Solomonid dynasty

The Solomonic dynasty, also known as the House of Solomon, was the ruling dynasty of the Ethiopian Empire from the thirteenth to twentieth centuries. The dynasty was restored by Yekuno Amlak, who overthrew the Zagwe dynasty in 1270. His successors claimed he was descended from the legendary king Menelik I, the son of the biblical King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, in order to legitimize the dynasty's assumption of power.  Based on a genome study published in the "American Journal of Human Genetics", there is genetic (DNA) evidence that there was gene flow from the Levant (today's Israel and Syria) into Ethiopia 3,000 years ago, during the times of Solomon and David. The origin and date of the admixture is in support of the dynasty's claims ("Ethiopian Genome and Queen of Sheba", Sergio Prostak, Sci.News). The Solomonic dynasty remained in power until 1974, when its last emperor Haile Selassie was overthrown by a coup d'état.

The emperors did not use their real name when they became Emperor of Ethiopia, but they made up a regnal name for their rule.  For example, the first Emperor of the Solomonids was Yekuno Amlak.  But he used the name Tasfa Iyassus after he became ruler.

The dynasty began in 1270, when Yekuno Amlak killed the last king of the Zagwe dynasty, which had ruled Ethiopia.  Yekuno Amlak was made king, and European historians say was the first ruler of the dynasty.  But most Ethiopian books say that Menelik I, the son of King Solomon of Israel and the Queen of Sheba, was the first Emperor of this dynasty.

The leaders of Ethiopia from 1270 to 1975 (mostly Solomonids):

