1922 regnal list of Ethiopia

The 1922 regnal list of Ethiopia is an official regnal list used by the Ethiopian monarchy which names over 300 monarchs across six millennia. The list is partially inspired by older Ethiopian regnal lists and chronicles, but is notable for additional monarchs who ruled Nubia, which was known as Aethiopia in ancient times. Also included are various figures from Greek mythology and the Biblical canon who were known to be "Aethiopian", as well as figures who originated from Egyptian sources (Ancient Egyptian, Coptic and Arabic).

This list of monarchs was included in Charles Fernand Rey's book In the Country of the Blue Nile in 1927, and is the longest Ethiopian regnal list published in the Western world. It is the only known regnal list that attempts to provide a timeline of Ethiopian monarchs from the 46th century BC up to modern times without any gaps.^[1] However, earlier portions of the regnal list are pseudohistorical and were recent additions to Ethiopian tradition at the time the list was written.^[2][3] Despite claims by at least one Ethiopian court historian that the list dates back to ancient times,^[4] the list is more likely an early 20th century creation. The earlier sections of the list are clearly inspired by the work of French historian Louis J. Morié, who published a two-volume history of "Ethiopia" (i.e. Nubia and Abyssinia) in 1904.^[3] His work drew on then-recent Egyptological research but attempted to combine this with the Biblical canon and writings by ancient Greek authors. This resulted in a pseudohistorical work that was more imaginative than scientific in its approach to Ethiopian history.^[3]

There are different versions of the regnal list that are known to exist, and it is not clear when the first version was written. Alternate, or possibly earlier, versions of the list were included in the works of Alaqa Taye Gabra Mariam and Heruy Wolde Selassie. The 1922 regnal list published in Rey's book will be referred to as "Tafari's list" in this article to differentiate it from other versions. Tafari himself did not claim authorship and stated that he had made a copy of an already existing list.^[5]

This regnal list contains a great deal of conflation between the history of modern-day Ethiopia and Aethiopia, a term used in ancient times and in some Biblical translations to refer to a generalised region south of Egypt, most commonly in reference to the Kingdom of Kush in modern-day Sudan. As a result, many parts of this article will deal with the history of ancient Sudan and how this became interwoven into the history of the Kingdom of Axum, the region of Abyssinia (which includes modern-day Eritrea) and the modern state of Ethiopia. The territory of modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea was known as "Abyssinia" to Europeans until the mid-20th century, and as such this term will be used occasionally in this article to differentiate from 'ancient' Aethiopia (i.e. Nubia).

Background[edit]

Charles Fernand Rey's 1927 book In the Country of the Blue Nile included a 13-page appendix with a list of Ethiopian monarchs written by the Prince Regent Tafari Makonnen, who later became the Emperor of Ethiopia in 1930.^[6] Tafari's list begins in 4530 BC and ends in 1779 AD, with dates following the Ethiopian Calendar, which is several years behind the Gregorian calendar.^[7] Tafari's cover letter was written in the town of Addis Ababa on the 11th day of Sane, 1914 (Ethiopian Calendar), which was June 19, 1922 on the Gregorian Calendar according to Rey.^[5]

Rey revealed in another book he wrote, Unconquered Abyssinia, that this list was given to him in 1924 by a court historian who was a "learned old gentleman".^[8] This court historian had "caused to be compiled [...] on the instructions of Ras Tafari" a complete list of "rulers of Abyssinia from the beginning of time up to date."^[8] Rey noted that the list contained many names "of Egyptian origin", which was a "good illustration" of the difficulties in researching the history of Abyssinia.^[8] The court historian claimed that the regnal list had already been compiled prior to the "advent of the Ethiopian dynasty in Egypt" and that the original version had been taken to Egypt and left there, afterwards becoming lost.^[4]

Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie, president of the Crown Council of Ethiopia, acknowledged the regnal list in a speech given in 2011 in which he stated:

Ethiopian tradition traces the origins of the dynasty to a king called Ori, who lived about 4470 BC [sic]. While the reality of such a vastly remote provenance must be considered in semi-mythic terms, it remains certain that Ethiopia, also known as the Kingdom of Kush, was already ancient by the time of David and Solomon's rule in Jerusalem.^[9]

The goal of the 1922 regnal list was to showcase the immense longevity of the Ethiopian monarchy. The list does this by providing precise dates over 6,300 years and drawing upon various historical traditions from both within Ethiopia and outside of Ethiopia.

The regnal list names 313 numbered monarchs (Abreha and Atsbeha were mistakenly counted as one monarch on Tafari's version of the list). These rulers are divided into eight dynasties:

• Tribe of Ori or Aram (4530–3244 BC) (21 monarchs)
• Tribe of Kam (2713–1985 BC) (24 monarchs)
• Ag'azyan dynasty of the kingdom of Joctan (1985–982 BC) (52 monarchs) – mistitled "Agdazyan" on Tafari's list.^[10]
• Dynasty of Menelik I (982 BC–493 AD) (133 monarchs)
  • Monarchs who reigned before the birth of Christ (982 BC–9 AD)
  • Monarchs who reigned after the birth of Christ (9–306)
  • Christian Sovereigns (306–493)
• Dynasty of Kaleb until Gedajan (493–920) (27 monarchs) – Usually treated as a continuation of the Menelik dynasty on earlier regnal lists.
• Zagwe dynasty (920–1253) (11 monarchs)
• Solomonic dynasty (1253–1555) (26 monarchs) and its Gondarian branch (1555–1779) (18 monarchs)

In addition to the above, there is a so-called "Israelitish" dynasty with eight unnumbered kings from the time of Zagwe rule who did not ascend to the throne of Ethiopia. These kings were descendants of the dynasty of Menelik.^[11]

The first three dynasties are mostly legendary and take various elements from the Bible, as well as Ancient Egyptian, Nubian, Greek, Coptic and Arab sources. Many of the monarchs of the Menelik and Kaleb dynasties appear on Ethiopian regnal lists written before 1922, but these lists often contradict each other and many of the kings themselves are not archeologically verified, though in some cases their existence is confirmed by Aksumite coinage. Many of the historically verified rulers of the Ag'azyan and Menelik dynasties did not rule over the region of modern Ethiopia but rather over Egypt and/or Nubia. It is only from the dynasty of Kaleb onward that the monarchs are certainly Aksumite or "Abyssinian" in origin. The Zagwe and Solomonic dynasties are both historically verified, though only the Solomonic line has a secure historical dating of 1270 to 1975, which at times contradicts the reign dates found on this regnal list.

Each monarch on the list has their respective reign dates and number of years listed. Two columns of reign dates were used in the list. One column uses dates according to the Ethiopian calendar from 4530 BC to 1779 AD, while the other column lists the "Year of the World", placing the creation of the world in 5500 BC. Other Ethiopian texts and documents have also placed a similar date for the creation of the world.^[12][13] The dating of 5500 BC as the creation of the world on this list was influenced by calculations from the Alexandrian and Byzantine eras which placed the world's creation in 5493 BC and 5509 BC respectively.^[14]

The use of Biblical figures in royal lineage has been found in other fictitious histories, such as the Swedish Historia de omnibus Gothorum Sueonumque regibus, written in the 16th century.

Authorship[edit]

Neither Tafari Makonnen nor Charles Rey explicitly stated who wrote the regnal list originally or who supplied Tafari with a copy of it. Both Heruy Wolde Selassie and Alaqa Taye Gabra Mariam included versions of the list in their work, however there is clear evidence that a large part of the list's early sections is lifted from the work of an obscure French historian named Louis J. Morié.

Heruy Wolde Selassie and Wazema[edit]

German historian Manfred Kropp believed the author of the regnal list was Ethiopian foreign minister Heruy Wolde Selassie (1878–1938). Selassie was a philosopher and historian, and had mastered several European languages. He had previously served as secretary to Emperor Menelik II (r. 1889–1913).^[15] At the time the list was written in 1922, Selassie was president of the special court in Addis Ababa, whose job was to resolve disputes between Ethiopians and foreigners.^[16]

Kropp noted that Selassie's historical sources include the Bible, Christian Arab writers Jirjis al-Makin Ibn al-'Amid (1205–1273) and Ibn al-Rāhib (1205–1295), and Christian traveller and writer Sextus Julius Africanus (c. 160–240). Kropp argued that Selassie was one of a number of Ethiopian writers who sought to synchronize Ethiopian history with the wider Christian-Oriental histories. This was aided by the translation of Arabic texts in the 17th century. Kropp also felt that the developing field of Egyptology influenced Selassie's writings, particularly from Eduard Meyer, Gaston Maspero and Alexandre Moret, whose works were published in French in Addis Ababa in the early 20th century. Kropp believed that Selassie was also assisted by French missionaries and the works they held in their libraries.^[17] Kropp additionally theorized that Tafari Makonnen played a large role in the writing of the list.^[18]

Selassie wrote a book titled Wazema which contained a version of the regnal list. Wazema translates to The Vigil, a metaphor to celebrate the history of the kings of Ethiopia.^[19] The book was divided into two sections, the first deals with political Ethiopian history from the dawn of history to modern times, while the second section deals with the history of the Ethiopian church.^[19] Manfred Kropp noted there were three different versions of the regnal list published in the works of Heruy Wolde Selassie. Selassie's regnal list omits the first dynasty of Tafari's list – the so-called "Tribe of Ori or Aram" – and also the first three rulers of the second dynasty, instead beginning in 2545 BC with king Sebtah. Selassie himself stated that he used European literature among his sources, including James Bruce's Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile.^[20] Manfred Kropp felt the existence of multiple versions of the regnal list suggest that Selassie grew increasingly critical of the sources he used for the first version of the list in 1922.^[21] Ethiopian historian Sergew Hable Selassie commented that Heruy Wolde Selassie "strove for accuracy" but the sources he used for Wazema "precluded his success".^[19]

Manfred Kropp noted one important source for the information in Wazema. Selassie himself told the reader that if they wish to find out about more about Joktan, the supposed founder of the Ag'azyan dynasty, they could consult page 237 of a book by "Moraya". At first Kropp thought this was referring to Alexandre Moret,^[22] but it was later made clear that Selassie's regnal list had been significantly inspired by a book called Histoire de l'Éthiopie by Louis J. Morié, published in 1904.^[3]

Louis J. Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie[edit]

Louis J. Morié was a French historian who wrote a history of Ethiopia in the early 20th century. The two-volume work, titled Histoire de l'Éthiopie (Nubie et Abyssinie), was published in 1904, the first volume focusing on ancient Nubia (called "Ancient Ethiopia" by Morié) and the second volume focusing on Abyssinia ("Modern Ethiopia").^[23][24] An abridged edition was printed in 1897, but only 100 copies were made for the author's friends.^[25] Historian Manfred Kropp [de] identified the first volume as a key source in the creation of the 1922 Ethiopian regnal list and provided evidence from Morié's text that corroborated the names and information on the list.^[3] Kropp noted that Morié's book was more imaginative than scientific in its approach to Ethiopian history and blamed Selassie's European friends and contemporaries for the influence of Morié's book on Selassie's writing of Ethiopian history.^[3] E. A. Wallis Budge mentions Morié's book in his own similarly titled two-volume work A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia,^[26] but surprisingly makes no mention of the clear similarity between Morié's narrative and the 1922 Ethiopian regnal list. Charles Rey, in his book Unconquered Abyssinia, mentioned an "enthusiastic French writer" who had "gone as far as to date the birth of the Abyssinian monarchy from the foundation of the Kingdom of Meroë by Cush about 5800 B.C." but Rey felt this writer could "not be taken seriously" because of his belief that the Deluge was a historical event.^[8] Rey was likely referring to Morié, who had claimed that 5800 BC was the approximate date when Cush began ruling Aethiopia and he also treated the Biblical flood narrative as historical fact.^[27] Like Budge, Rey apparently did not notice the striking the similarities between Morié's narrative and the 1922 Ethiopian regnal list.

