List of kings of Burundi

This article contains two versions of the list of kings of Burundi, the traditional version before 1680 and the modern genealogy. The Kingdom of Burundi was ruled by sovereigns, titled mwami (plural abami), whose regnal names followed a cycle: Ntare (meaning 'lion'), Mwezi (meaning 'moon'), Mutaga (meaning 'day'), and Mwambutsa. Traditionally, it was thought that there had been four complete cycles but the modern genealogy indicates that there were only two complete cycles, starting with Ntare I Rushatsi.

In the 16th century, Burundi was a kingdom characterized by a hierarchical political authority and tributary economic exchange. A mwami headed a princely aristocracy (ganwa) which owned most of the land governing its subjects with superiority and required a tribute, or tax, from local farmers and herders who lived in forests. The Tutsi monarchy ruled the nation for centuries, but became largely ceremonial with the colonization of the nation by the German Empire in 1899. The kings continued to nominally rule through German and Belgian colonial periods, and the monarchy continued after the nation gained independence from Belgium in 1962. Burundi ceased to be a monarchy when King Ntare V Ndizeye was deposed by Prime Minister and Chief of Staff, Colonel Michel Micombero, who abolished the monarchy and declared a republic following the November 1966 coup d'état.

Kings of Burundi

Traditional list The dates before 1900 are estimates.

Portrait Name Reign Ikigabiro Ntare I Rushatsi Cambarantama 1530– 1550 Mwezi I Baridamunka 1550– 1580 Mutaga I Mutabazi 1580– 1600 Mwambutsa I Nkomati 1600– 1620 Ntare II Kibogora 1620– 1650 Mwezi II Nyaburunga 1650– 1680 Mutaga II Senyamwiza Mutamo 1680– 1700 Mwambutsa II Nyarushamba 1700– 1720 Ntare III Kivimira Semuganzashamba 1720– 1750 Mwezi III Kavuyimbo (Ndagushimiye) 1750– 1780 Mutaga III Sebitungwa 1780– 1800 Mwambutsa III Mbonyuburundi (Mbariza) 1800– 1830 Ntare IV Runzi (Rutaganzwa Rugamba) 1830– 1850 Mwezi IV Gisabo Bikata-Bijoga 1850–1908 Mutaga IV Mbikije 1908–1915 Mwambutsa IV Bangiricenge Rubangishamiheto 1915–1966 Ntare V Ndizeye 1966

Modern list Portrait Name Reign Notes Ntare III Rushatsi 1680– 1709 Mwezi III Ndagushimiye 1709– 1739 Mutaga III Senyamwiza Mutamo 1739– 1767 Mwambutsa III Serushambo Butama 1767– 1796 Also known as Mwambutsa III Mbariza. Ntare IV Rutaganzwa Rugamba 1796– 1850 Mwezi IV Gisabo 1850 – 21 August 1908 Mutaga IV Mbikije 21 August 1908 – 30 November 1915 Mwambutsa IV Bangiricenge 16 December 1915 – 8 July 1966 Left the country following the 1965 coup attempt; deposed in the July 1966 coup d'état. Ntare V Ndizeye 8 July 1966 – 28 November 1966 Deposed in the November 1966 coup d'état.

Timeline (Based on the traditional list)

(Based on the modern list)

Royal Standard

List of kings of Burundi

Bron en licentie