TermBirth NameThrone NameNotes'Solomonid dynasty'1270 to 1285 Yekuno Amlak  Tasfa Iyasus 1285 to 1294 Yagbe'u Seyon  Salomon I 1294 to 1295 Senfa Ared IV  1295 to 1296 Hezba Asgad  1296 to 1297 Qedma Asgad  1297 to 1298 Jin Asgad  1298 to 1299 Saba Asgad  1299 to 1314 Wedem Arad  1314 to 1344 Amda Seyon I  Gabra Masqal I 1344 to 1372 Newaya Krestos  Sayfa Ar`ed 1372 to 1382 Newaya Maryam  Wedem Asfare; or Gemma Asfare  1382 to 1413 Dawit I (David)  1413 to 1414 Tewodros I (Theodore)  Walda Ambasa  Ruled 9 months1414 to 1429 Yeshaq I (Isaac) Gabra Masqal II 1429 to 1430 Andreyas (Andrew)  1430 to 1433 Takla Maryam  Hezba Nan 1433  Sarwe Iyasus  Mehreka Nan 1433 to 1434 Amda Iyasus  Badel Nan 1434 to 1468 Zara Yaqob  Kuestantinos I (Constantine I)  Dating becomes certain here 1468 to 1478 Baeda Maryam I   1478 to 1494 Eskender (Alexander)  Constantine II 1494  Amda Seyon II  1494 to 1508 Na'od   1508 to 1540 Dawit II(David II) Lebna Dengel 1540 to 1559 Gelawdewos(Claudius) Asnaf Sagad I  1559 to 1563 Menas  Admas Sagad I  1563 to 1597 Sarsa Dengel  Malak Sagad I  1597 to 1603 Yaqob(Jacob) Malak Sagad II 1603 to 1604 Za Dengel  Asnaf Sagad II 1604 to 1607 Yaqob (Jacob) Malak Sagad II Restored1607 to 1632 Sissinios  Malak Sagad III  Crowned March 18, 16081632 to 1667 Fasilidos (Basilides) `Alam Sagad 1667 to 1682 Yohannes I (John I) 19 July 1682 to 13 October 1706 Iyasus I (Iyasus the Great) Adyam Sagad II 1685Yeshaq Iyasu ? In opposition27 March 1706 to 30 June 1708  Tekle Haymanot I  Le`al Sagad September 1707 Amda Seyon A usurper1 July 1708 to 14 October 1711 Tewoflos (Theophilus)  Walda Ambasa 1709 to July 1710Nebahne Yohannes In opposition14 October 1711 to 19 February 1716 Yostos (Justus) Sahay Sagad  A usurper8 February 1716 to 18 May 1721  Dawit III (David)  Adabar Sagad 18 May 1721 to 1730 Bakaffa  Asma Sagad or Masih Sagad 19 September 1730 to 26 June 1755 Iyasus II (Jesus II) Adyam Sagad  1736 to 1737Hezqeyas In oppositionEra of the Princes26 June 1755 to 7 May 1769 Iyoas (Joas) 7 May to 18 October 1769Yohannes II(John II) 18 October 1769 to June 1770Tekle Haymanot II June to December 1770Sissinios II 18 October 1769 to 13 April 1777Tekle Haymanot II Restored13 April 1777 to 20 July 1779Salomon II(Solomon II) 20 July 1779 to 8 February 1784Tekle Giyorgis 16 February 1784 to 24 April 1788Iyasus III(Jesus III) 1787 to 1788Iyasus In opposition1787 to 1788Baeda Maryam  In oppositionFebruary 1788 to 1789Tekle Haymanot In opposition24 April 1788 to 26 July 1789Tekle Giyorgis  Restored26 July 1789 to January 1794Hezqeyas(Hezekiah) January 1794 to 15 April 1795Tekle Giyorgis Restored15 April to December 1795Baeda Maryam II  December 1795 to 20 May 1796Tekle Giyorgis Restored20 May 1796 to 15 July 1797Salomon III(Solomon III) 18 August 1797 to 4 January 1798Yonas(Jonah) 4 January 1798 to 20 May 1799Tekle Giyorgis Restored20 May 1799 to 1799Salomon III(Solomon III) Restored1799 to 24 March 1800Demetros(Demetrius) 24 March to June 1800Tekle Giyorgis RestoredJune 1800 to June 1801Demetros June 1801 to June 3, 1818Egwale Seyon June 19, 1818 to June 3, 1821Iyoas II(Joas II) June 3, 1821 to April 1826Gigar April 1826Baeda Maryam III  April 1826 to June 18, 1830Gigar Restored18 June 1830 to 18 March 1832Iyasus IV(Jesus IV) 18 March 1832 to 1832Gebre Krestos 1832Sahla Dengel 1832 to 8 June 1832Gebre Krestos RestoredOctober 1832 to 29 August 1840Sahla Dengel Restored1832Egwale Anbesa In rebellion30 August 1840 to October 1841Yohannes III(John III) October 1841 to 1845Sahle Dengel Restored1845Yohannes III(John III) Restored1845 to 1850Sahle Dengel  Restored1850 to 1851Yohannes III(John III) Restored1851 to 11 February 1855Sahle Dengel Restored Tewodros Dynasty 9 February 1855 to 13 April 1868 Kasse Hailu Tewodros II(Theodore II)Zagwe Dynasty11 June 1868 to 11 July 1871Wagshum GobezeTekle Giyorgis IITigray Dynasty11 July 1871 to 9 March 1889 Kassa Mercha Yohannes IV(John IV)Solomonid Dynasty9 March 1889 to 12 December 1913 Sahle Maryam (dejazmach)  Menelik II12 December 1913 to 27 September 1916 Lij Kifle Yaqub Iyasu V Deposed by nobles with the sanction of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church27 September 1916 to 2 April 1930 Askala Maryam Zauditu, Empress♀2 April 1930 to 2 May 1936 Tafari Makonnen His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Elect of God, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of JudahCrowned 2 November 1930Italian occupationMay 9, 1936 to May 5, 1941Victor Emmanuel III of Italy, Claimed title "Emperor of Ethiopia" Not recognised everywhere.  Gave up the name in 1943.Solomonid DynastyMay 5, 1941 to 12 September 1974 Tafari Mekonnen His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Elect of God, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of JudahRestored; deposed12 September 1974 to 12 March 1975Asfa Wossen Amha Selassie Emperor-designate, did not take office

Category:History of Ethiopia
Category:Royal dynasties
Category:13th-century establishments in Africa
Category:1975 disestablishments
Category:1270s establishments
Category:20th-century disestablishments in Africa