Morié's book displays his desire to hold on to religion and Biblical narratives in a world that was increasingly looking towards science. He showed concern with the possibility of abandoning religion, which would result in the "civilized" peoples of the world to descend down the moral scale.^[28] Morié felt that it was possible for science and religion to be in agreement.^[29] He described Atheism as a cause of moral and political decadence.^[30] Because of his anxieties of the decline of religion, Morié sought to base his historical narrative around the Biblical timeline. He described the Book of Genesis as the best source to consult on the most remote parts of human history.^[31]

Morié believed the "Ethiopian state of Meroe" was the oldest empire of the post-Flood world, having been founded by Cush of the Bible, and went on to birth the kingdoms of Egypt, Uruk, Babylon, Assyria and Abyssinia.^[32] Morié followed the Biblical tradition by crediting Nimrod, a son of Cush, with founding Uruk and Babylon, and crediting Mizraim, a son of Ham, with founding Egypt.^[29] He additionally identified Mizraim with the Egyptian god Osiris, Ham with Amun and Cush with Khonsu.^[33] Morié defined the history of "Ethiopia" as divided into two parts; Ancient Nubia and Christian Abyssinia,^[34] and defined "Ethiopians" as the Nubian and Abyssinian peoples.^[35] Morié acknowledged the potential confusion this could cause and thus occasionally used "Abyssinia" to specify which of these two regions he was writing about, with a priority of using "Ethiopia" for ancient Nubia.^[36]

Alaqa Taye's History of the People of Ethiopia[edit]

Alaqa Taye Gabra Mariam (1861–1924) was a Protestant Ethiopian scholar, translator and teacher whose written works include books on grammar, religion and Ethiopian history.^[37] He was ordered by Menelik II to write a complete history of Ethiopia using Ethiopian, European and Arab sources.^[38] Taye's work was not published in his lifetime. His first historical work was Ya-Ityopya Hizb Tarik ("History of the People of Ethiopia"), which was published in 1922, the same year Tafari's regnal list was written.^[39] The book contained legends and folk stories around the origins of different people of Ethiopia.^[39] Ya-Ityopya Hizb Tarik was a condensed from of a much larger work titled Ya-Ityopya Mangist Tarik ("History of the Ethiopian State"), which has not been published and is only known to exist in partial form as manuscripts.^[40] Ethiopian historian Sergew Hable Selassie felt this book did not "do justice to [Taye's] erudition and does not reflect his true ability", as it was based on "unreliable sources" and was "not at all systematic".^[19]

Taye's History of the People of Ethiopia contains a regnal list that matches closely with the one copied by Tafari.^[41] The first edition from 1922 contained a list of monarchs who reigned after the birth of Christ, beginning with Bazen.^[40] The sixth edition from 1965 expanded the list to include monarchs who reigned from Akhunas Saba II (1930 BC) onwards, corresponding with the Ag'azyan and Menelik dynasties of Tafari's list.^[42] The first edition however does refer to the earlier dynasties of Ori and Kam and provides some background information on them.^[43] The longer text Ya-Ityopya Mangist Tarik originally contained more in-depth information on all the dynasties that appear on Tafari's version of the regnal list.^[44]

In recent years, there has been more credible and conclusive evidence that some of Alaqa Taye's manuscripts were acquired by Heruy Wolde Selassie and published as his own works, including Wazema.^[45] Such evidence strengthens the possibility that Taye wrote the original regnal list instead of Selassie. Ya-Ityopya Hizb Tarik preceded the publication of Heruy Wolde Selassie's book Wazema by at least seven years.^[41]

Like Selassie, Taye acknowledged Louis J. Morié, whose work he described as one of the many "learned books of history".^[46] Taye noted that his history had been selectively gathered from the works of Homer, Herodotus, James Bruce, Jean-François Champollion, Hiob Ludolf, Karl Wilhelm Isenberg, Werner Munzinger, Enno Littmann, Giacomo De Martino, 'Eli Samni', 'Traversi', 'Eli Bizon', 'Ignatius Guidi' (Ignatius of Jesus?), Al-Azraqi, Ibn Ishaq, 'Abul-'Izz', Bar Hebraeus (called "Abul-Farag"), Yohannis Madbir and Giyorgis Walda Amid.^[46] He also gathered information from an unnamed history of Yemen, the Alexander Romance (called "The Book of Alexander") and an ancient work of history found at Zaway.^[46] Taye additionally noted numerous Biblical verses that he recommended to readers for them to understand the history of the Ethiopian peoples and kings.^[46]

Other sources and cultural influences[edit]

Other Ethiopian regnal lists[edit]

Numerous regnal lists of Ethiopian monarchs from before 1922 are known to survive and show a clear influence on the compiling of the 1922 list. There are known to be lists that date back to the 13th century which are reliable for the period of the Solomonic dynasty, but are often based on legendary memories for the Kingdom of Aksum.^[47] These lists allow chroniclers to provide proof of legitimacy for the Solomonic dynasty by linking it back to the Axumite period.^[48] The lists were also intended to fill in gaps between major events, such as the meeting of Makeda and Solomon in the 10th century BC, the arrival of Frumentius in the early 4th century and the rise of the Zagwe dynasty in the 10th century.^[49] However, many regnal lists show great variations in the names of the Axumite monarchs, with only a few, such as Menelik I, Bazen, Abreha and Atsbeha and Kaleb frequently appearing across the majority of lists. The 1922 regnal list noticeably tries to accommodate all these differing traditions by including the majority of the different kings into one longer line of succession.

Unpublished sources[edit]

It is possible that Tafari's regnal list includes information gathered from sources that have yet to be published or are in private hands. One unpublished text, simply called the Chronicle of Ethiopia, was in the possession of Qesa Gabaz Takla Haymanot of Aksum.^[50] The author of this chronicle collected information from various old chronicles held in a number of different churches and monasteries, and attempted to compile the information in a "harmonic" way.^[51] The chronicle covers information from the reign of Menelik I to Menelik II.^[51] Some of the known information from this unpublished chronicle does support elements of Tafari's list.

Biblical influences[edit]

Various Biblical figures are included on the 1922 regnal list. Three of Noah's descendants are named as founders or ancestors of the first three dynasties; Aram, Ham and Joktan, with some of their sons and descendents also appearing on the list. Other Biblical figures include Zerah the Cushite and the Queen of Sheba, whom Ethiopians call "Makeda". According to Ethiopian tradition Makeda was an ancestor of the Solomonic dynasty and mother of Menelik I, whose father was king Solomon of Israel. The meeting of Makeda and Solomon is recorded in the text Kebra Nagast.

The Biblical events of the flood and the fall of the Tower of Babel are both included in the chronology of the regnal list, dated respectively to 3244 BC and 2713 BC, with the 531-year period in between an interregnum where no kings are named. Another Biblical story included is that of the Ethiopian eunuch, named Jen Daraba according to this regnal list, who visited Jerusalem during the reign of the 169th sovereign Garsemot Kandake VI.

Coptic and Arabic influences[edit]

The first dynasty of the regnal list, the Tribe of Ori, is taken from medieval Coptic and Arabic texts on the kings of Egypt who ruled before the Great Flood. French historian Louis J. Morié, in his 1904 book Histoire de L'Ethiopie, recorded a similar list of monarchs to those who are part of the Tribe of Ori.^[52] Morié noted the regnal list he saw was recorded by the Copts in their annals and was found in both Coptic and Arabic tradition.^[53] He noted there had originally been a list of 40 kings, but only 19 of them had been preserved up to the early 20th century.^[54] He believed that the regnal list originated from the works of Murtada ibn al-Afif, an Arab writer from the 12th century who wrote a number of works, though only one, titled The Prodigies of Egypt, has partially survived to the present day.^[54][55]

Manfred Kropp theorized the 1922 Ethiopian regnal list may have been influenced by the works of Ibn al-Rāhib, a 13th-century Coptic historian whose works were translated into Ge'ez by Ethiopian writer Enbaqom in the 16th century, and Jirjis al-Makin Ibn al-'Amid, another 13th century Coptic historian whose work Al-Majmu' al-Mubarak (The Blessed Collection) was also translated around the same time. Both writers partially based their information on ancient history from the works of Julius Africanus and through him quote the historical traditions of Egypt as recorded by Manetho. Jirgis was known as "Wälda-Amid" in Ethiopia.^[56] Kropp believed that some of the names of the early part of Tafari's regnal list were taken from a regnal list included within Jirgis' text which draws upon traditions from Manetho and the Old Testament.^[57]

A medieval Arab text called Akhbar al-Zaman (The History of Time), dated to between 940 and 1140, may have been an earlier version of the regnal list Morié saw.^[58] It is likely based on earlier works such as those of Abu Ma'shar (dated to c. 840–860).^[58] The authorship is unknown, but it may have been written by historian Al-Masudi based on earlier Arab, Christian and Greek sources.^[58] Another possible author is Ibrahim ibh Wasif Shah who lived during the Twelfth century.^[58] The text contains a collection of lore about Egypt and the wider world in the age before the Great Flood and after it.^[58] Included is a list of kings of Egypt who ruled before the Great Flood and this list shows some similarities with the list of kings of the "Tribe of Ori or Aram" included on Tafari's list, who also ruled before the Great Flood. Several kings show similarities in names and chronological order, though not all kings on one list appear on the other.

A number of Coptic monks from Egypt came to Ethiopia in the 13th century and brought with them many books written in Coptic and Arabic. These monks also translated many works into Ge'ez.^[59] It is possible that the legends from Akhbar al-Zaman may have entered Ethiopia during this time.

Ancient Egyptian and Nubian influences[edit]

Many of the Egyptian and Nubian monarchs included on the list are historically verified but did not rule the region of modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea, and often have reign dates that do no match historical dates used by modern-day archaeologists. The rulers numbered 88 to 96 on the list are the High Priests of Amun who were the de facto rulers of Upper Egypt during the time of the Twenty-first dynasty (c. 1077–943 BC). Several other kings on the list have names that are clearly influenced by those of Egyptian pharaohs such as Senefrou (8), Amen I (28), Amen II (43), Ramenpahte (44), Tutimheb (53), Amen Emhat I (63), Amen Emhat II (83), Amen Hotep Zagdur (102), Aksumay Ramissu (103) and Apras (127).

Numerous monarchs of the Kushite kingdom in modern-day Sudan are also included on the 1922 Ethiopian regnal list. Most of the pharaohs of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt, who ruled over both Nubia and Egypt, are listed as part of the dynasty of Menelik I. However, the Kushite Pharaohs are not known to have ruled much further south than the area of modern-day South Sudan. Kushite monarchs from after the Twenty-Fifth Dynasty of Egypt are also occasionally mentioned on this list, specifically Aktisanes (65), Aspelta (118), Harsiotef (119), Nastasen (120), Arakamani (138) and Arqamani (145). Additionally, there are six queens on this list who are referred to as "Kandake", the Meroitic term for the king's sister used by the rulers of Kush. Apart from the monarchs listed above, there were also some Viceroys of Kush who ruled over Nubia during the New Kingdom after Egypt conquered the Kingdom of Kerma in c. 1500 BC.

Louis J. Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie served as the main source for these Egyptian and Nubian monarchs and the regnal order they are presented in on the 1922 Ethiopian regnal list, as noted above.^[3] However, there are other reasons why the author of this regnal list felt that the inclusion of Egyptian and Nubian monarchs was appropriate for a historical outline of Ethiopia/Abyssinia. One reason is due to the Axumite conquest of Meroë, the last capital of the Kingdom of Kush, by King Ezana in c. 325 AD.^[60] It was from this point onward that the Axumites began referring to themselves as "Ethiopians", the Greco-Roman term previously used largely for the Kushites.^[61] Following this, the inhabitants of Axum (modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea) were able to claim lineage from the "Ethiopians" or "Aethiopians" mentioned in the Bible, including the Kandakes, who were actually Kushites. The claiming of the term "Ethiopian" by the Axumites may, however, pre-date Christianity. For example, Axumite king Ezana is called "King [...] of the Ethiopians" on a Greek inscription where he also calls himself "son of the invincible Mars", suggesting this pre-dates his conversion to Christianity.^[62]

Professor of Anthropology Carolyn Fluehr-Lobban believed the inclusion of Kushite rulers on the 1922 regnal list suggests that the traditions of ancient Nubia were considered culturally compatible with those of Axum.^[63] Makeda, the Biblical Queen of Sheba, was referred to as "Candace" or "Queen Mother" in the Kebra Nagast,^[64] suggesting a cultural connection between Ethiopia and the ancient kingdom of Kush. Portuguese missionary Francisco Álvares, who travelled to Ethiopia in 1520, recorded one Ethiopian tradition which claimed that Yeha was "the favourite residence of Queen Candace, when she honoured the country with her presence".^[65]

E. A. Wallis Budge theorized that one of the reasons why the name "Ethiopia" was applied to Abyssinia was because Syrian monks identified Kush and Nubia with Abyssinia when translating the Bible from Greek to Ge'ez.^[66] Budge further noted that translators of the Bible into Greek identified Kush with Ethiopia and this was carried over into the translation from Greek to Ge'ez.^[67] Louis J. Morié likewise believed the adoption of the word "Ethiopia" by the Abyssinians was due to their desire to search for their origins in the Bible and coming across the word "Ethiopia" in Greek translations.^[68] Historian Adam Simmons noted that the 3rd century Greek translation of the Bible translated the Hebrew toponym "Kūš" into "Aethiopia".^[69] He argued that Abyssinia did not cement its "Ethiopian" identity until the translation of the Kebra Nagast from Arabic to Ge'ez during the reign of Amda Seyon I (r. 1314–1344).^[69] He also argued that global association of the name "Ethiopia" with Abyssinia only took place in the reign of Menelik II, particularly after his success at the Battle of Adwa in 1896, when the Italians were defeated.^[69]

E. A. Wallis Budge argued that it was unlikely that the "Ethiopians" mentioned in ancient Greek writings were the Abyssinians, but instead were far more likely to be the Nubians of Meroë.^[70] He believed the native name of the region around Axum was "Habesh" from which "Abyssinia" is derived and originating in the name of the Habasha tribe from southern Arabia. He did note however that the modern day people of the region did not like this term and preferred the name "Ethiopia" due to its association with Kush.^[67] The ancient Nubians are not known to have used the term "Ethiopian" to refer to themselves, however Silko, the first Christian Nubian king of Nobatia, in the early sixth century described himself as "Chieftain of the Nobadae and of all the Ethiopians".^[71] The earliest known Greek writings that mention "Aethiopians" date to the 8th century BC, in the writings of Homer and Hesiod. Herodotus, in his work Histories (c. 430 BC), defined "Aethiopia" as beginning at the island of Elephantine and including all land south of Egypt, with the capital being Meroe.^[72] This geographical definition confirms that in ancient times the term "Aethiopia" was commonly used to refer to Nubia and the Kingdom of Kush rather than modern day Ethiopia. The earliest known writer to use the name "Ethiopia" for the region of the Kingdom of Axum was Philostorgius in c. 440 AD.^[73]

