Ethiopian Empire
Ethiopia, 1270–1975. Draft, not yet reviewed
The Ethiopian Empire existed from the establishment of the Solomonic dynasty by Yekuno Amlak around 1270 until the 1974 coup d'état by the Derg, which ended the reign of the final Emperor, Haile Selassie. The Ethiopian Empire reached its peak during the long reign of Emperor Zara Yaqob, from 1434 to 1468. In the late 19th century, under Emperor Menelik II, the empire expanded significantly to the south. Through a victory over the Italians at the Battle of Adwa in 1896, Menelik ensured Ethiopia's independence.
Seat of power: Gondar
Rulers
Amda Seyon I
Emperor of Ethiopia, 1314–1344
Most of his wars were against the Muslim sultanates to the southeast, which he was able to fight and generally defeat, and substantially enlarge his kingdom by gradually incorporating a number of smaller states. His conquests of Muslim borderlands greatly expanded Christian territory and power in the region, which were maintained for centuries after his death.
Portrait of Amda Seyon I: Unknown but obivously died over 70 years ago, Public domain, file
Newaya Krestos
Emperor of Ethiopia, 1344–1372
When Ali ibn Sabr ad-Din of the Walashma dynasty revolted, Newaya Krestos campaigned along the eastern frontier of Ethiopia in the territories of Adal and Ifat. The revolt was unsuccessful, and Ali ad-Din was captured with all of his sons, effectively destroying the Sultanate of Ifat as an independent state.
Dawit I
Emperor of Ethiopia, 1382–1413
Historians see Dawit's 33-year reign, which followed the territorial expansion achieved by his predecessors, as a period of consolidation for the Solomonic kingdom. On his eastern border, Dawit fought the Muslim sultanate of Ifat on much the same terms as his predecessors, setting up permanent royal camps at Tobya and Tilq and strengthening the garrisons at Bali, Dawaro, and Hadiya.
Zara Yaqob
Emperor of Ethiopia, 1434–1468
He took measures to greatly centralize the administration of the country, bringing regions under much tighter imperial control. He founded Debre Birhan as his capital.
Portrait of Zara Yaqob: Unknown painter 17th century, CC0, file
Eskender
Emperor of Ethiopia, 1471–1494
Due to his young age, his authority required a regent, and a council was formed of his mother Romna Wark, Tasfa Giyorgis, and the Bitwoded Amda Mikael. Eskender's most significant military accomplishment was sacking Dakkar, the capital of the Adal Sultanate, when he destroyed houses and places of worship in 1478.
Lebna Dengel
Emperor of Ethiopia, 1508–1540
Lebna Dengel was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1508 to 1540, and his political center and palace were in Shewa. In contrast to previous emperors, Dawit had only one wife, Seble Wongel, whom he married around 1512–13.
Portrait of Lebna Dengel: Cristofano dell'Altissimo, Public domain, file
Gelawdewos
Emperor of Ethiopia, 1540–1559
After the death of his father, Gelawdewos succeeded to the throne on 2 September 1540 at the age of 18. He and the Portuguese survivors met Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi at the Battle of Wayna Daga on 21 February 1543, defeating and killing the Imam.
Portrait of Gelawdewos: Mary Evans Picture Library, Public domain, file
Sarsa Dengel
Emperor of Ethiopia, 1563–1597
As ruler, he faced several revolts and moved the empire's center from Shewa to Begemder. Sarsa Dengel led campaigns against the Oromo tribes who were migrating northward, successfully pushing them back.
Portrait of Sarsa Dengel: ZemenfesKidus, Public domain, file
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Susenyos
Emperor of Ethiopia, 1606–1632
Susenyos' reign is perhaps best known as the brief period in Ethiopian history when Catholic Christianity became the official religion. Susenyos at last publicly converted to Catholicism in 1622. On 14 June 1632 Susenyos made a declaration that those who would follow the Catholic faith were allowed to do so, but no one would be forced to do so any further.
Portrait of Susenyos: Unknown authorUnknown author, CC BY-SA 4.0, file
Fasiladas
Emperor of Ethiopia, 1632–1667
Renowned as the founder of Gondar, the capital of the Ethiopian Empire, Fasilides ushered in the Gondarine period. Once he became emperor, Fasilides immediately restored the official status of the traditional Ethiopian Orthodox Church. He confiscated the lands of the Jesuits at Dankaz and elsewhere in the empire and exiled them to Fremona.
Portrait of Fasiladas: Unknown, Public domain, file
Iyasu I
Emperor of Ethiopia, 1682–1706
Iyasu temporarily halted the trend of decline through his brilliance as a military leader, reestablishing control over rebellious vassals and conquering areas to the south of his domain. In addition to his military and political exploits, Iyasu was a patron of architecture, arts and literature. Iyasu was deposed by his own son Tekle Haymanot I in 1706 and assassinated by the relatives of one of his concubines.
Portrait of Iyasu I: Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des Manuscrits, Division orientale, Public domain, file
Iyasu II
Emperor of Ethiopia, 1730–1755
His mother, Empress Mentewab, had herself crowned as co-ruler instead of taking the title of regent, the first woman to be crowned in this manner in Ethiopian history. Despite Mentewab's counsel, Iyasu proved to be an ineffectual monarch.
Portrait of Iyasu II: Unnamed, Public domain, file
Sahle Dengel
Emperor of Ethiopia, 1832–1855
Sahle Dengel was Emperor of Ethiopia intermittently between 1832 and 1855, towards the end of the Zemene Mesafint. He was largely a figurehead, with real power in the hands of Ras Ali II of Yejju.
Menilek II
Emperor of Ethiopia, 1889–1913
Menelik expanded the Ethiopian Empire to its greatest historical extent and defeated Italian colonial forces at the Battle of Adwa in 1896. As quasi-independent ruler of Shewa from 1878 to 1889, Menelik built his power base through direct European diplomacy, securing modern weapons and expertise from advisors such as the Swiss engineer Alfred Ilg. He conquered southern territories inhabited by Oromo, Wolayta and Gurage peoples, exploiting ivory, coffee, gold, and slave trade revenues to fund arms.
Portrait of Menilek II: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Haile Selassie I
Emperor of Ethiopia, 1930–1974
Selassie, seeking to modernise Ethiopia, introduced political and social reforms including the 1931 constitution and the abolition of slavery in 1942. He led the empire during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, and after its defeat was exiled to the United Kingdom.
Portrait of Haile Selassie I: unknown; according to [1] and [2] an official portrait of which b/w copies were distributed by the Ethiopian government, Public domain, file
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Culture
- Emperor Zara Yaqob built numerous churches and monasteries and encouraged literature and art.
- The Fetha Nagast, or Law of the Kings, served as the country's legal code and remained in use until the early 20th century.
- Despite being surrounded by hostile forces throughout much of its history, the empire maintained a kingdom centered on its ancient Christian heritage.
Picture
The Fasil Ghebbi, a fortress in Gondar, was founded in the 17th century by Emperor Fasilides and was the home of Ethiopian emperors.
Image: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0, file
Sources
Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.