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A historical list and brief description of some unique royal traditional titles in Ethiopian historical aristocracy of various different regions, kingdoms and peoples unique to their respective regions. (Thread)
Negus - King (not to be confused with Emperor). Negus was the royal title to denote the ruler of a whole province such as Gojjam, Tigray, Wello & Shewa, but was still subservient to the Emperor aka the "King of Kings", the title was only used commonly post-19th century.
Bahr Negash: The regional governor of the Tigrinya speaking highland districts such as Hamasien and Akele Guzai bordering the Red Sea during the Middle ages what is known as Eritrea. The office was introduced by Emperor Zara Yaqob in the 14th century.
Shum/Seyum - Literally translated from the Ge'ez word head, loosely equivalent to "Governor", and was title granted to the historical appointed leaders of the districts of Agame, Tembien and Enderta in Tigray ; as well as Gojjam and Begemder and others.
Wagshum - "Shum/Seyum of Wag", but was a more unique and prestigious title, as the Agew ruler of the historical regions of Wag and Lasta which in the past was the centre of the Zagwe Dynasty. Unlike the other rulers, the Wagshum was exempt from paying tribute to the Emperor.
Jantirar - The ruler of the district of Ambassel & a title used since the reign of Yekuno Amlak, but in the past ruled more domain in Bete Amhara (Wello). They historically governed the mountain fortress Amba Gishen. Empress Menen was the daughter of the previous Jantirar Mikael
Meridazmatch - A unique title of the royal ruler of Shewa, installed by Sebastenyos in the late 17th century after his father Negasi Kristos installed the Shewan line of Solomonic descendance & who started a period of reconquest of territories from their traditional base in Menz
Motolemi - The King of Damot, who ruled the region south of the Abay. They're claimed to have also ruled over the Sidamo & Welayta. St Tekle Haimanot's parents are described by accounts of having fled from the Pagan Motelemi in the 13th century but later converted to Christianity
Kawo - King, of the Welayta Kingdom that was amongst the most powerful in the South in the 19th century. The Kawo dynasty claim descendance from Tigray in 1560. The last Kawo Tona, fought and was defeated and incorporated into the greater Ethiopian kingdom by Menelik II
Taki-Kings of the region of Kaffa. The Taki ruled over the autonomous kingdom of Kaffa. They were amongst the earliest people in the South to convert to Christianity and payed tribute to the Emperor, expanding their influence over the Welayta, Kambata, and Denchya.
Abetezrehen - Abetezrehen was the title of Agew governor of Agewmeder in 14th and 15th century. Its compounded by the names Abeto (Lord in Ge'ez) and Agew variation of Ager (Land). They payed tribute to and served the Emperor
Awalomo - Awalomo was the name of the ruler of the Sarabe tribe of the Gafat , the former being the most prestigious of the many subclans within the Gafat, and therefore by extension the Gafat as a whole. They payed tribute to the Emperor.
The Jan Amora and Jan Kemer were lords of Gojam and Angot (Northern Wello) respectively. Both titles were named after battle regiments (Chewas) that were stationed and the leaders were also titled after their names. Jan Amora exists as a region in Gonder today.
Other titles we know existed but have very little information on other than knowing they payed tribute to Past Emperors are:
The Zelarde of Fetegar
The Heydara of Dawaro
The Yawisay of Gedem
The Ambalobaker of Ifat
The Zebidar of Waj
The Tata of Ganz
The Zelarde of Fetegar
The Heydara of Dawaro
The Yawisay of Gedem
The Ambalobaker of Ifat
The Zebidar of Waj
The Tata of Ganz
