The royal consorts of Ethiopia were spouses of the monarchs of Ethiopia. In ancient times the territory of modern day Ethiopia included the Kingdom of Axum. In medieval times, a kingdom ruled by the Zagwe dynasty developed but was later deposed by the Solomonic dynasty, who would establish the Ethiopian Empire. The following list includes known consorts from the Axumite period to the abolition of the Ethiopian monarchy in 1975.
Axumite period (c. 100 – c. 960)
NameSpouseNotesSofyaElla Amida (r. early 320s to late 340s)Mother of Ezana and ruled as regent during his minority. The 1922 regnal list of Ethiopia includes Sofya as a reigning monarch in her own right under the name "Ahywa Sofya", with regnal dates of 299 to 306 (c. 306–313 on the Gregorian calendar).AdmasElla Gabaz (r. mid-6th century)According to legend, this queen was a daughter of a king named Ilassahl, who was murdered by Ella Gabaz (or Elagabaz). Her brother, Suhal or Shahel, later murdered Elagabaz and his pagan wife Lab and proclaimed himself king.LabAccording to legend, Lab was a pagan woman from a neighbouring district to Axum. She was murdered along with her husband by Shahel, brother of Admas. According to the 1922 regnal list of Ethiopia, this took place in 398 (c. 405 on the Gregorian Calendar).Makia MaryamAyzur (r. 8th century)A manuscript from Gojjam stated that she was the wife of a king named Ayzur, who only reigned for half a day due to being suffocated by a crowd on the day he was crowned. According to the 1922 regnal list of Ethiopia, this took place in 780 (c. 787 on the Gregorian calendar).
Zagwe dynasty (c. 960 or 1137 – 1270) The following table is incomplete. NameSpouseNotesMasoba WarqMara Takla HaymanotAccording to one tradition, this woman was a daughter of Dil Na'od (the last king of Axum) who was overthrown by Mara Takla Haymanot in the 10th century.Taddesse Tamrat. "The Legacy of Aksum and Adafa" in Church and State in Ethiopia. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1972, pp. 53–64. However, many historians doubt the dating of the Zagwe dynasty beginning this early and other traditions do not mention Masoba Warq. A manuscript from Dabra Libanos listed 44 kings who ruled at Shewa following the deposition of Dil Na'od by Gudit, with Masoba Warq being named. This list suggests that Masoba Warq may have been a Queen Regnant of Shewa.Masqal KibraLalibelaOne tradition claims that she persuaded her husband to give the throne to Na'akueto La'ab, but convinced him to take the throne back 18 months later when La'ab's soldiers appropriated a poor farmer's only cow for the king's dinner table. The church of Biete Abba Libanos is said to have been built by this queen in memory of her husband.
Solomonic dynasty Pre-Gondarine period (1270 – 1682) The following table is incomplete. NamePictureSpouseNotesJan MogassaAmda Seyon I(r. 1314–1344)Formally a concubine of Wedem Arad.3 wives (possibly including Lazzab Warqa)Newaya Krestos(r. 1344–1372)Newaya Krestos married these three women after he became king.Taddesse Tamrat, Church and State in Ethiopia (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1972), pp. 117f.Lazzab WarqaMother of Dawit I.Seyon MangashaDawit I(r. 1382–1413)Mother of Tewodros I.Igzi KebraMother of Zara Yaqob.EleniZara Yaqob(r. 1434–1468)Born in the Hadiya Sultanate. Following the Sultanate's invasion by Zara Yaqob, she was captured, baptised and married to the Ethiopian Emperor. She was given the title of "Queen Mother" by her step-son Baeda Maryam I following his accession to the throne in 1468. Ruled as Queen Regent from 1507 to 1516 during the minority of Dawit II. Died in April 1522.Seyon MorgasaMother of Baeda Maryam I. Died in 1462.Gera Ba'altihat (or Fere Maryam)Her children were named Berhan Zamada, Madhen Zamada, Sabala Maryam and Del Debaba.Romna WarkBaeda Maryam I(r. 1468–1478)Mother of two sons, Eskender and 'Enkua 'Esra'el. She ruled as regent during the reign of her son Eskender.Eresh-GazetMother of Theodore.KalyupeMother of Na'od.James Bruce, Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile (1805 edition), vol. 3, p. 148Na'od MogesaNa'od(r. 1494–1508)Mother of Dawit II.Seble WongelDawit II(r. 1508–1540)Married in either 1512 or 1513. Mother of Gelawdewos and Menas. Died on 5 December 1567.Adimas MoasMenas(r. 1559–1563)Daughter of Robel, governor of Bora and Selawe. Married Menas before he became Emperor.Admas MogasaMother of Sarsa Dengel. Outlived her husband.Maryam SenaSarsa Dengel(r. 1563–1597)Influenced her husband to choose Yaqob instead of Za Dengel as his successor.NazarenaYaqob(r. 1597–1603 and 1604–1607)A foreigner. Had 3 sons.Woizero WangelawitZa Dengel(r. 1603–1604)Daughter of Susenyos I.Seltan MogasaSusenyos I(r. 1606–1632)Also known as Wald Sa'ala. Mother of Fasilides and six other children. Died in 1661.
