ETHIOPIA

The Solomonic Dynasty

GENEALOGY

1913 - 1916 H.M. Iyasu V, Elect of God, King of Kings of Ethiopia, GCVO (7.9.1911). b. at Tanta, 4^th February 1887, as Lij Kifle Yakob, son of H.H. Negus Mikael, King of Zion, by his third wife, Woizero Shoa Reggad, elder daughter of H.M. Emperor Menelik II, Elect of God, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah and King of Kings of Ethiopia, GCB, GCMG, educ. Menelik II Sch., Addis Ababa. Baptised as Iyasu. Appointed as Heir Apparent by his grandfather 15^th May 1909, and formally proclaimed as such 30^th October 1909. Assumed the title of Abeto-Hoy 1911. Succeeded on his death, 12^th December 1913, but never crowned. Reigned under the Regency of Ras Bitwodad Tesemma Nado until the latter's death under mysterious circumstances, 10^th April 1911. Ended the practice of chaining plaintiffs in court, confiscating all the property of convicts, forbade the drugging of boys for supernatural purposes, established the first police force in Addis Ababa, and promoted religious tolerance. Deposed on the grounds that he had embrased the Muslim faith, 27^th September 1916. Evaded capture and roamed the countryside of Wollo, the Afar lowlands, and Tigray until captured by Ras Gugsa Araya on 11^th January 1921. Placed in confinement at Fikke 1921-1931. Escaped with the help of Le'ul Ras Hailu Takla Haymanot, but was capturedand imprisoned at Gara Muleta, in Harar. Rcvd: GC of the Orders of Solomon of Ethiopia, Leopold of Austria (1912), and the Crown of Italy (1912). m. (first) at Addis Ababa, 16^th May 1909 (div. April 1910) Woizero Aster [Romana Worq] (b. April 1901; m. second, 1918 (div.), H.E. Ras Getachew Abate, Governor of Kembata, by whom she had issue, a son and a daughter. m. third, Assabber Gabre Haywot), daughter of H.H. Ras Mangasha Yohannes, Prince of Tigray, by his second wife, Woizero Kafay, elder daughter of H.E. Ras Wale Betul, sometime Governor of Yajju. m. (second) April 1910 (div. 1916) Woizero Sabla Wangel (m. second, H.E. Dejazmatch Yigezu Behapte, Minister for Commerce and Mayor of Addis Ababa. m. third, Dejazmatch Mangasha Jimbirre, and d. 1970, having had issue), daughter of H.H. Le'ul Ras Hailu Takla Haymanot, of Gojjam and Damot, by his first wife, Woizero Askala Mariam, daughter of H.H. Ras Bitwodad Mangasha Atikam, Governor of Gojjam. m. (i) Woizero Tesemma Andarge. m. (ii) 1913, Woizero Worqnesh, daughter of Dejazmatch Goshu, descendant of Emperor Iyasu I (or wrongly given as daughter of Dejazmach Wolde Gabriel and elder sister of Ras Birru - according to Dr. Girma). m. (iii) at Adal, before 1^st June 1913, Woizero Ihata Mariam, daughter of Dejazmatch 'Abu Bakar bin Ibrahim, of Chenno, in Yifat and Timuga, a rich merchant in Djibuti, French Somaliland. m. (iv) at Jimma, after 2^nd June 1913, Fatuma (b. 1900), daughter of Sultan Abba Jiffar II bin Abba Gommol, Sultan of Jimma. m. (v) at Dembi Dollo, June 1913, Woizero Askala Mariam, neé Mumina, a former Muslim who was baptised after her marriage, daughter of Dejazmatch Jote [Abba Iggir], sometime Governor of Liqa Quellem, Sayo and Anfilo. m. (vi) a woman from the family of Swalih of Timuga. m. (vii) a woman from the Were Sheh [Warasheikh] family of Yajju, Begameder. m. (viii) Ametulla, wife of Kebir Muhammad Mudir, and daughter of Amir Hajji 'Abdu'llahi II ibn 'Ali 'Abdu's Shakur, Amir of Harar. m. (ix) 1913, Woizero Atsede Mariam (b. at Bulga, 18xx; m. second, Neggadras Wolde Amanuel Temque. m. third, Dejazmatch xxx, of Tigray, and d. at Ammist Kilo, Addis Ababa, January 1988, having had issue by her second husband), daughter of Meggabi Takla Mariam. m. (x) Woizero Tiru Worq, daughter of Aligaz, a Wollo nobleman. m. (xi) a daughter of 'Abdullahi 'Ali Sadiq, a rich merchant from Harar. m. (xii) Woizero Zeudnesh, sister of Ras Abate Ba-Yalew, Wagshum, and youngest daughter of Dejazmatch Ba-Yalew, of Beza family of Manz. He d. (or was k.) at the Guenete Leul Palace, Addis Ababa (or at Garra Mulleta, Harar), 25^th November 1935 (bur. in the compound of St Markos Church), having had issue, six sons and six daughters:

