1270

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According to tradition, the Solomonic dynasty (1270–1974) was descended from king Solomon and queen Makeda via the kings of Axum. After Axum was destroyed by Gudit in the 10th century, the royal family fled to Shewa and reigned there for 330 years before the accession of Yekuno Amlak.[1] A line of kings ruled at Shewa during the time of the Zagwe dynasty and claimed descent from Dil Na'od, the last king of Axum.[2] The 1922 regnal list of Ethiopia includes eight unnumbered kings described as "8 generations of an Israelitish dynasty" who "did not mount the throne".[3]

Portrait Ruler[3] Reign Notes
Mahbara Wedem c. 960
Agbea Tseyon
Tsenfa Arad
Nagash Zare
Asfeh
Yakob
Bahr Asagad
Asgud Additional name found on one regnal list quoted by Egyptologist Henry Salt.[4]
Edem Asagad c. 1210–1255[5]
  Yekuno Amlak c. 1255–1270 Defeated the last Zagwe king and became Emperor of Ethiopia (r. 1270–1285).

1682–1889

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Claiming Solomonic descent, Nagasi Krestos established Shewa as an autonomous region of the weakening Ethiopian Empire in the 17th century before requesting the title of Meridazmatch, which would be adopted by his successors, and beginning a southern expansion of his realm that would culminate in the conquests of his descendant Menelik II.

Portrait Ruler Reign Notes
Nagasi Krestos c. 1682 – c. 1703 Abeto
Sebestyanos c. 1703 – c. 1718 Merid Azmach
Kidane Kale (Abuye) c. 1718 – c. 1744 Merid Azmach
Amha Iyasus (Amhayes) c. 1744 – c. 1775 Merid Azmach
Asfaw Wossen c. 1775 – c. 1808 Merid Azmach
Wossen Seged c. 1808 –
June 1813
Merid Azmach and Ras
  Sahle Selassie 12 June 1813 –
22 October 1847
Merid Azmach, after 1839 Negus
  Haile Melekot 22 October 1847 –
9 November 1855
Negus
  Sahle Mariam 9 November 1855 – 1856 First reign as Negus
Haile Mikael 1856 to 1859 Son of Sahle Selassie, appointed Meridazmach by Emperor Tewodros II
Bezabeh 1859 First reign, appointed by Emperor Tewodros II
Seyfe 1859 – 1860 Son of Sahle Selassie, self-appointed Merid Azmach against Emperor Tewodros II
Bezabeh 1860 – 1865 Second reign, restored by Emperor Tewodros II
  Sahle Mariam August 1865 –
10 March 1889
Second reign as Negus, became Emperor Menelik II

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Henry Salt (1814). A Voyage to Abyssinia. London: W. Bulmer and Co. p. 472.
  2. ^ Budge, E. A. Wallis (1928). A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia (Volume I). London: Methuen & Co. p. 218.
  3. ^ a b Rey, C. F. (1927). In the Country of the Blue Nile. London: Camelot Press. p. 271.
  4. ^ Henry Salt (1814). A Voyage to Abyssinia. London: W. Bulmer and Co. p. 473.
  5. ^ Truhart, Peter (1984). Regents of Nations (Part 1). Munich: K. G. Saur. p. 103. ISBN 3-598-10492-8.
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