Gondarine period (1682 – 1769) The following table is incomplete. PictureNameBirthMarriageBecame ConsortCoronationCeased to Be ConsortDeathSpouseSabla WangelUnknown19 July 1682Husband's deathJanuary 1689Yohannes IWalatta SeyonUnknownSeptember 1683UnknownMay 1693Iyasu IFirst wife of BakaffaUnknownUnknownDied on the day of her coronationBakaffaMentewabc. 17066 September 1722Unknown19 September 1730Husband's death27 June 1773Woman from AmharaUnknownIyasu IIWelete BersabeUnknown
Era of the Princes (1769 – 1855) The following table is incomplete. PictureNameBirthMarriageBecame ConsortCoronationCeased to Be ConsortDeathSpouseWaletta SelassieUnknownYohannes IIWalatta IyasusUnknown1801Unknown12 June 1818Husband's deathUnknownEgwale SeyonMenen Liben AmedeUnknownBefore 184030 August 1840Husband's accessionUnknownOctober 1841Husband's deposition1858Yohannes III
Modern Ethiopia (1855 – 1975) PictureNameBirthMarriageBecame ConsortCoronationCeased to Be ConsortDeathSpouseTewabech Ali1831184811 February 1855Husband's accessionUnknown19 August 1858Tewodros IITiruwork WubeUnknownFebruary 1860Unknown13 April 1868Husband's death16 May 1868Dinqinesh Mercha1815Before 186811 June 1868Husband's accessionUnknown11 July 1871Husband's depositionAugust 1907Tekle Giyorgis IITaytu Betul1851188210 March 1889Husband's accession4 November 188912 December 1913Husband's death11 February 1918Menelik IISabla Wangel Hailu1895 or 18961909 or 191012 December 1913Husband's accessionNot crowned27 September 1916Husband's deposition1969Lij IyasuIyasu VGugsa Welle1875190027 September 1916Wife's accessionNot crowned21 March 1930Died at the Battle of AnchemZewdituMenen Asfaw25 March 18891909Haile Selassie, My Life and Ethiopia's Progress (Chicago: Frontline Distribution International, 1999), pp. 41f.2 April 1930Husband's accession12 September 1974Husband's deposition15 February 1962Haile SelassieMedferiashwork Abebe1922194512 September 1974Husband's accessionNot crowned12 March 1975Monarchy abolished13 March 2009Amha Selassie
Italian occupation of Ethiopia (1936 – 1943) Victor Emmanuel III, king of Italy, was declared Emperor of Ethiopia in 1936 after the Italian victory in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. Italy was later defeated in the East African campaign and lost control of its Ethiopian territories in April 1941, but Victor Emmanuel did not formally renounce his title until November 1943. PictureNameBirthMarriageBecame ConsortCoronationCeased to Be ConsortDeathSpouseElena of Montenegro8 January 187324 October 18969 May 1936Husband declared EmperorNot crowned5 May 1941De facto end of Italian ruleNovember 1943(De jure)28 November 1952Victor Emmanuel III
See also List of emperors of Ethiopia List of legendary monarchs of Ethiopia
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