There are also some pieces of archaeological evidence that show connections between ancient Nubia and Abyssinia. Some Nubian objects from the Napatan and Meroitic periods have been found in Ethiopian/Abyssinian graves dating to the 8th to 2nd centuries BC.^[74] There have also been discoveries of red-orange sherds similar to those from the pre-Axumite period in sites of the Jebel Mokram Group in Sudan, showing contacts along caravan routes toward the Nile Valley in the 1st millennium BC.^[75] This shows that interactions between Nubia and modern day Ethiopia long pre-date the Axumite conquest. Archaeologist Rodolfo Fattovich believed that the people of the pre-Axumite culture had contacts with the kingdom of Kush, the Achaemenid Empire and the Greeks, but that these contacts were "mostly indirect".^[76]

Scottish traveller James Bruce, in his multi-volume work Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile included a drawing of a stele found in Axum and brought back to Gondar by the Ethiopian emperor. The stele had carved figures of Egyptian gods and was inscribed with hieroglyphs. E. A. Wallis Budge believed the stele to be a "Cippi of Horus" which were placed in homes and temples to keep evil spirits away. He noted that these date from the end of the Twenty-sixth Dynasty (c. 664–525 BC) onwards. Budge believed this was proof of contacts between Egypt and Axum in the early 4th century BC.^[77] Archaeological excavations in the Kassala region have also revealed direct contact with Pharaonic Egypt. Some tombs excavated in the Yeha region, the likely capital of the Dʿmt kingdom, contained imported albastron dated to c. 770–404 BC which had a Napatan or Egyptian origin.^[78]

Budge noted that none of the Egyptian and Nubian kings on the 1922 list appear on other known regnal lists from Ethiopia. He believed that contemporary Ethiopian priests had been "reading a modern European History of Egypt" and had incorporated in the regnal list Egyptian pharaohs who had "laid Nubia and other parts of the Sudan under tribute", as well as the names of various Kushite kings and Priest kings.^[79] To support his argument, he stated that while the names of Abyssinian kings have meanings, the names of Egyptian kings would be meaningless if translated into the Ethiopian language.^[79] Manfred Kropp likewise noted that no Ethiopian manuscript prior to the 1922 regnal list included names of monarchs resembling those used by Egyptian rulers.^[1]

A comparison of known Ethiopian regnal lists shows that most of the monarchs on the 1922 list with Egyptian or Nubian names do not have these elements in their names on other regnal lists (see Regnal lists of Ethiopia). For example, the 102nd king on Tafari's list, Amen Hotep Zagdur, only appears as "Zagdur" on earlier regnal lists.^[80] The next king, Aksumay Ramissu, is only known as "Aksumay" on earlier lists, while the 106th king, Abralyus Wiyankihi II, was previously only known as "Abralyus".^[80] The 111th king, Tsawi Terhak Warada Nagash, is a combination of multiple kings. One king named "Sawe" or "Za Tsawe" is listed as the fifth king following Menelik I according to some lists, while another king named "Warada Nagash" is named as the eighth king following Menelik I on different lists.^[80] No known list includes both kings, and the 1922 list combined the two different kings as a single entry, with the addition of the name "Terhak", to be equated with the Kushite Pharaoh Taharqa, who otherwise does not appear on earlier Ethiopian regnal lists.^[80] Also missing from earlier Ethiopian regnal lists are the six "Kandake" queens numbered 110, 135, 137, 144, 162 and 169.

The inclusion of the High Priests of Amun who ruled Upper Egypt between c. 1080 and 943 BC can be directly traced to Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie and contemporary Egyptology.^[3] The association between these Egyptian High Priests and Aethiopia was particularly strong in European Egyptological writings in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During this period, several major Egyptologists (such as Heinrich Brugsch, James Breasted and George Reisner) believed that the rise of the Kush kingdom was due to the influence of the High Priests of Amun moving into Nubia towards the end of the Twentieth Dynasty because of political conflict arising at the end of the New Kingdom.^[81] Brugsch in particular entertained the idea that the early Kushite kings were lineal descendants of the priests from Egypt, though this was explicitly rejected by Breasted.^[81] Later Egyptologists A. J. Arkell and Walter Emery theorized that a priestly "government in exile" had influenced the Kushite kingdom.^[82] E. A. Wallis Budge agreed with these ideas and suggested that the High Priests of Amun moved south to Nubia due to the rise of the Libyan pharaohs in Lower Egypt, and consolidated their high position by intermarrying with Nubian women. Budge further theorised that the name of the Nubian pharaoh Piye or "Piankhi" was taken from that of the High Priest of Amun Piankh and he was possibly Piankh's descendant.^[83] Such ideas around the Kushite monarchy originating from this specific line of priests are now considered outdated, but the popularity of these theories in the early 20th century explains their inclusion, in almost exact chronological order, on the 1922 Ethiopian regnal list.

Greek sources[edit]

A number of figures from Greek mythology are included on the regnal list, in most cases due to being described as "Aethiopian" in ancient sources. Louis J. Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie is again largely responsible for their inclusion. His book included Memnon, a mythical king of "Aethiopia" who fought in the Trojan War, his father Tithonus, and his brother Emathion, who are all included on the regnal list under the names Amen Emhat II (83), Titon Satiyo (81) and Hermantu (82).^[84] Cassiopeia was also mentioned in Morié's book, but he confusingly uses the name for two different women.^[85] This results in the 1922 regnal list including Cassiopeia under the name of Kasiyope (49) while her husband Cepheus is listed four hundred years later under the name Kefe (71).

The list additionally included figures who were not part of Morié's narrative, showing that the author used other sources to build the regnal list. The legendary Egyptian king Mandes, as written about in Diodorus' work Bibliotheca Historia, appears on the list as the 66th monarch.^[86] This text by Diodorus seems to have influenced other parts of the regnal list, such as the inclusion of king "Actisanes" as the direct predecessor of Mandes, the name "Sabakon" for the 122nd monarch of the regnal list (an alternate name for the Kushite pharaoh Shabaka) and the 127th monarch named "Apras", the Greek name for Egyptian pharaoh Wahibre Haaibre.^[86]

The list of Egyptian kings from Herodotus' Histories also had some influence on the 1922 regnal list, with the various names of rulers being re-used for "Ethiopian" monarchs. Examples include "Nitocris" used for Nicotnis Kandake IV (no. 162), "Proteus" used for "Protawos" (no. 67), as well as the aforementioned "Sabakon" used for Safelya Sabakon (no. 122) and "Apries" for Apras (no. 127).^[87] Manetho's Aegyptiaca is another source for certain names on the regnal list, such as "Sebikos" for Agalbus Sepekos (no. 123), "Tarakos" for Awseya Tarakos (no. 125) and "Sabakon".^[88]

Conflict with other Ethiopian traditions[edit]

The list occasionally contradicts other Ethiopian traditions. One example is that of king Angabo I, who is placed in the middle of the Ag'azyan dynasty on this list. However some Ethiopian legends instead claim he was the founder of a new dynasty.^[89] In both cases the dating is given as the 14th century BC.

E. A. Wallis Budge noted that there were differing versions of the chronological order of the Ethiopian kings, with some lists stating that a king named Aithiopis was the first to rule while other lists claim that the first king was Adam.^[90] Tafari's list instead begins with Aram.

The list also has its own internal conflicting information. Tafari claims that it was during the reign of the 169th monarch, queen Garsemot Kandake VI, in the first century AD when Christianity was formally introduced to Ethiopia. However, this is in direct conflict with the story of the later queen Sofya, who ruled 249 years later.

Responses to the regnal list[edit]

Contemporary historian Manfred Kropp described the regnal list as an artfully woven document developed as a rational and scientific attempt by an educated Ethiopian from the early 20th century to reconcile historical knowledge of Ethiopia. Kropp noted that the regnal list has often been viewed by historians as little more than an example of a vague notion of historical tradition in north-east Africa. However he did also note that the working methods and sources used by the author of the list remain unclear.^[17] Kropp further stated that despite some rulers' names having astonishing similarities to those of Egyptian and Meroitic/Nubian rulers, there has been little attempt to critically examine the regnal list in relation to other Ethiopian sources.^[91] Kropp noted that Tafari's regnal list was the first Ethiopian regnal list that attempted to provide names of kings from the 970th year of the world's creation onwards without any chronological gaps. In particular, it was the first Ethiopian regnal list to consistently fill in all dates from the time of Solomon to the Zagwe dynasty. Kropp felt that the regnal list was a result of incorporating non-native traditions of "Aethiopia" into native Ethiopian history.^[1]

Egyptologist E. A. Wallis Budge (1857–1934) was dismissive of the claims of great antiquity made by the Abyssinians, whom he described as having a "passionate desire to be considered a very ancient nation", which had been aided by the "vivid imagination of their scribes" who borrowed traditions from the Semites (such as Yamanites, Himyarites and Hebrews) and modified them to "suit [their] aspirations". He noted the lack of pre-Christian regnal lists and believed that there was no 'kingdom' of Abyssinia/Ethiopia until the time of king Zoskales (c. 200 AD). Budge additionally stated that all extant manuscripts date to the 17th–19th centuries and believed that any regnal lists found in them originated from Arab and Coptic writers.^[2] Budge felt the 1922 regnal list "proves" that "almost all kings of Abyssinia were of Asiatic origin" and descended from "Southern or Northern Semites" before the reign of Yekuno Amlak.^[92] However, native Ethiopian rule before Yekuno Amlak is evidenced by the kingdoms of D'mt (c. 980–400 BC) and Aksum (c. 150 BC–960 AD), as well as by the rule of the Zagwe dynasty.

The Geographical Journal reviewed In the Country of the Blue Nile in 1928, and noted the regnal list, which contained "many more names [...] than in previously published lists" and was "evidently a careful compilation" which helps to "clear up the tangled skein of Ethiopian history".^[93] However, the reviewer did also notice that it "[contained] discrepancies" which Rey "[made] no attempt to clear up".^[93] The reviewer pointed to how king Dil Na'od is said to have reigned for 10 years from 910 to 920, yet travel writer James Bruce previously stated the deposition of this dynasty occurred in 960, 40 years later.^[93] The reviewer did admit, however, that Egyptologist Henry Salt's dating of this event to 925 may have had "more reason" to it compared to Bruce's dating, considering that Salt's dating is seemingly backed up by Tafari's regnal list.^[93]

The Washington Post made use of the regnal list when reporting on the coronation of Haile Selassie in 1930. The paper reported that Selassie would become "the 336th sovereign of [the Ethiopian] empire" which was "founded in the ninety-seventh [sic] year after the creation of the world" and as such his reign would begin in "the 6,460th year of the reign of the Ethiopian dynasty".^[94] The newspaper noted that Adam was no longer "claimed by Ethiopians as the original ancestor of the kings of Ethiopia" and instead the modern Abyssinians claimed their first king was "Ori, or Aram, the son of Shem".^[94] The same article mentioned the 531-year gap between the Flood and the fall of the Tower of Babel, during which time "42 different Ethiopian sovereigns ruled Africa", though the regnal list itself did not provide any names for this time period.^[94]

Regnal list[edit]

Gregorian dates: Tafari's regnal list uses dates according to the Ethiopian Calendar. According to Charles Fernand Rey, one can estimate the Gregorian date equivalent by adding a further seven or eight years to the date. As an example, he states that 1 AD on the Ethiopian calendar would be 8 AD on the Gregorian calendar. He notes that the calendar of Ethiopia likely changed in some ways throughout history but argued that this was a good enough method for estimates.^[95] E. A. Wallis Budge stated that the Ethiopian calendar was 8 years behind the Gregorian calendar from January 1 to September 10 and 7 years behind from September 11 to December 31.^[96]

Tribe of Ori or Aram (1,286 years)[edit]

"Tribe or Posterity of Ori or Aram"^[95]

Tafari's list does not provide any background on this dynasty, but Taye Gabra Mariam's History of the People of Ethiopia gives the following information on the "Tribe of Orit":^[97]

• "Those who before all others left Asia earliest and who entered Ethiopia and occupied the country are called the tribe of Orit. Their father [...] was one of the sons of Adam, called Ori or Aram. He and his line, twenty-one kings, ruled in Ethiopia from the year 1030 of the world [sic] until 2256 of the world [...] During the time of their last King, Soliman Tagi, in the era of Noah, they were wiped out and brought to an end by the devastating flood."

The first dynasty of this regnal list consists of 21 monarchs who ruled before the Biblical "Great Flood". This dynasty is legendary and borrowed from a list of pre-Flood kings of Egypt that is found in medieval Coptic and Arabic texts. French historian Louis J. Morié recorded a list of 19 monarchs in his 1904 book Histoire de L'Éthiopie.^[52] The medieval Arab text Akhbar al-Zaman contains a regnal list that may have been an earlier version of the list Morié saw centuries later. This list contained a total of 19 kings and the majority had similar names to those found on the later version in 1904.^[58] Morié noted that the kings were supposed to be rulers of Egypt, but he personally believed they had actually ruled what he referred to as "Ethiopia" (i.e. Nubia).^[52] He pointed to a story of the third king, Gankam, who had a palace built beyond the Equator at the Mountains of the Moon, as proof that these kings resided in Aethiopia.^[98][55] The kings of this dynasty are described as Priest-kings in Coptic tradition and were called the "Soleyman" dynasty.^[55] While the original Coptic tradition called the first king "Aram", in reference to the son of Shem of the same name, this regnal list calls the king "Ori or Aram". The name "Ori" may have originated from Morié's claim that this dynasty was called the "Aurites", and that Aram had inspired the name of his country, which was called "Aurie" or "Aeria".^[99]

The only rulers of this dynasty who do not originate from the Coptic Antediluvian regnal list are "Senefrou" and "Assa", who E. A. Wallis Budge believed where the historical Egyptian pharaohs Sneferu and Djedkare Isesi.

