Negus
Encyclopedia : N : NE : NEG : Negus
- For other uses see Negus (disambiguation)
It was the original royal title before the establishment of the greater Abessynia, or Ethiopan Empire.
Later is was used as a honorific title bestowed on governors of the most important provinces: Gojjam, Welega, the seaward provinces (where the variation Bahr Negus 'King of the Sea', was the ancient title of the ruler of the maritime northern provinces, including present-day Eritrea) and later Shewa.
Both uses and the imperial dignity would meet in the person of a regional prince, Lij Kassa Hailu, third youngest son of Dejazmach Hailu Wolde-Giyorgis, Governor of Qwara, by his second wife Woizero Attitaggab, who rebelled against Empress Menen and her son Ras Ali II, the Viceroy, in 1845, invaded and pillaged Dembiya in October 1846, conquered Gondar in January 1847, defeated and captured the Empress that year but was promoted and granted the personal title of Dejazmach on releasing her in August. He assumed the title of Ras immediately after his victory at Gur Amba, 27 November 1852, was pursued, fought and finally defeated Ras Ali II at Ayshal, 29 June 1853 and was proclaimed as Negus (again a ruling 'King') at Amba Chera, on 19 September 1854. Next he defeated Ras Wube at the battle of Dirasge, captured and deposed Emperor Sahle Dengal, and proclaimed himself Emperor on 8 February 1855 to be crowned as Tewodros II, at the Church of the Virgin Mary at Dirasge, 9 February 1855.
However he committed suicide at Magdala, 13 April 1868, having had five sons and three daughters, none of his offspring would succeed him: his eldest, Ras Mashasha Tewodoros, who was instrumental in engineering the escape of Emperor Menelik II from confinement at Magdala on 30 June 1865, became governor of Qwara, and Dembiya 1889 and was granted the personal title of Ras by Emperor Menelik II, who as a prince (only son of H.M. Haile Malakot, King of Shoa) had married in 1864 Woizero Altash, Tewodoros' oldest daughter bot had no children from her.
- See Emperor of Ethiopia for the derived title Negus negorum, a latinizated of nəgusä nägäst and alternative forms means "king of kings", which authors often incorrectly shortened this as Negus; see also Ethiopian aristocratic and religious titles.
Sources and references
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.