page_title: Iyasu II
section_title: Death
hierarchical_section_title: Iyasu II / Death
caption_attribution_description: English: Bones of Empress Mentewab, her son Iyasu II, and his son Iyoas I – Kusquam fortress in Gondar, Ethiopia Русский: Останки императрицы Ментваб, её сына Иясу II и его сына Йоаса I – ансамбль крепости Кусквам в Гондаре, Эфиопия
context_page_description: Iyasu II or Joshua II was nəgusä nägäst of Ethiopia, and a member of the Gondar branch of the Solomonic dynasty. He was the son of Emperor Bakaffa and Empress Mentewab.
  The Empress Mentewab played a major role in Iyasu's reign, perhaps against her will. Shortly after he was proclaimed Emperor, a rival claimant assaulted the Royal Enclosure for eight days, only leaving the capital Gondar when an army of 30,000 from Gojjam appeared. Although the rebels failed to penetrate its walls, nonetheless much of Gondar was left in ruins. Instead of taking the title of regent upon the succession of her underage son, Empress Mentewab had herself crowned as co-ruler, becoming the first woman to be crowned in this manner in Ethiopian history. Empress Mentewab wielded significant authority throughout the reign of her son, and well into the reign of her grandson as well.
context_section_description: Iyasu fell seriously ill in May, 1755, and died the next month.  It was generally believed that he had been poisoned by the sister of Melmal Iyasu, in revenge for her brother's death.   When the Empress Mentewab sought funds from the treasury for his funeral, only a few dinars could be found. Saddened by this situation, she threatened to retire to her palace convent at Qusquam, but a group of nobles persuaded her to instead become regent for her grandson Iyoas I.
caption: The bones of Mentewab, Iyasu II, and Iyoas I, in Kuskwam (Gondar)
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