• 1) Lij Engeda Eshet Iyasu [Melake Tsahay]. b. at Tiltal, Yifat desert, 13^th May 1914 (or 1919) (s/o Atsede Mariam), educ. Dabra-Libanos Monastery. Proclaimed as Emperor Melake Tsahai, at Amba Aradam by Ras Abebe Aregai, 1936. Crowned at the Church of Wgfele Mikael, Bulga, at the behest of the patriots during the Italian occupation, 2^nd September 1937. He d. from malaria, 4^th October 1938 (bur. at Zoma Takla Haymanot, near Ankobar).
• 2) Lij Girma Iyasu. b. 15^th September 1914 (s/o Zeudnesh). Served in the guerilla campaign against the Italians 1936-1941. He d. from food poisoning, at Taveta, Kenya, 1941, having had issue, a daughter:
  • a) Woizerit Sabla Wangel Girma. b. 1934. She d. young at Taveta, Kenya, 1941, aged seven years.
• 3) Dejazmatch Yohannes Iyasu. b. 20^th January 1915 (s/o Worqnesh), titled Prince by partisans of his father. Offered the title of Negus of Begameder by the Italians but served loyally in the guerilla campaign against them throughout 1936-1941. Granted the personal title of Dejazmatch by Emperor Haile Selassie I in 1941. Involved in a plot against him in 1942 and exiled to Jimma. Freed by the Dirge after they had overthrown Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974. m. (first) at Qualisa, November 1937, Woizero Zauditu, younger daughter of Lieutenant-General Dejazmatch Hailu Kabbada, of Lasta, by his wife, Woizero Shawanesh, daughter of Dejazmatch Abraha Araya, of Tigray. m. (second) at Addis Ababa, 11^th September 1943, Woizero Elfinesh [Kibre Zewde], granddaughter of Ras Bezibeh Takla Haymanot, of Gojjam. He d. at Jimma, 1977, having had issue by an unknown lady:
  • a) Lij Girma Yohannes [Professor Dr. Girma A. Ghebresillasie]. b. at Assebot Monastery, near Assaba Tafari, 1961, educ. Comenius Coll., Mettingen, and Westfalenkolleg, Bielefeld, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Left for Djibuti in 1973 and later settled in Germany. Researcher at the Univ. of Bremen, Lecturer at Miami Univ., Dir. & Project Mngr. for the Karlheinz Bhoem Fdn. "Menschen fuer Menschen" Agro-Technical Coll. at Harar 1998-2002, Mbr. Governing Brd. of Almaya Univ. 2002-2006, Chair. Ethiopian Democratic Party in Germany. Claimant to the Throne of Ethiopia, and uses the title of H.I.H. Abeto Lij Girma Yohannes Iyassu Menelik II. Author of "Strategische Marktforschung Und Instrumente Des Strategischen Marketings" (1989), "Kalter Krieg Am Horn Von Afrika: Regional-Konflikte Athiopien Und Somalia Im Spannungsfeld Der Supermachte 1945-1991" (1999), etc. m. Claudia [H.I.H. Princess Claudia Iyasu Menelik], née Bertram. He has issue, a son:
    • i) Lij Kaerrod Girma [Iyassu V Kifle Yacob].
  • Dr. Girma Yohannes Iyassu also had further issue, two natural daughters, by the daughter of an American industrialist.
• 4) Lij Menelik Iyasu. b. 8^th June 1916 (s/o Ihata Mariam). Escaped and settled in Djibouti, French Somaliland. Supported by the French as a candidate for the succession. Farming near Harar in 1971. He d. at Diredewa, 1982 (bur. there).
• 5) Lij Tewodros Iyasu. Served in the guerilla campaign against the Italians in Western Ethiopia 1936-1941. He d. (or was k.) after the return of Emperor Haile Selassie from exile.
• 6) Lij Mesfin Iyasu (alleged). Confined in a monastery for much of his life until released by the Dergue in 1974. Later arrested and imprisoned. He d. in confinement, 1999 (bur. Bale Wold Church, Adis Ababa).
• 1) Immabet-Hoy Alem Tsahai Worq. b. 22^nd February 1916 (d/o Woizero Sabla Wangel). m. (first) at Addis Ababa, 1928, Major-General H.E. Fitawrari Abebe Asfa, of Wollega. m. (second) (div.) May 1930, Dejazmatch Asfa Damessaw (b. ca. 1894), son of H.H. Ras Bitwodad Damessaw Nasibu, of Wollega, sometime Regent of Ethiopia and Minister for Justice. m. (third) during the Italian occupation, Dejazmatch Teklu (d. during the patriotic war), of Gojjam. She d. 2003, having had issue, one son by her first husband, and having adopted several children:
  • a) Lij Alen Seggad Abebe.
• 2) Woizerit Tesemma.
• 3) Woizerit Showa Yansash.
• 4) Woizerit Worqnesh.
• 5) Woizerit Shoa Reggad.
• 6) A child by Ametulla, who d. in infancy.