Heruy Wolde Selassie ignored this dynasty on his version of the regnal list.^[20] Ethiopian historian Fisseha Yaze Kassa, in his book Ethiopia's 5,000-year history, completely omitted this dynasty and instead begins with the Ham/Kam dynasty.^[100]

E. A. Wallis Budge believed that the reason for the list beginning with Aram instead of Ham was because contemporary Ethiopians wanted to distance themselves from the Curse of Ham.^[101] The medieval Ethiopian text Kebra Nagast stated that "God decreed sovereignty for the seed of Shem, and slavery for the seed of Ham".^[101]

No. [95]	Name [95]	Length of reign [95]	Reign dates (Ethiopian Calendar) [95]	"Year of the World" [95]	Reason for inclusion	Notes
1	Ori I[a] or Aram	60 years	4530–4470 BC	970–1030	Recorded in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as rulers of Aethiopia (Nubia).[103]	Son of Shem in Biblical tradition.[101] Son of Adam in the Coptic tradition of the "Soleyman" dynasty.[104]
2	Gariak I	66 years	4470–4404 BC	1030–1096		Son of Ori I/Aram.[55][104] Known as Gether in the Bible. There may have originally been other kings who ruled between Gariak I and Gannkam.[105]
3	Gannkam	83 years	4404–4321 BC	1096–1179		Descendant of Gariak I.[55][104] Coptic tradition credits this king with building a palace out of iron and bronze at the foot of the Mountains of the Moon after foreseeing the Great Flood and its future destruction.[98]
4	Borsa (Queen)	67 years	4321–4254 BC	1179–1246		–
5	Gariak II	60 years	4254–4194 BC	1246–1306		Son of Gannkam.[55][106]
6	Djan I	80 years	4194–4114 BC	1306–1386		"Djan" is an old Ethiopian title meaning "chief", "king" or "royalty".[107]
7	Djan II	60 years	4114–4054 BC	1386–1446		Son of Djan I.[108][105]
8	Senefrou	20 years	4054–4034 BC	1446–1466	Raided Nubia during his reign.[109]	Historical pharaoh Sneferu (r. 2613–2589 BC).[109]
9	Zeenabzamin	58 years	4034–3976 BC	1466–1524	Recorded in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as rulers of Aethiopia (Nubia).[103]	Originally known as "Zeyn al-Zaman", which means "Ornament of the century".[105]
10	Sahlan	60 years	3976–3916 BC	1524–1584		–
11	Elaryan	80 years	3916–3836 BC	1584–1664		Originally known as "El-Rian".[108]
12	Nimroud	60 years	3836–3776 BC	1664–1724		Not to be confused with the Biblical figure Nimrod. According to Coptic tradition, his original name was Youssef and he was a minister to king Elaryan.[105]
13	Eylouka (Queen)	45 years	3776–3731 BC	1724–1769		Originally known as Daluka.[108][105]
14	Saloug	30 years	3731–3701 BC	1769–1799		Originally the 34th ruler of this dynasty according to Coptic tradition.[105] The surviving list of kings by the early 20th century was apparently incomplete.[52]
15	Kharid	72 years	3701–3629 BC	1799–1871		Originally known as Surid.[105] Eldest son of Saloug.[105] Coptic tradition credits this king with building 3 pyramids and reigning 390 years before the Great Flood.[105] Tafari's list dates the end of this king's reign to 385 years before the Flood.
16	Hogeb	100 years	3629–3529 BC	1871–1971		The longest-reigning monarch of this regnal list. Second son of Saloug and brother of Kharid.[110]
17	Makaws	70 years	3529–3459 BC	1971–2041		–
18	Assa	30 years	3459–3429 BC	2041–2071	Sent an expedition to the "Land of the Spirits" (Punt) and had a Pygmy brought back from there.[109]	Historical pharaoh Djedkare Isesi.[109]
19	Affar	50 years	3429–3379 BC	2071–2121	Recorded in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as rulers of Aethiopia (Nubia).[103]	Originally known as "Afros".[110] Coptic tradition claimed that this king's name was the inspiration behind the word "Africa".[110]
20	Milanos	62 years	3379–3317 BC	2121–2183		Originally known as "Malinos".[110]
21	Soliman Tehagui	73 years	3317–3244 BC	2183–2256		Originally the 40th and last ruler of the "Soleyman" dynasty in medieval Coptic tradition.[111] Originally known as "Tchaghi" or "Cagi", but sometimes known as "Pharaon".[108][111] Coptic and Arabic tradition claimed that this king sent his general "Sourkhrag" and priest "Philemon" to discuss with Noah the worship of God and of idols prior to the Great Flood.[111]
"Total: 21 sovereigns of the Tribe of Ori."[95]

Interregnum (531 years)[edit]

"From the Deluge until the fall of the Tower of Babel".^[112]

The 531-year period from 3244 BC to 2713 BC (2256–2787 AM) is the only section in this regnal list where no monarchs are named.

Alaqa Taye Gabra Mariam's History of the People of Ethiopia gave the following explanation for this gap:^[113]

• "After the extinction of these people [The Tribe of Ori] in the great flood, until the destruction of the tower of Babel and the scattering of people and the differentiation of languages in the year 531 [sic] the entire area and the country of Ethiopia was an empty land without native people. After this the tribe of Kam came and inherited her."

Some older Ethiopian regnal lists state the monarchs who reigned between the Great Flood and the fall of the Tower of Babel were pagans, idolators and worshippers of the "serpent", and thus were not worthy to be named.^[101]

The Tower of Babel was, according to the Bible, built by humans in Shinar at a time when humanity spoke a single language. The tower was intended to reach the sky, but this angered God, who confounded their speech and made them unable to understand each other and caused humanity to be scattered across the world. This story serves as an origin myth to explain why so many different languages are spoken around the world.

Tribe of Kam (728 years)[edit]

"Sovereignty of the tribe of Kam after the fall of the tower of Babel."^[112]

Alaqa Taye Gabra Mariam's History of the People of Ethiopia gave the following background for the tribe of Kam or "Kusa":^[113]

• "Kam came to Ethiopia crossing the Bab il-Mandäb from Asia. This was in the year 2787 of the world, in the 2,713th year before the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ."
• "Kam ruled Ethiopia for 78 years and, returning to Asia intending to seize Syria, he fought against the sons of Sem and died in battle. But his sons set the eldest brother Kugan to rule over themselves, and inherited Ethiopia. The tribe of Kam with their descendants, 25 kings in all, reigned and ruled Ethiopia for 743 years, [sic] from 2787 to the year 3515 of the world."

This dynasty begins with the second son of the Biblical prophet Noah, Ham, whose descendants populated the African continent and adjoining parts of Asia according to the Bible. Ham was the father of Cush (Kush/Nubia), Mizraim (Egypt), Canaan (Levant) and Put (Libya or Punt).

Taye's statement that Kam was killed in battle while attempting to invade Syria was likely inspired by Louis J. Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie, in which he stated that Kam/Ham was killed in a battle against the Assyrians after attempting to invade their territories.^[114] According to Heruy Wolde Selassie's book Wazema, the Kamites originated from the Middle East and conquered Axum, Meroe, Egypt and North Africa.^[115] This claim also likely originated from Louis J. Morié, who stated that Ham arrived in Aethiopia after the Deluge and his descendants ruled over different parts of Aethiopia and Egypt.^[116]

Earlier Ethiopian traditions presented a very different line of kings descending from Ham. E. A. Wallis Budge stated that in his time there was a common belief in Ethiopia that the people were descended from Ham, his son Cush and Cush's son Ethiopis, who is not named in the Bible, and from whom the country of Ethiopia gets its name.^[117] Some regnal lists explicitly state the names "Ethiopia" and "Axum" come from descendants of Ham that are not named in the Bible.^[118]

Ethiopian historian Fisseha Yaze Kassa's book Ethiopia's 5,000-year history begins this dynasty with Noah and omits Habassi, but otherwise has a similar line of kings as this list.^[100] Heruy Wolde Selassie omitted the first three rulers of this dynasty in his book Wazema and begins the dynasty with Sebtah in 2545 BC.^[20] Peter Truhart, in his book Regents of Nations, dated the monarchs of this dynasty to 2585–1930 BC and stated that the capital during this period was called Mazez.^[108] He identified king Kout as the first king of this dynasty instead of Kam.^[108] Truhart called the monarchs from Kout to Lakniduga the "Dynasty of Kush" based at Mazez and stated they ruled from 2585 to 2145 BC,^[108] while the monarchs from Manturay to Piori I are listed as the "Kings of Ethiopia and Meroe" who ruled from 2145 to 1930 BC.^[119]

According to Taye Gabra Mariam the tribe of Kam or "Kusa" was driven from the highlands of Ethiopia to the lowlands by the Ag'azyan dynasty.^[120]

No. [112]	Name [112]	Length of reign [112]	Reign dates (Ethiopian Calendar) [112]	"Year of the World" [112]	Reason for inclusion	Notes
22	Kam	78 years	2713–2635 BC	2787–2865	Biblical figure Ham, who is the ancestor of Africans, including the Aethiopians.	Ethiopian historian Fisseha Yaze Kassa provided alternate reign dates for this king of 3500–2787 BC (713 years) and listed Noah as the first king of this dynasty with reign dates of 3844–3500 BC (344 years).[100] E. A. Wallis Budge theorized this king's name was actually a reference to "k.mt", the name of Egypt before the Greco-Roman period and noted that some kings of this dynasty had clearly Egyptian-inspired names (such as Amen, Horkam and Ramenpahte).[101] Peter Truhart believed this king's inclusion on the regnal list represented Egyptian contacts with Punt (which he identifies with modern-day Ethiopia) that took place around 3000 BC.[108]
23	Kout	50 years	2635–2585 BC	2865–2915	Biblical figure Cush, son of Ham, through whom the people of Aethiopia likely descend.	Often considered a representation of the Kingdom of Kush in modern-day Sudan. Some translations of the Bible identify Kush with "Aethiopia", leading to the traditional Ethiopian identification with ancient Kush, which is seen throughout this list. Ethiopian historian Fisseha Yaze Kassa provided alternate reign dates for this king of 2787–2545 BC (242 years).[100]
24	Habassi	40 years	2585–2545 BC	2915–2955	Traditional figure inserted into the Biblical lineage as a son of Cush, representing Abyssinia.[121]	Son of Cush/Kout.[121][122][58] Ethiopian sources claim the word "Abyssinia" is derived from the name of this king.[121] The medieval text Akhbar al-Zaman mentions Habassi (or "Habash") as a son of Cush and ancestor of the Abyssinians.[58] While many historians link the word "Abyssinia" with the Arabic word "Habesh", this link was rejected by Ethiopian scholar Aleqa Asras Yenesaw.[121] Ethiopian historian Fisseha Yaze Kassa omitted this king from his list of monarchs of the Kam dynasty.[100]
25	Sebtah[b]	30 years	2545–2515 BC	2955–2985	Biblical figure Sabtah, son of Cush.	Son of Cush/Kout. An Ethiopian tradition states that Sebtah was king of Kush and Wurd Bashir was the capital during his reign.[124] This legend states that he traveled to the source of the Nile and built Wurd Bashir with a great wall and nine gates.[125]
26	Elektron	30 years	2515–2485 BC	2985–3015	–	Similar name to Electryon, king of Tiryns and Mycenae in Greek mythology and descendent of the Aethiopian king and queen Cepheus and Cassiopeia.
27	Neber[c]	30 years	2485–2455 BC	3015–3045	–	–
28	Amen I[d]	21 years	2455–2434 BC	3045–3066	–	Peter Truhart stated this king ruled for 29 years.[108]
29	Nehasset Nais[e] (Queen)	30 years	2434–2404 BC	3066–3096	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as a Nubian courtesan who drowned all her lovers in the Red Sea until she was stopped by king Horkam.[126]	According to Taye Gabra Mariam it was during the reign of this queen, who he calls Kasiyoni, in the year 2421 B.C./3079 A.M., that the Sinites, ancestors of the Shanqella tribe, arrived in Ethiopia.[120] The Shanqella lived in highland Ethiopia for 440 years until they were driven to the lowlands by the ancestors of the Ag'azyan people.[120] This queen's name could be based on the ancient Egyptian word "Nehesy" meaning "the Nubian".[127]
30	Horkam[f]	29 years	2404–2375 BC	3096–3125	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as a son of Cush who ruled over a part of Aethiopia.[126]	Husband of Nehasset Nais.[126] Morié equated this king with the Biblical figure Raamah and the Egyptian mythological figure Horus.[126] According to Taye Gabra Mariam, it was in the 15th year of this king's reign that Aynar, son of Arwadi ("the Arvadite") came to Ethiopia and was the ancestor of the Qemant tribe.[120] Aynar and his wife Intalan came to Ethiopia due to a famine in Canaan.[120]
31	Saba I[g]	30 years	2375–2345 BC	3125–3155	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as a son of Horkam.[126] Biblical figure Seba, son of Cush.	Son of Horkam.[129] In Morié's narrative, this king founded the city of "Hasabo".[129] According to Taye Gabra Mariam, it was in the 15th year of this king's reign (2360 B.C./3140 A.M.) that the tribe of Weyto, descended from the Zemarites, entered Ethiopia.[128] They had arrived in Ethiopia due to a famine in Egypt and Sudan.[128]
32	Sofard[h]	30 years	2345–2315 BC	3155–3185	–	–
33	Askndou[i]	25 years	2315–2290 BC	3185–3210	–	–
34	Hohey[j]	35 years	2290–2255 BC	3210–3245	–	–
35	Adglag[k]	20 years	2255–2235 BC	3245–3265	–	–
36	Adgala I[l]	30 years	2235–2205 BC	3265–3295	–	–
37	Lakniduga I[m]	25 years	2205–2180 BC	3295–3320	–	–
38	Manturay[n]	35 years	2180–2145 BC	3320–3355	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the first of the "Meroites" and the first ruler of Aethiopia to regulate legislation and Solar worship.[130]	–
39	Rakhu[o]	30 years	2145–2115 BC	3355–3385	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the son of "Mentou-Rai".[130]	Morié identified this king with Phlegyas, a king of the Lapiths who appears in Greek mythology.[130]
40	Sabe I[p]	30 years	2115–2085 BC	3385–3415	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the next known ruler of Aethiopia after "Ra-khou".[130]	Could be the Biblical figure Sabtechah, a son of Cush, based on the alternate name "Kepheas" given by Morié.[130] Morié claimed it was during the reign of this king that a Kushite tribe went to Chaldea and lived alongside the Jewish population there.[131]
41	Azagan I[q]	30 years	2085–2055 BC	3415–3445	–	–
42	Sousel Atozanis[r]	20 years	2055–2035 BC	3445–3465	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as a king of Aethiopia under the name "Snouka Menken", though with "Attozanes" as one of his alternate names.[132]	In Morié's narrative, this king was also king of Egypt for 13 years.[132]
43	Amen II[s]	15 years	2035–2020 BC	3465–3480	–	Peter Truhart omitted this king from his regnal list.[119]
44	Ramenpahte[t]	20 years	2020–2000 BC	3480–3500	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as an Aethiopian nobleman who was supposed to marry a daughter of king "Ba-en-Khons", but instead she was taken by the king to be his own wife.[133]	E. A. Wallis Budge believed this king's name was based on "Men-pekhti-Ra",[101] the throne name of Ramesses I (r. 1292–1290 BC).
45	Wanuna	3 days	2000 BC	3500	–	–
46	Piori I	15 years	2000–1985 BC	3500–3515	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the king who ruled at the time of Aethiopia's conquest by the "Hyksos" (the so-called "Ag'azyan Dynasty" of this list).[133]	According to Heruy Wolde Selassie, this king was defeated by Rama (a Hindu god) of India.[115] This narrative was inspired by Morié's Historie de l'Ethiopie, in which he claimed that Rama had a vast empire stretching across India and Arabia and had defeated the Egyptian Pharaoh. According to Morié, the Ethiopian king, "Poeri I", then became a tributary to Rama.[133] While Morié did not make this identification, it is possible that the author of the 1922 Ethiopian regnal list identified Rama with Raamah, son of Cush and father of Sheba, who founded the next dynasty of this regnal list. According to Taye Gabra Mariam's The History of the People of Ethiopia, it was during the reign of this king that the tribes of Saba, Abal and Ofir left Yemen and settled in Ethiopia.[134]
"Total: 25 sovereigns of the tribe of Kam, plus 21 sovereigns of the tribe of Ori – Grand total, 46 sovereigns."[95]

