Line of succession to the Ethiopian Throne
Encyclopedia
The line of succession to the Ethiopia
n throne is described in the first section of the 1955 Revised Constitution of Ethiopia
.
In brief, the title of Emperor may pass only through male descendants of HIM Haile Selassie I, through the oldest male line before the younger. Other qualifications are that they be born in lawful wedlock, be an Orthodox
Christian, and not be married to a foreigner or against consent of the Imperial Family.
In the event that there were no qualifying male descendants of Haile Selassie, the nearest male relative who is descended from Sahle Selassie
, King of Shewa, would then be heir.
In March 1975, the monarchy was abolished by the Derg
, the military junta that had forcibly taken over during a Communist revolution. The Derg by its own authority abolished all royal and noble titles by proclamation at that time. The current Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia makes no provisions for a monarchy. The Crown Council of Ethiopia
considers Crown Prince Zera Yacob Amha Selassie
to be Head of the Imperial House. Although the current Ethiopian government regards members of the Imperial family as private citizens, they do recognize their royal and noble titles as a matter of courtesy, effectively rescinding the abolition of those titles by Derg regime. Foreign royal courts have continued to accord members of the Ethiopian Imperial family their titles throughout the period following the fall of the Ethiopian monarchy in 1974.
HIH
Crown Prince Zera Yacob b. 1953 (son of Amha Selassie I, grandson of Haile Selassie I)
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
n throne is described in the first section of the 1955 Revised Constitution of Ethiopia
1955 Constitution of Ethiopia
Emperor Haile Selassie proclaimed a revised constitution in November 1955 of the Empire of Ethiopia. This constitution was prompted, like its 1931 predecessor, by a concern with international opinion...
.
In brief, the title of Emperor may pass only through male descendants of HIM Haile Selassie I, through the oldest male line before the younger. Other qualifications are that they be born in lawful wedlock, be an Orthodox
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is the predominant Oriental Orthodox Christian church in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Church was administratively part of the Coptic Orthodox Church until 1959, when it was granted its own Patriarch by Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of All...
Christian, and not be married to a foreigner or against consent of the Imperial Family.
In the event that there were no qualifying male descendants of Haile Selassie, the nearest male relative who is descended from Sahle Selassie
Sahle Selassie
Sahle Selassie was a Meridazmach of Shewa , an important noble of Ethiopia. He was a younger son of Wossen Seged...
, King of Shewa, would then be heir.
In March 1975, the monarchy was abolished by the Derg
Derg
The Derg or Dergue was a Communist military junta that came to power in Ethiopia following the ousting of Haile Selassie I. Derg, which means "committee" or "council" in Ge'ez, is the short name of the Coordinating Committee of the Armed Forces, Police, and Territorial Army, a committee of...
, the military junta that had forcibly taken over during a Communist revolution. The Derg by its own authority abolished all royal and noble titles by proclamation at that time. The current Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia makes no provisions for a monarchy. The Crown Council of Ethiopia
Crown Council of Ethiopia
The Crown Council of Ethiopia was the constitutional body which advised the reigning emperors of Ethiopia and acted on behalf of the Crown. The council’s members were appointed by the emperor....
considers Crown Prince Zera Yacob Amha Selassie
Zera Yacob Amha Selassie, Crown Prince of Ethiopia
Zera Yacob Amha Selassie, Crown Prince of Ethiopia is the grandson of Emperor Haile Selassie and son of Emperor-in-Exile Amha Selassie of Ethiopia. He has been Head of the Imperial House of Ethiopia since 17 February 1997 and is currently recognized as such by the Crown Council of Ethiopia...
to be Head of the Imperial House. Although the current Ethiopian government regards members of the Imperial family as private citizens, they do recognize their royal and noble titles as a matter of courtesy, effectively rescinding the abolition of those titles by Derg regime. Foreign royal courts have continued to accord members of the Ethiopian Imperial family their titles throughout the period following the fall of the Ethiopian monarchy in 1974.