1916 - 1930 H.I.M. Empress Zawditu, Elect of God, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah and Queen of Kings of Ethiopia. b. 29^th April 1876, as Askala Mariam, younger daughter of H.M. Emperor Menelik II, Elect of God, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah and King of Kings of Ethiopia, GCB, GCMG, by Woizero Abetchew Bayan, educ. privately. Proclaimed as Queen of Kings on the deposition of her nephew, at the Great Ghebbi, Addis Ababa, 27^th September 1916. Crowned at St George's Cathedral, Addis Ababa, 11^th February 1917. Sovereign of the Orders of Solomon and the Star of Ethiopia. Founder and Sovereign of the Orders of the Queen of Sheba in 1922 and Menelik II in 1924. m. (first) at Borumeda, 23^rd October 1882, H.H. Negus Araya Selassie [Sahle Selassie], King of Tigray (b. before September 1867; d. from smallpox, at Mekelle Castle, 10^th June 1888), Governor-General of Wollo, Begamber and Dembiya, son and heir apparent of H.M. Emperor Yohannes IV - see Ethiopia (Tigray). m. (second) at Entotto, 28^th January 1891 (div. 1891), Dejazmatch Gwangul Wagshum (d. at Quorum, September 1904), eldest son of Dejazmatch Zagaya Biru - see Ethiopia (Zagwe). m. (third) ca.1894 (div. 1900) Dejazmatch Wube Atnaf Seggad (d. 1913), son of Liqa Makas Atnaf Seggad. m. (fourth) at Addis Ababa, April 1900 (div. 1916) H.E. Ras Gugsa Wale (b. at Marto, Yajju, April 1877; k. in battle at Ankim, 31^st March 1930), Governor of Begameder, son of H.E. Ras Wale Betul, sometime Viceroy of Tigray - see Ethiopia (Tigray). She d. from a diabetic coma at the Menelik Palace, Addis Ababa, 2^nd April 1930 (bur: at The Taeka Negest, Ba'eta Le Mariam Monastery Church, Addis Ababa), having had issue, two daughters:

• 1) A daughter. b. at Addis Ababa, November 1891 (d/o Gwangul Zegeye ). She d. January 1895.
• 2) A daughter. b. and d. at Addis Ababa, January 1906 (d/o Gugsa Wale).

Copyright© Christopher Buyers, May 2001 - March 2009