Ag'azyan Dynasty (1,003 years)[edit]

"Agdazyan [sic] dynasty of the posterity of the kingdom of Joctan."^[135]

Note: Historian Manfred Kropp noted the word "Agdazyan" is likely a transcribal error and meant to say "Ag'azyan", as the Ethiopian syllable signs da and 'a are relatively easy to confuse with each other.^[10]

Alaqa Taye Gabra Mariam's History of the People of Ethiopia provides the following information on the "Tribe of Yoqt'an":^[136]

• "The tribe of Yoqt'an are the grandchildren of Sem. Sem begat fifteen children. Of the fifteen Arfaksad was the third. Arfaksad begat Qaynan; Qaynan begat Sala; Sala begot 'Ebor and 'Ebor begat Falek and Yoqt'an. [...] Yoqt'an begat thirteen children, and their names were Almodäd, Śalf, Hasrämot, Yarah, Hadoram, Awzal, Doqla, Hubal or Obal, Abima'el, Saba, Awfir, Hawila and Yubab (Genesis 10.25–29). As for their territory, it was in Asia from Mesha to Śīfar and as far as the eastern mountains. (Genesis 10.30).
• When their territory became too small and restricted for them, five of the thirteen children of Yoqt'an, Saba, Awfir, Hawila, Obal and Abima'el, departed Asia in a great multitude and migrated, journeying to Yemen. When this tribe of Yoqt'an, offspring of Sem, reached Yemen, they paid tribute to the Kusa of Yemen [but] without agreeing to an alliance. Later, however, they saw their weakness and by trickery and other means caused rebellion among the Yemenite Kusa, and, making king a brave and wise one of their own race called 'Yaroba', became the lords of all Yemen. At the end of the reign of the tribe of Kam, the tenth year of the reign of P'i'ori I and the 3,510th year of the world [...] these people were called 'Ag'azyan'. The tribe of Yoqt'an of the tribe of Sem left Yemen in a great multitude and crossed the Bab Il-Mändäb and entered Ethiopia.
• In that period the tribe of Yoqt'an were called at different times by five names. They were called 'Saba', 'Bädäw', 'Irräñña', 'Tigri', and 'Ag'azyan'.
• Ityopp'is was the son of Bulqaya and the grandson of Akhunas known as Saba II. His mother, the daughter of the king of Tut, was called 'Aglä'e'. [...] Ityopp'is I ruled for fifty-six years, from the 3644th to the 3700 year of the world, 1856-1800 B.C., and the country was called Ityopp'is after his name. [...] After Ityopp'is died the king's son Lankdun, whose second name was Nowär'ori, succeeded him on the [the throne of] the kingdom.
• The sons of Ityopp'is I were five; they are Lankdun, Saba, Noba, Bäläw, and Käläw. The first son Lakndun inherited the kingship, but the other four divided up the land of the state among themselves and held it. Saba is the ancestor of the people who settled in the country now called Tigre; the country used to be called Saba after his name. [...] that the country was called Saba is for Saba II, grandfather of Ityopp'is, and not for Saba, son of Ityopp'is.

The third dynasty of this regnal list is descended from Joktan, grandson of Shem and great-grandson of Noah. According to Genesis 10:7 and 1 Chronicles 1:9, Sheba was a grandson of Cush through Raamah, which provides a link between this Semitic dynasty and the Hamitic dynasty that preceded it. The dynasty ends with the Queen of Sheba, whose name is Makeda in Ethiopian tradition. The Ag'azyan dynasty includes a number of kings whose names clearly reference ancient Egypt and Kush, most notably the line of High Priests of Amun that reigned near the end of this era. While these priests are archaeologically verified, they did not rule modern-day Ethiopia, but rather ruled over or had some contact with ancient Nubia and Kush, which is equated with Aethiopia in some translations of the Bible and these translated editions have influenced modern Ethiopia's belief in an affinity with ancient Nubia.

The word Ag'azyan means "free" or "to lead to freedom" in Ge'ez.^[137][115] According to both Taye Gabra Mariam's History of the People of Ethiopia and Heruy Wolde Selassie's Wazema, this originated from the liberation of Ethiopia from the rule of the Kamites/Hamites and three of Joktan's sons divided Ethiopia between themselves. Sheba received Tigray, Obal received Adal and Ophir received Ogaden.^[134][115] E. A. Wallis Budge had a different theory of the origin of the term Aga'azyan, believing that it referred to several tribes that migrated from Arabia to Africa either at the same time as or after the Habashat had migrated. He stated that the word "Ge'ez" had come from "Ag'azyan".^[137] The term "Ag'azyan" may also refer to the Agʿazi region of the Axumite empire located in modern-day Eastern Tigray and Southern Eritrea.

This section of the regnal list is heavily influenced by Louis J. Morié's book Histoire de L'Éthiopie, with the majority of monarchs having similar names and line of succession to those found in Morié's book.^[138]

There are some monarchs in this dynasty who originated from native Abyssinian tradition, these being Angabo I (no. 74), who founded a new dynasty after killing the serpent king Arwe, and his successors Zagdur I (no. 77), Za Sagado (no. 80), Tawasya (no. 97) and Makeda (no. 98), the last of whom is identified with the Queen of Sheba (See Regnal lists of Ethiopia for more information).^[139][140] The 1922 regnal list incorporates these five rulers within the longer narrative of Louis J. Morié. There is also another king named Ethiopis, who Ethiopian tradition credits with inspiring the name of the country.

Sheba is usually considered by historians to have been the south Arabian kingdom of Saba, in an area that later became part of the Aksumite Empire. The Kebra Nagast however specifically states that Sheba was located in Ethiopia.^[141] This has led to some historians arguing that Sheba may have been located in a region in Tigray and Eritrea, which was once called "Saba".^[142] American historian Donald N. Levine suggested that Sheba may be linked with the historical region of Shewa, where the modern Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa is located.^[143] Additionally, a Sabaean connection with Ethiopia is evidenced by a number of settlements on the Red Sea coast that emerged around 500 BC and were influenced by Sabaean culture.^[144] These people were traders and had their own writing script.^[144] Gradually over time their culture merged with that of the local people.^[144][145] The Sabaean language was likely the official language of northern Ethiopia during the pre-Axumite period (c. 500 BC to 100 AD).^[146] Some historians believe that the kingdom of Dʿmt, located in modern-day Eritrea and Ethiopia, was Sabaean-influenced, possibly due to Sabaean dominance of the Red Sea or due to mixing with the indigenous population.^[147][148]

Roman-Jewish historian Josephus wrote that that Achaemenid king Cambyses II conquered the capital of Aethiopia and changed its name from "Saba" to "Meroe".^[149] Josephus also stated the Queen of Sheba came from this region and was queen of both Egypt and Ethiopia.^[150] This suggests that a belief in a connection between Sheba and Kush was already in place by the 1st century AD. Josephus also associated Sheba/Saba with Kush when describing a campaign led by Moses against the Ethiopians, in which he won and later married Tharbis, the daughter of the king of 'Saba' or Meroe.

Peter Truhart, in his book Regents of Nations, dated the kings from Akbunas Saba II to Lakndun Nowarari to 1930–1730 BC and listed them as a continuation of the line of "Kings of Ethiopia and Meroe" that begun in 2145 BC.^[119] Truhart's regnal list then jumps forward and dates the kings from Tutimheb onwards as contemporaries of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth dynasties of Egypt, with a date range of 1552–1185 BC.^[119] Truhart also identified modern-day Ethiopia with the Land of Punt.^[119] His list however omits the High Priests of Amun from Herihor to Pinedjem II.^[84]

