Negus
Encyclopedia
Negus is a title in Ge'ez
, Tigrinya, Tigre
and Amharic
, used for a king and at times also a vassal ruler in pre-1974 Ethiopia
and pre-1890 Eritrea
. It is subsequently used to translate the word "king" in Biblical and other literature. It is a noun derived from the ancient Semitic verbal root N - G - Ś meaning "to reign."
In more recent times it was used as a honorific negus for life title bestowed on governors of the most important provinces (kingdoms): Gojjam
, Welega
and the seaward kingdom (where the variation Bahr Negus 'King of the Sea', was the ancient title of the ruler of present-day central 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 province
, by his second wife Woizero Attitaggab, who rebelled against Empress Menen and her son Ras Ali II
the Viceroy, in 1845 and spent the next nine years alternating between rebellion and submission until he was proclaimed as Negus at Amba Chera, (19 September 1854), and after the Battle of Derasge
proclaimed himself Emperor 8 February 1855 and was crowned as Tewodros II
, at Derasge Maryam the next day.
Ge'ez language
Ge'ez is an ancient South Semitic language that developed in the northern region of Ethiopia and southern Eritrea in the Horn of Africa...
, Tigrinya, Tigre
Tigre
-Argentina:* Tigre Partido, an administrative division in Buenos Aires, Argentina** Tigre, Buenos Aires, the main city in Tigre Partido** Tigre Club in Paseo Victorica, Tigre, near Buenos Aires, Argentina...
and Amharic
Amharic language
Amharic is a Semitic language spoken in Ethiopia. It is the second most-spoken Semitic language in the world, after Arabic, and the official working language of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Thus, it has official status and is used nationwide. Amharic is also the official or working...
, used for a king and at times also a vassal ruler in pre-1974 Ethiopia
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...
and pre-1890 Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
. It is subsequently used to translate the word "king" in Biblical and other literature. It is a noun derived from the ancient Semitic verbal root N - G - Ś meaning "to reign."
In more recent times it was used as a honorific negus for life title bestowed on governors of the most important provinces (kingdoms): Gojjam
Gojjam
Gojjam was a kingdom in the north-western part of Ethiopia, with its capital city at Debre Marqos. This region is distinctive for lying entirely within the bend of the Abbay River from its outflow from Lake Tana to the Sudan...
, Welega
Welega Province
Welega was a province in the western part of Ethiopia, with its capital city at Nekemte. It was named for the Welega Oromo, who are the majority of the population within its boundaries....
and the seaward kingdom (where the variation Bahr Negus 'King of the Sea', was the ancient title of the ruler of present-day central Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
) and later Shewa
Shewa
Shewa is a historical region of Ethiopia, formerly an autonomous kingdom within the Ethiopian Empire...
.
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 province
Qwara Province
Qwara was a province in Ethiopia, located between Lake Tana and the frontier with Sudan, and stretcing from Agawmeder in the south as far north as Metemma...
, by his second wife Woizero Attitaggab, who rebelled against Empress Menen and her son Ras Ali II
Ali II of Yejju
Ali II of Yejju was a Ras of Begemder and Enderase of the Emperor of Ethiopia. He was the son of Alula of Yejju, sometime governor of Damot and then of Gojjam, and Menen Liben Amede, later Empress of Ethiopia, and grandson of Gugsa of Yejju, by his fourth wife, Amata Selassie, daughter of Emperor...
the Viceroy, in 1845 and spent the next nine years alternating between rebellion and submission until he was proclaimed as Negus at Amba Chera, (19 September 1854), and after the Battle of Derasge
Battle of Derasge
The Battle of Derasge was fought on 9 February 1855 between Kassa Hailu's forces and the forces of the warlord Wube Haile Maryam. Kassa won the battle, and two days later crowned Tewodros II of Ethiopia at the church of Derasge Mariam near Mekane Berhan....
proclaimed himself Emperor 8 February 1855 and was crowned as Tewodros II
Tewodros II of Ethiopia
Tewodros II was the Emperor of Ethiopia from 1855 until his death....
, at Derasge Maryam the next day.