Line of succession
According to the 1955 orders of succession and with the assent of the Imperial Crown Council, the current order of succession among the living male descendants of HIM Haile Selassie I is as follows:HIH
Imperial Highness
His/Her Imperial Highness is a style used by members of an imperial family to denote imperial - as opposed to royal - status to show that the holder in question is descended from an Emperor rather than a King .Today the style has mainly fallen from use with the exception of the Imperial Family of...
Crown Prince Zera Yacob b. 1953 (son of Amha Selassie I, grandson of Haile Selassie I)
- HIH Prince Paul Wossen Seged Makonnen, Duke of Harrar b. 1947 (grandson of HIM Haile Selassie I)
- HIH Prince Mikael Amde Yesus Makonnen b. 1950 (grandson of HIM Haile Selassie I)
- HIH Prince Yokshan Dawit Makonnen b. 1978 (great-grandson of HIM Haile Selassie I)
- HIH Prince Joel Dawit Makonnen b. 1982 (great-grandson of HIM Haile Selassie I)
- HIH Prince Philip Tafari Makonnen b. 1954 (grandson of HIM Haile Selassie I)
- HIH Prince David Tafari Makonnen b.1992 son of Prince Philip Makonnen (great-grandson of HIM Haile Selassie I)
- HIH Prince Isaiah Tafari Makonnen b.1998 son of Prince Philip Makonnen (great-grandson of HIM Haile Selassie I)
- HIH Prince Baeda Maryam Makonnen b. 1957 (grandson of HIM Haile Selassie I)
- HIH Prince Ermias Sahle SelassieErmias Sahle SelassiePrince Ermias Sahle Selassie is the only son of Prince Sahle Selassie of Ethiopia and Princess Mahisente Habte Mariam. He is the grandson of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, and also of Dejazmach Habte Mariam Gebre Igziabiher, the heir to the former Welega kingdom of Leqa Naqamte.Prince Ermias...
b. 1960 (grandson of HIM Haile Selassie I) - HIH Prince Christian Sahle Selassie Ermias b. 1992 (great-grandson of HIM Haile Selassie I)
- HIH Prince Rufael Fiseha Tsieon Ermias b. 1992 (great-grandson of HIM Haile Selassie I)
See also
- Solomonic dynastySolomonic dynastyThe Solomonic dynasty is the Imperial House of Abyssinia. Its members claim lineal descent from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, the latter of whom tradition asserts gave birth to the first King Menelik I after her Biblically described visit to Solomon in Jerusalem .-Overview:The dynasty, a...
- List of Emperors of Ethiopia
- Emperor of EthiopiaEmperor of EthiopiaThe Emperor of Ethiopia was the hereditary ruler of Ethiopia until the abolition of the monarchy in 1974. The Emperor was the head of state and head of government, with ultimate executive, judicial and legislative power in that country...
- Girma Yohannis IyasuGirma Yohannis IyasuPrince Girma Yohannis Iyasu is the Iyasuist claimant to the throne of Ethiopia. He is also known by the name Girma Ghebresillasie.-Life:He is the son of Lij Yohannes Iyasu...
- Grandson of EmperorEmperor of EthiopiaThe Emperor of Ethiopia was the hereditary ruler of Ethiopia until the abolition of the monarchy in 1974. The Emperor was the head of state and head of government, with ultimate executive, judicial and legislative power in that country...
-Designate (uncrowned and deposed) Lij Iyasu - Mangasha SeyumMangasha SeyumRas Mengesha Seyoum GCVO is a member of the imperial family of the Ethiopian Empire. In 1974, the monarchy was abolished by the Derg, a communist military junta.- Biography :...
- Great grandson of EmperorEmperor of EthiopiaThe Emperor of Ethiopia was the hereditary ruler of Ethiopia until the abolition of the monarchy in 1974. The Emperor was the head of state and head of government, with ultimate executive, judicial and legislative power in that country...
Yohannes IVYohannes IV of EthiopiaYohannes IV , born Lij Kassay Mercha Ge'ez, was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1872 until his death.-Early life:...