No. [135]	Name [135]	Length of reign [135]	Reign dates (Ethiopian Calendar) [135]	"Year of the World" [135]	Reason for inclusion	Notes
47	Akbunas Saba II[u]	55 years	1985–1930 BC	3515–3570	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the first king of the "Hyksos" dynasty of Aethiopia under the name "Ankhnas".[152]	Possibly Sheba, son of Joktan or otherwise a descendant of Joktan.
48	Nakehte Kalnis[v]	40 years	1930–1890 BC	3570–3610	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the successor of king "Ankhnas".[152]	–
49	Kasiyope[w] (Queen)	19 years	1890–1871 BC	3610–3629	Cassiopeia, queen of Aethiopia in Greek mythology. Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as a wife of "Sebi II".[152]	Despite sharing a name with Cassiopeia, a queen of Aethiopia in Ancient Greek myth who was the wife of Cepheus and mother of Andromeda, Morié's original narrative differentiates this queen from the more well-known Cassiopeia/"Kasiyope".[153] Instead, "Kasiyope I" is the name given to a queen of Ethiopia who plotted the assassination of Osiris with Set according to one version of the Osiris myth recounted by Plutarch.[154]
50	Sabe II[x]	15 years	1871–1856 BC	3629–3644	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the successor to "Nekhti I".[152]	According to Taye Gabra Mariam's History of the People of Ethiopia, it was in the reign of this king that the ancestors of the Shinasha people arrived in Ethiopia.[155] Taye stated this king was the son of a man named "Amin".[41]
51	Etiyopus I[y]	56 years	1856–1800 BC	3644–3700	Ethiopis, a legendary king in Abyssinian/Ethiopian tradition who inspired the name "Ethiopia".[156] Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie under the name "Atew I (Ethiops)" as the fifth ruler of Aethiopia after the "Hyksos" conquest.[157]	Known as "Itiyopp'is" in various sources.[115][158][151] An Ethiopian legend claims that the name "Ethiopia" is derived from the name of king Ethiopis.[156] Likewise, Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder believed that the word "Aethiopia"/"Ethiopia" came from a king named Aethiopis, who was the son of the Roman god Vulcan.[121] Some Ethiopian traditions trace the word "Ethiopia" to Itan, a Ge'ez word for incense, a reference to the Ethiopian plateau which has long traded in incense.[121] One Ethiopian tradition states that Etiyopus was a son of Cush and grandson of Kam.[121] Another tradition additionally claims that Etiyopus' son was named Aksumawi, and he had a son named Malayka Aksum, who then had six sons named Sum, Nafas, Bagi'o, Kuduki, Akhoro and Farheba.[159] The names of Etiyopus' son, grandson and great-grandsons are not found on this regnal list. According to the Book of Axum, this king built Ethiopia's first capital, Mazaber.[160] According to Taye Gabra Mariam's History of the People of Ethiopia, this king was the son of Bulqaya and Aglä'e, daughter of the king of Tut and was a grandson of Akhunas Saba II.[161] Some Ethiopian regnal lists claim this king was the first to rule Ethiopia.[162] One tradition states Etiyopus was buried in Aksum and that fire used to burn in his grave.[163]
52	Lakndun Nowarari[z]	30 years	1800–1770 BC	3700–3730	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the next known king of Aethiopia after "Atew I".[157]	Son of Etiyopus I.[151] Peter Truhart seemingly identified this king with the mythical serpent of Ethiopian legend "Arwe", though it is unclear why.[119]
53	Tutimheb	20 years	1770–1750 BC	3730–3750	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the successor of "Nower-Ari".[164]	Morié claimed this king was the father of Tharbis,[164] a Cushite princess who married Moses after he defeated the Aethiopians as head of the Egyptian army, according to Josephus.[165] In Morié's narrative this king was defeated by Moses as the head of the army of Amenhotep I.[166] However, the estimated reign dates of Amenhotep I (c. 1524–1503 BC) are far later than the dates of Tutimheb on this list.
54	Her Hator I[aa]	20 years	1750–1730 BC	3750–3770	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie under the name "At-Hor" as a king who was placed on the throne of Aethiopia by the Pharaoh after the defeat of the previous king.[167] The ancient Greek god Hephaestus was the father of Ethiopis according to Pliny the Elder.[121]	Ancient Greek god Hephaestus who was the father of Ethiopis according to Pliny the Elder.[121] Morié claimed the previous king "Thout-em-heb" was replaced by Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep I with one of the pharaoh's astronomers, "At-Hor", who is Jethro of the Bible.[167] This would mean that At-Hor/Jethro was the father of Zipporah, wife of Moses, the latter having lead the army of Amenhotep I against Thout-em-heb/Tutimheb according to Morié's narrative.[166] The author of the 1922 Ethiopian regnal list may have combined the two separate narratives of Hephaestus and Jethro into one king.
55	Etiyopus II[ab]	30 years	1730–1700 BC	3770–3800	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie under the name "Atew II (Ethiops)" as a king of Aethiopia.[168] Son of Vulcan (Roman counterpart of Hephaestus) according to Pliny the Elder.[121]	–
56	Senuka I[ac]	17 years	1700–1683 BC	3800–3817	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie under the name "Snouka II Menken (Raskhoperen)" as a "Meroite" king who ruled after the end of the "Jethride" dynasty.[169]	In Morié's narrative, this king ruled Egypt for 13 years.[169]
57	Bonu I	8 years	1683–1675 BC	3817–3825	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the successor of "Snouka II".[170]	Also known as "Tsawente Ben(n)u".[119] The name of this king is based on Bennu, an Egyptian god.[171]
58	Mumazes (Queen)	4 years	1675–1671 BC	3825–3829	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the successor of "Bennou I".[172]	Daughter of Bonu I.[172][41][173]
59	Aruas[ad] (Queen)[ae]	7 months	1671 BC	3829	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the successor of "Moumeses (Moso)".[172]	Daughter of Mumazes according to Tafari's list.[174] However, Morié originally claimed that Aruas was a son of Mumazes.[172] Both Taye Gabra Mariam and Peter Truhart also noted this monarch was male on their respective lists.[41][119]
60	Amen Asro I[af]	30 years	1671–1641 BC	3829–3859	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the successor of "Arouas".[175]	In Morié's narrative this king ruled Egypt for 2 years.[175]
61	Ori (or Aram) II[ag]	30 years	1641–1611 BC	3859–3889	–	–
62	Piori II	15 years	1611–1596 BC	3889–3904	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the successor of "Amen-as-ro I".[175]	Peter Truhart believed this king is identifiable with Perahu, the only known king of Punt, who was a contemporary of Pharaoh Hatshepsut (r. 1479–1458 BC).[119] However, Morié's original narrative misidentified Paser I, Viceroy of Kush, as a reigning king of Aethiopia.[176] Paser was the father of Amenemopet, who is named as the next king on this list, "Amen Emhat I". Paser was in power during the reigns of Ay and Horemheb (c. 1323–1292 BC) and thus was alive over two and a half centuries after the dates on this regnal list.
63	Amen Emhat I[ah]	40 years	1596–1556 BC	3904–3944	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the successor of "Poeri II".[176]	Son of Paser/Piori II. Morié misidentified the Viceroys of Kush named Paser I and Amenemopet as reigning kings of Aethiopia (i.e. Kush). As such, the king "Amen Emhat I" is to be equated with Amenemopet, who followed his father Paser I/"Piori II" to power. Morié himself called Amenemopet by the name "Amen-em-hat".[176] Amenemopet was Viceroy of Kush during the reign of Seti I (c. 1290–1279 BC).
64	Tsawi I[ai]	15 years	1556–1541 BC	3944–3959	–	–
65	Aktissanis[aj]	10 years	1541–1531 BC	3959–3969	Legendary king of Aethiopia Actisanes who, according to Diodorus, defeated Pharaoh Ammoses (Ahmose II) and conquered Egypt.[86]	While the reign of Ahmose II was much later than the dates for Aktissanis on this list, the reign of Ahmose I (c. 1550–1525 BC) did take place around this time. "Actisanes" was possibly based on the historical Kushite king Aktisanes who ruled Nubia in the early third century BC.
66	Mandes	17 years	1531–1514 BC	3969–3986	A legendary Egyptian king, known as "Mendes" or "Meudes", who succeeded Actisanes after his death and recovered Egyptian independence, according to Diodorus Siculus.[86]	According to Diodorus Siculus, king Mendes had a labyrinth built into his tomb and this inspired Daedalus who, after visiting Egypt, built a similar labyrinth of Minos, king of Crete.[86] This king was Egyptian, but may have been mistaken as "Aethiopian" by the author of this list due to directly succeeding Actisanes.
67	Protawos[ak]	33 years	1514–1481 BC	3986–4019	A legendary king of Egypt Proteus mentioned by Diodorus Siculus as the next known king after Mandes.[86]	Egyptian king Proteus from Greek mythology who is mentioned the writings of Herodotus, Euripides and Homer. Like Mandes, this king was not "Aethiopian", but may have been assumed to be related to Actisanes by the writer of this regnal list.
68	Amoy I[al]	21 years	1481–1460 BC	4019–4040	–	–
69	Konsi Hendawi[am]	5 years	1460–1455 BC	4040–4045	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the next known king of Aethiopia after "Amen-em-hat I".[177]	This king's name means "Konsi the Indian".[41][115] According to Morié's narrative, this king arrived in Aethiopia as part of a Hindu colony.[177] The name "Konsi" is based on the name of the Egyptian god Khonsu.
70	Bonu II	2 years	1455–1453 BC	4045–4043	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the first of the "Bennides" who succeeded "Khonsi".[178]	Morié identified this king as several different legendary characters from Greek mythology, specifically Phoenix (son of the king of Tyre), Belus (King of Egypt), Aleus (King of Arcadia), Polydorus (King of Thebes) and Argus (King of Argos).[179] Both Belus and Phoenix have been identified in different sources as the father of Cepheus, the next ruler on this regnal list.[180][181]
71	Sabe III (Kefe)[an]	15 years	1453–1438 BC	4047–4062	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the successor of "Bennou II".[182] Cepheus, an Aethiopian king from Greek mythology who was the husband of Cassiopeia and father of Andromeda.[183]	Third son of Bonu II according to Taye Gabra Mariam's list.[41]
72	Djagons[ao]	20 years	1438–1418 BC	4062–4082	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the successor to "Sebi III" under the name "Se-Khons (Gigon)".[167]	Possibly Danaus, a king of Libya from Greek mythology who is sometimes named as a brother of Cepheus and son of Belus.
73	Senuka II[ap]	10 years	1418–1408 BC	4082–4092	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the successor of "Se-Khons".[184]	In Morié's narrative, this king ruled Egypt for three years after defeating Amenmesse,[184] although Amenmesse actually reigned more than two centuries after the dates of Senuka II on this regnal list.
74	Angabo I (Zaka Laarwe)[aq]	50 years	1408–1358 BC	4092–4142	A king from Abyssinian tradition who killed a mythical serpent king named Arwe.[60] Regnal lists date Angabo's reign around 350 years before Makeda. This list places 345 years between them.	Also known as "Za Besi Angabo".[140] Some variations of the Arwe myth claim that Angabo was of non-royal origin and was made king as reward for slaying Arwe.[163] This version of the legend states that Angabo was a stranger who saved Makeda (the future Queen of Sheba) from being sacrificed to Arwe and that her father was chief minister to king "Za Sebado".[185] Some regnal lists claim that Angabo was king for 200 years.[186] According to Taye Gabra Mariam, Angabo was the son of "Adhana", though it is unclear what their relation, if any, is to this dynastic line.[41] According to some Ethiopian traditions, Angabo was the father of Makeda.[187] Manfred Kropp theorised the epithet "Zaka Laarwe" meant "Who slayed the serpent".[115]
75	Miamur	2 days	1358 BC	4142	–	A similar name "Miamun" was used by Josephus to refer to Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II.[188]
76	Helena[ar] (Queen)	11 years	1358–1347 BC	4142–4153	–	–
77	Zagdur I[as]	40 years	1347–1307 BC	4153–4193	Appears on Ethiopian regnal lists as the successor of Angabo and ruler of Ethiopia for 100 years.[140][139]	Son of Angabo I.[139] Also known as "Gedur" or "Za Gedur".[190][139] According to Taye Gabra Mariam, this king devised the phonetic Ge'ez alphabet.[41]
78	Her Hator II[at]	30 years	1307–1277 BC	4193–4223	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the successor of "Snouka III".[191]	Grandson of Sabe III (Kefe)[192] and son of Andromeda and Perseus according to Louis J. Morié.[191] However, Morié also identified this king with Erythras, who was the son of Perseus and Amphimedusa, daughter of Danaus and granddaughter of Belus.[193]
79	Her Hator III[au]	1 year	1277–1276 BC	4223–4224	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the successor of "Her-Hator II".[191]	Nephew of Her Hator II and son of Perses (son of Andromeda and Perseus).[194]
80	Akate (Za Sagado)[av]	20 years	1276–1256 BC	4224–4244	A king named "Nekhi IV" who succeeded "Her-Hathor III" in the narrative of Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie.[196] A king from earlier Ethiopian regnal lists, usually named "Sebado", who was the successor of Zagdur or Za Gedur and ruler of Ethiopia for 50 years.[140][139]	Sagado is the name of a mountain in the Amhara region.[197] The name "Akate" is likely baed on "Nycteus", as used in Morié's narrative.[196]
81	Titon Satiyo[aw]	10 years	1256–1246 BC	4244–4254	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the successor of "Nekhti IV".[198] Greek mythical figure Tithonus, a prince of Troy who was the father of the Aethiopian king Memnon.	Morié claimed Tithonus attempted to conquer Aethiopia but was taken prisoner by "Nekhti IV".[199] However, the daughter of the Aethiopian king wished to marry him, so he was freed and later became king.[199] Morié also claimed that this king ruled parts of Upper Egypt during the reign of pharaoh Amenmesse.[199] However, Amenmesse actually reigned over half a century after the dates on this regnal list.
82	Hermantu[ax]	5 months[ay]	1246 BC	4254	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the successor of "Tetouni".[202] Greek mythical figure Emathion, who was a son of Tithonus and brother of Memnon.[183]	An illegitimate son of Titon Satiyo according to Morié.[202]
83	Amen Emhat II	5 years	1246–1241 BC	4254–4259	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the successor of "Her-Mentou".[203] Green mythical figure Memnon, king of Aethiopia, who fought in the Trojan War and was a son of Tithonus and brother of Emathion.[84]	Historian Martin Bernal, in his book Black Athena, argued that it was possible for the name "Memnon" to have originated from the Egyptian name "Amenemhat".[204]
84	Konsab I	5 years	1241–1236 BC	4259–4264	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the successor of "Amenemhat II".[205]	Son of Tithonus/Titon Satiyo.[205]
85	Konsab II[az]	5 years	1236–1231 BC	4264–4269	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the successor of "Khons-Ab I".[206]	The name "Sannib" from Tafari's list is likely an error, a mistakenly transcribed name combining the prior king "Konsab" with the next king "Sanuka".
86	Senuka III[ba]	5 years	1231–1226 BC	4269–4274	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the successor of "Khons-Ab II".[207]	–
87	Angabo II[bb]	40 years	1226–1186 BC	4274–4314	–	–
88	Amen Astate[bc]	30 years	1186–1156 BC	4314–4244	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the successor of "Snouka IV Menken". [208] Egyptian High Priest of Amun Amenhotep who had de facto rule over Thebes before Herihor's reign.[209]	According to Ethiopian historian Tekletsadiq Mekuria, this king was the father of Herihor.[209] However, there is no archaeological evidence to prove this. Morié's narrative in Historie de l'Éthiopie did not identify Amen Astate with the High Priest of Amun Amenhotep and instead claimed there was a gap of 130 years between this king and "Her-Hor".[208]
89	Herhor[bd]	16 years	1156–1140 BC	4244–4360	Egyptian High Priests of Amun who de facto ruled Upper Egypt during the time of the Twenty-first Dynasty (c. 1077–943 BC). Some Egyptologists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries believed the High Priests had been ancestors of the Napatan rulers of Nubia.[81] This theory influenced Morié's narrative in Histoire de L'Éthiopie, in which he described them as an "Ammonian Dynasty" who ruled at Napata.[210] This list places their respective reigns over 70 years earlier than estimates from modern-day Egyptology. No archaeological evidence suggests they ruled the territory of modern-day Ethiopia or that they were related to the monarchs of Kush. The monarch known as "Pinotsem II" is not based on a historical High Priest of Amun, but was rather error of late 19th/early 20th century Egyptology.	Egyptian High Priest of Amun Herihor (r. 1080–1074 BC).[109] Herihor was also Viceroy of Kush during the reign of Ramesses XI.
90	Piyankihi I[be]	9 years	1140–1131 BC	4360–4369		Egyptian High Priest of Amun Piankh (r. 1074–1070 BC).[109] Piankh was also Viceroy of Kush and led a campaign into Nubia.
91	Pinotsem I[bf]	17 years	1131–1114 BC	4369–4386		Egyptian High Priest of Amun Pinedjem I (r. 1070–1032 BC).[109] Son of Piankh.
92	Pinotsem II[bg]	41 years	1114–1073 BC	4386–4427		Although there was a second High Priest of Amun named Pinedjem, his line of succession fits more closely with the position of Pinotsem III below. Manfred Kropp [de] noted that the existence of a third High Priest of Amun named Pinedjem was an error in late 19th-century Egyptology, which suggests that the writer of this regnal list had used European sources for compiling the list.[22] The existence of a third "Pinedjem" was only accepted by mainstream Egyptology for a brief period (1881–1905).[212] Morié's narrative in Historie de l'Éthiopie claimed this king was a son of Pinotsem I.[213]
93	Massaherta[bh]	16 years	1073–1057 BC	4427–4443		Egyptian High Priest of Amun Masaharta (r. 1054–1045 BC).[109] Son of Pinedjem I. Morié's Historie de l'Éthiopie claimed this king was a son of Pinotsem II.[213]
94	Ramenkoperm[bi]	14 years	1057–1043 BC	4443–4457		Egyptian High Priest of Amun Menkheperre (r. 1045–992 BC).[109] Son of Pinedjem I. Morié's Historie de l'Éthiopie claimed this king was a son of Pinotsem II.[213]
95	Pinotsem III[bj]	7 years	1043–1036 BC	4457–4464		Egyptian High Priest of Amun Pinedjem II (r. 990–976 BC).[214] Son of Menkheperre.
96	Sabe IV	10 years	1036–1026 BC	4464–4474	High Priest of Amun Psusennes III (Pasebakhaennuit) mentioned in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie as the successor of "Pinotsem III".[215] A king called "Za Sebadh" is named on Abyssinian regnal lists as the predecessor of "Za Kawnasya".[84]	In Morié's narrative, this king was a relative of Solomon, resulting in him being placed closed to the reign of Makeda on this list.[215]
97	Tawasya Dews[bk]	13 years	1026–1013 BC	4474–4487	A king from earlier Ethiopian regnal lists who succeeded "Za Sebadh" and was the predecessor and father of Makeda.[139][84][140]	Known as "Zakawsya", "Kawnasya" or "Qawasya" on earlier regnal lists.[139][84][140] Earlier regnal lists claim this king ruled for only one year.[140][139] According to Taye Gabra Mariam this king's wife was named Esmeni and she was the mother of Makeda.[216]
98	Makeda[bl] (Queen)	31 years	1013–982 BC	4487–4518	The Biblical Queen of Sheba in Ethiopian tradition. She is believed by Ethiopians to have visited king Solomon of Israel and had a son with him named Menelik.	Daughter of Tawsaya.[84][140][139] Earlier regnal lists credit 50 years of rule to this queen.[217] According to some Ethiopian traditions, Makeda's father was named Angabos and he became king of Ethiopia after killing the serpent king Arwe.[60] One version of the tradition states her father was chief minister to king "Za Sebado" and she was rescued from the serpent Arwe by Angabo, who later became king.[185] The Kebra Nagast refers to this queen as the "Queen of the South [who] was the Queen of Ethiopia". In this text she is described as "very beautiful in face", having a "superb" stature and possessing intelligence and understanding of "high character". Because of this she travelled to Jerusalem to "hear the wisdom of Solomon". The Kebra Nagast also states that she was very rich and traded "by sea and by land" to regions such as India and Aswan in Egypt.[218] According to the Kebra Nagast, she also supposedly forbade women from ruling Ethiopia in the future,[219] though this is contradicted by thirteen reigning queens who appear later in this list. The Kebra Nagast claims that she abdicated in favour of her son Menelik I. E. A. Wallis Budge theorised that the name "Makeda" may be based on "Maatkare", the throne name of pharaoh Hatshepsut.[109] Alternatively, the name may be based on "mlkt", a Sabaean term for "queen" that appears on some Sabaean inscriptions.[220] According to the Book of Axum, Makeda rebuilt Axum in the territory of Aseba and this was the reason why the Bible refers to her as the "Queen of Saba" and "Queen of Azeb" (i.e. South).[221]
"Of the posterity of Ori up to the reign of Makeda 98 sovereigns reigned over Ethiopia before the advent of Menelik I."[135]

Dynasty of Menelik I (1,475 years)[edit]

The next dynasty of this list begins with Menelik I, son of Queen Makeda and King Solomon. The Ethiopian monarchy claimed a line of descent from Menelik that remained unbroken – except for the reign of the Zagwe dynasty — until the monarchy's dissolution in 1975. Tafari's 1922 regnal list divides up the Menelik dynasty into three sections:

• Monarchs who reigned before the birth of Christ (982 BC–9 AD)
• Monarchs who reigned after the birth of Christ (9–306 AD)
• Monarchs who were Christian themselves (306–493 AD)

Additionally, a fourth line of monarchs descending from Kaleb is listed as a separate dynasty on this regnal list but most Ethiopian regnal lists do not acknowledge any dynastic break between Kaleb and earlier monarchs. This line of monarchs is dated to 493–920 AD and is made up of the last kings to rule Axum before it was sacked by Queen Gudit. The line of Menelik was restored, according to tradition, with the accession of Yekuno Amlak.

Heruy Wolde Selassie considered Makeda to be the first of a new dynasty instead of Menelik.^[222]

Monarchs who reigned before the birth of Christ (991 years)[edit]

Ethiopian tradition credits Makeda with being the first Ethiopian monarch to convert to Judaism after her visit to king Solomon, before which she had been worshipping Sabaean gods. However, Judaism did not become the official religion of Ethiopia until Makeda's son Menelik brought the Ark of the Covenant to Ethiopia. While Ethiopian tradition asserts that the kings following Menelik maintained the Jewish religion, there is no evidence that this was the case and virtually nothing is known of Menelik's successors and their religious beliefs.^[223]

Other Ethiopian regnal lists, based on either oral or textual tradition, present an alternate order and numbering of the kings of this dynasty. If any other Ethiopian regnal list is taken individually, then the number of monarchs from Menelik I to Bazen is not enough to realistically cover the claimed time period from the 10th century BC to the birth of Jesus Christ. Tafari's list tries to bring together various different regnal lists into one larger list by naming the majority of kings that are scattered across various oral and textual records regarding the line of succession from Menelik. The result is a more realistic number of monarchs reigning over the course of ten centuries. Of the 67 monarchs on Tafari's list from Menelik I to Bazen, at least 40 are attested on pre-20th century Ethiopian regnal lists.

Manfred Kropp noted this section of the regnal lists shows an increasing interweaving of traditional Ethiopian regnal lists with names from Egyptology and Nubiology.^[224] These Nubian and Egyptian rulers did not follow the Jewish religion, so their status as alleged successors of Menelik calls into question how strong the 'Judaisation' of Ethiopia truly was in Menelik's reign. These kings do not have Egyptian and Nubian elements in their names on regnal lists from before the 20th century and these elements were only added in 1922 to provide a stronger link to ancient Kush. Louis J. Morié's book Histoire de l'Éthiopie clearly influenced the names and regnal order of this section of the regnal list, as it had also influenced previous dynasties.^[225] The author of the 1922 regnal list combined Morié's line of kings with pre-existing Axumite regnal lists to form a longer line of monarchs from Menelik I's reign in the 10th century BC to Bazen's reign which coincided with the birth of Christ. In many cases, kings from Morié's book are combined with different kings from the Axumite regnal lists.

Peter Truhart, in his book Regents of Nations, stated that an "Era of Nubian Supremacy" began with the reign of Amen Hotep Zagdur, as from this point onwards many kings' names show clear links to the kings of Napata and Kush.^[84] Truhart also stated that the kings from Safelya Sabakon to Apras were likely related to or possibly identifiable with the Pharaohs of the Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth dynasties (c. 730–525 BC).^[84] He additionally noted that an "Era of Meroen Influence" began with the reign of Kashta Walda Ahuhu.^[84]

No. [226]	Name [226]	Length of reign [226]	Reign dates (Ethiopian Calendar) [226]	"Year of the World" [226]	Reason for inclusion	Notes
99	Menelik I[bm]	25 years	982–957 BC	4518–4543	Son of Solomon and Makeda in Ethiopian/Abyssinian tradition, and named on all regnal lists as an ancestor of the Axumite kings. Some previous regnal lists called this king Ibn Hakim or Ebna El-Hakim, meaning "son of the wise man".[227][228][229]	The Kebra Nagast states he ruled in the 10th century BC, which matches the dates listed here. Some Ethiopian traditions state Menelik founded Aksum,[230] while some chronicles claim this was done by Solomon.[231] According to Taye Gabra Mariam's History of the People of Ethiopia, a group of Israelites came to Ethiopia with Menelik I and later became the ancestors of the Beta Israel tribe.[232] Some previous regnal lists state Menelik's reign lasted either 24, 25 or 29 years.[227][229][228]
100	Hanyon I[bn]	1 year	957–956 BC	4543–4544	Successor of Menelik I according to some older regnal lists.[228][229]	Previous regnal lists claim this king's reign lasted between 1 and 8 years.[229][228]
101	Sera I (Tomai)[bo]	26 years	956–930 BC	4544–4570	Tomai was the successor of Menelik I on some previous regnal lists.[229] Successor of "Ro-ke-Amen" (Menelik) in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie, with the name "Zerakh".[233] Zerah the Cushite is figure from the Bible who attempted to conquer the Kingdom of Judah but failed.	Son of Menelik I.[234] At least one Ethiopian regnal list claims he ruled for 15 years.[235] Sometimes known as 'Abd–Rākīd.[235] "Sera" is also the name of a historical province which roughly corresponds to today's Warada Weqro in eastern Tigray.[236]
102	Amen Hotep Zagdur II[bp]	31 years	930–899 BC	4570–4601	Amenhotep was a son of and the successor of "Zerakh" in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie.[237] Zagdur was the successor of Tomai on some earlier regnal lists.[229][238]	Both Heruy Wolde Selassie's list and Alaqa Taye's list state this king ruled for 41 years, from 930 to 889 BC, resulting in all of the following monarchs of this dynasty until Safelya Sabakon (no. 122) having their reign dates pushed forward by 10 years compared to Tafari's list.[222][41]
103	Aksumay Ramissu	20 years	899–879 BC	4601–4621	Aksumay was the successor of Zagdur on some earlier regnal lists.[229][238] Ramissu was the son and successor of "Amenhotep" in Morié's Histoire de L'Éthiopie.[237]	This king's name means "The Aksumite".[239]
104	Awseyo Sera II[bq]	38 years	879–841 BC	4621–4659	Awseyo was the successor of Aksumay on some earlier regnal list.[229][238] Sera II was the successor of "Ramessou" in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie.[240]	Earlier regnal lists state this king reigned for 3 years.[229][238] Morié claimed this king launched a second invasion of Judah and carried off the family of Jehoram, as related in the Bible.[240] The reign dates for this king on this list roughly corresponds with the estimated reign dates for Jehoram (c. 849–842 BC).
105	Tawasya II	21 years	841–820 BC	4659–4680	A king named "Za Sawe" or "Sawe" was the successor of Awseyo on some earlier regnal lists.[241][228] A king named "Tahawasya" appears on different regnal lists, but in a different chronological position.[241][228] Peter Truhart theorised this king was the same ruler as "Za Sawe".[84]	Earlier regnal lists state "Za Sawe" reigned for 31 or 34 years.[241][227]
106	Abralyus Piyankihi II[br]	32 years	820–788 BC	4680–4712	Abralyus was the successor of Tahawasya on some earlier regnal lists.[241][238] Piyankihi is a name for the Kushite Pharaoh of Nubia and Egypt Piye, who was the founder of the Twenty-fifth dynasty and was mentioned in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie.[242]	–
107	Aksumay Warada Tsahay	23 years	788–765 BC	4712–4735	Warada Dahay was the successor of Abralyus on some earlier regnal lists.[241][238]	Morié claimed this king reinstated the ancient cults after Aethiopia had been following Judaism since the reign of Menelik I.[243]
108	Kashta Hanyon II[bs]	13 years	765–752 BC	4735–4748	Kashta was a Kushite king who reigned before Piye, but in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie was named as the successor of Piye.[244] A king named Handadyu appears on earlier regnal lists as the second successor to Warada Dahay.[245][238]	–
109	Sabaka[bt]	12 years	752–740 BC	4748–4760	Shabaka was a Kushite Pharaoh of Nubia and Egypt (r. 705–690 BC) who is named in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie as the successor of Kashta, though he actually succeeded his father Shebitku.[244]	Some historians have theorized that there may be some affinity between the word "Saba" and the name of the so-called Aethiopian king Sabaka.[246]
110	Nicauta Kandake I[bu] (Queen)	10 years	740–730 BC	4760–4770	The inclusion of this queen on this regnal list may be inspired by Louis J. Morié's claim that Amenirdis I was a "Kantakeh" queen who ruled as regent during the reigns of three Aethiopian kings.[247] In reality Amenirdis was a God's Wife of Amun during the time of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt. She was a daughter of Kashta. The name Nicanta was used as one of the alternate names for the Queen of Sheba by Morié.[248]	The first of 6 Queens on this list named Kandake, the Meroitic term for the sister of the king of Kush who sometimes ruled over Kush and Nubia as regent or as a monarch in her own right.
111	Tsawi Terhak Warada Nagash[bv]	49 years	730–681 BC	4770–4819	"Terhak" is a name for the Kushite Pharaoh Taharqa who ruled Nubia and Egypt from 690 to 664 BC, and was mentioned in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie as the successor of Shabaka.[249] A king named "Tahawasya" was the successor of Handadyu on some earlier regnal lists.[241][238] Warada Nagash was the successor of Handadyu on some earlier regnal lists.[241][238]	Mentioned in the Hebrew Bible (2 Kings 19:9; Isaiah 37:9), where he fought against Sennacherib of the Neo-Assyrian Empire.[250] The Hebrew Bible calls him the "King of Ethiopia", although this specifically refers to the Kingdom of Kush in Nubia.[250]
112	Erda Amen Awseya[bw]	6 years	681–675 BC	4819–4825	Ourd-Amen was the successor and son-in-law of "Tahraka" in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie.[251] Awesya was the successor of Warada Nagash on some earlier regnal lists.[241][238]	–
113	Gasiyo Eskikatir[bx]	6 hours[by]	675 BC	4825	A king who reigned for half a day and succeeded Sawe to the throne according to some earlier regnal lists.[229]	Tafari's regnal list provides no dates or reign length for this king.[211] "Eskikatir" means "until Noon" or "until Midday".[227][229]
114	Nuatmeawn[bz]	4 years	675–671 BC	4825–4829	Historical Kushite Pharaoh Tantamani (r. 664–653 BC) who was mentioned in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie under the name "Nouat-Meimoun".[252] A king named Mawat or Mouta appeared on earlier Ethiopian regnal lists as the successor of Gasyo.[241][228]	Earlier regnal lists state that the reign of "Mawat"/"Maute" lasted from 8 years and 4 months to 20 years and 1 month.[227][228]
115	Tomadyon Piyankihi III[ca]	12 years	671–659 BC	4829–4841	Toma Seyon was usually the successor of Elalyion on some older regnal lists, but is named as the successor of "Masyo" on at least one recorded list.[253][238] Piankhi III was the successor of "Nouat-Meimaoun" in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie.[254]	Husband of Amenirdis I in Morié's narrative.[254] "Toma-Seyon" means "Twin of Zion".[255]
116	Amen Asro II[cb]	16 years	659–643 BC	4841–4857	Successor of "Piankhi III" in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie.[254] Historical Kushite king Amanislo,[256] who actually reigned in the 3rd century BC.	–
117	Piyankihi IV (Awtet)[cc]	34 years	643–609 BC	4857–4891	Piankhi IV was the successor of "Amen-as-ro II" in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie.[258] Awtet was named on some earlier Ethiopian regnal lists, though usually as the successor of Basyo.[241][238]	Son of Piyankihi III and Amenirdis I in Morié's narrative.[258] According to Taye Gabra Mariam's History of the People of Ethiopia, in the year 627 B.C./4873 A.M. the tribe of Asmakih disputed with Pharaoh Psamtik I and an army of 240,000 deserted him and came to Ethiopia, joining the Ethiopian king.[259] The king was in Nawatan (Napata) at the time and gladly took them in, allowing them to reconquer territory that had been lost to enemies.[257] This tribe later settled where the Blue Nile and White Nile meet and built a city called Ezar where they lived for 300 years, the territory was later the location of the Shilluk Kingdom.[257] This narrative was directly lifted from Louis J. Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie, in which he included a very similar narrative, but instead claimed this took place in the reign of Amenasro II.[260]
118	Zaware Nebret Aspurta[cd]	41 years	609–568 BC	4891–4932	Zaware Nebrat was the successor of Awtet on some earlier regnal lists.[241][238] Historical Kushite king Aspelta (r. c. 600–580 BC) who is mentioned in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie as the successor of "Piankhi IV".[258]	"Zaware Nebrat" means "seed of the High Priest".[255]
119	Saifay Harsiataw[ce]	12 years	568–556 BC	4932–4944	Safay was the successor of Zaware Nebrat on some earlier regnal lists.[241][238] Historical Kushite king Harsiotef (r. c. 404–369 BC) who is mentioned in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie as the successor of "Aspourta".[261]	–
120	Ramhay Nastossanan	14 years	556–542 BC	4944–4958	Ramhay was the successor of Safay on some earlier regnal lists.[241][238] Historical Kushite king Nastasen (r. c. 335–315 BC) who is mentioned in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie as the successor of "Hor-se-atew I" and the first of the "Meroite" kings.[262]	An unpublished chronicle from Aksum states that a king named "Ramahay" reigned at the time of Alexander the Great and asked for Greek technicians and engineers to build palaces, monuments and stelae, one of which was destroyed centuries later by Gudit.[263] Alexander's rule of Egypt did not take place until 332 BC, over two centuries after these dates, and thus either the dating is wrong or this legend refers to the second king named Ramhay on this list (no. 145). Perhaps coincidentally, the Nubian king Nastasen did in fact reign during the time of Alexander the Great. It is unknown if this is the reason why the author of this regnal list associated Nastasen with Ramahay despite the Nubian king's absence on earlier Ethiopian regnal lists.
121	Handu Wuha Abra[cf]	11 years	542–531 BC	4958–4969	Hande was the successor of Ramhay on some earlier regnal lists.[241] Houd-es-ew was the successor of "Nastosenen" in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie.[264]	E. A. Wallis Budge believed the name "Wuha Abra" is from the Egyptian name "Wahibre", used by kings such as Wahibre Ibiau.[109] In Morie's narrative, this monarch was king Hydaspes of Aethiopia, a character from Aethiopica, an ancient Greek book written by Heliodorus of Emesa in either the 220s or 370s AD.[265]
122	Safelya Sabakon[cg]	31 years	531–500 BC	4969–5000	Safelya was the successor of Hande on some earlier regnal lists.[241]	"Sabakon" was an alternate name for Kushite Pharaoh Shabaka,[109] as used by Diodorus in his work Bibliothecia Historia.[86]
123	Agalbus Sepekos[ch]	22 years	500–478 BC	5000–5022	Aglebul was the successor of Safelya on some earlier regnal lists.[241][238] "Sepekos"/"Sebikhos" is an alternate name for the Kushite Pharaoh Shebitku used in Manetho's Aegyptica.[266]	Both Taye Gabra Mariam's list and Heruy Wolde Selassie's list stated this king reigned for 21 years, from 490 to 469 BC.[41][222] This, combined with the addition of 10 years to Amen Hotep Zagdur's reign earlier, results in all monarchs of this dynasty up to Feliya Hernekhit on Selassie's list and Nicotnis Kandake V on Taye's list having their reign dates pushed forward by 11 years compared to Tafari's list.
124	Psmenit Warada Nagash[ci]	21 years	478–457 BC	5022–5043	Warada Nagash appears on earlier regnal lists, though usually as the successor of Handadyu.[241][238]	Possibly based on one of the pharaohs of the Twenty-sixth dynasty named "Psamtik".[109] Psamtik II invaded Kush in 592 BC and sacked Napata.[267] According to Taye Gabra Mariam's History of the People of Ethiopia, the Amharic language was spoken at least as far back as the year 478 BC/5022 AM.[268]
125	Awseya Tarakos[cj]	12 years	457–445 BC	5043–5055	Awesya was the successor of Warada Nagash on some earlier regnal lists.[241][238]	Possibly an alternate name for Taharqa.[84]
126	Kanaz Psmis[ck]	13 years	445–432 BC	5055–5068	Kanaz appears on some earlier regnal lists, though usually as the successor of Kawida.[241][228]	Son of Awseya Tarakos according to Tafari's list.[269] Earlier regnal lists state this king's reign lasted 10 years.[241][228]
127	Apras[cl]	10 years	432–422 BC	5068–5078	–	Historical Egyptian pharaoh Apries (r. 589–570 BC).[109] This pharaoh is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible in Jeremiah 44:30.
128	Kashta Walda Ahuhu[cm]	20 years	422–402 BC	5078–5098	Walda Mehrat is named on at least one earlier regnal list as the successor of Tahawasya.[235]	"Walda Ekhuhu" is an Ethiopian form of "son of his brother", similar to the titles used by the Ptolemies.[224]
129	Elalion Taake[cn]	10 years	402–392 BC	5098–5108	Elaliyon was the successor of Awseya on some earlier regnal lists.[241][238] Taaaken is mentioned in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie as a king who ruled about half a century after "Houd-as-ew" and over a century before "Kantakeh II".[270]	Restored Judaism as the official religion of Aethiopia according to Morié.[239]
130	Atserk Amen III[co]	10 years	392–382 BC	5108–5118	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie as a king who ruled in the 4th century BC.[272]	Peter Truhart re-numbered this king as "Atserk Amen I", likely because no king of this name appears earlier on the 1922 regnal list.[273] The confusion over the numbering of the kings named "Atserk Amen" stems from the numbering used by Morié, who named this king the third to use this name.[274] However the first two kings named "Atserk Amen" in his narrative were renamed to "Sera I (Tomai)" (no. 101) and "Awseyo Sera II" (no. 104) on the 1922 Ethiopian regnal list. Truhart also believed that the four kings named "Atserk Amen" were based on the name of a Merotic king,[275] though does not specify who.
131	Atserk Amen IV[cp]	10 years	382–372 BC	5118–5128	Mentioned in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie as a king who ruled in the 3rd century BC and was the successor of "Erk-Amen I".[276]	Peter Truhart re-numbered this king as "Atserk Amen II".[273]
132	Hadina (Queen)	10 years	372–362 BC	5128–5138	Successor of Kanaz on earlier Ethiopian regnal lists.[241][228]	Earlier regnal lists claim this monarch ruled for 9 years and did not specify the ruler's gender.[241][228]
133	Atserk Amen V[cq]	10 years	362–352 BC	5138–5148	–	Peter Truhart re-numbered this king as "Atserk Amen III".[273]
134	Atserk Amen VI[cr]	10 years	352–342 BC	5148–5158	–	Peter Truhart re-numbered this king as "Atserk Amen IV".[273]
135	Nikawla Kandake II[cs] (Queen)	10 years	342–332 BC	5158–5168	Kantakeh II was a queen who ruled in the 4th century BC during the time of Alexander the Great in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie, which also identified her as the queen from the Alexander Romance.[277] Nicaula was a name that was sometimes used to refer to the Queen of Sheba.[278] Morié listed this as one of the alternate names for the Queen of Sheba.[248]	Giovanni Boccaccio, in his work De Mulieribus Claris (1361–1362), claimed that queen "Nicaula" was queen of Aethiopia, Egypt and Arabia and had a large palace on the island of Meroe.[279] The Queen of Sheba was also called "Nicaula" in The Book of the City of Ladies (1405) by Christine de Pizan and A New History of Ethiopia (1684) by Hiob Ludolf, the latter doubting Giovanni Boccaccio's claim that "Nicaula" was also queen of Egypt.[280] Portuguese missionary Jerónimo Lobo noted that contemporary Abyssinians/Ethiopians in the 17th century sometimes used the name "Nicaula" for the Queen of Sheba, alongside the names "Makeda" and "Nagista Azeb".[281]
136	Bassyo[ct]	7 years	332–325 BC	5168–5175	Basyo appears on earlier Ethiopian regnal lists as the successor of Toma Seyon.[241][238]	–
137	Akawsis Kandake III[cu] (Queen)	10 years	325–315 BC	5175–5185	Kantakeh III was a queen who ruled in the 1st century BC as the first of the "Blemmyes dynasty" in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie.[282] Nicausis was listed by Morié as one of the alternate names for the Queen of Sheba.[248]	–
138	Arkamen I[cv]	10 years	315–305 BC	5185–5195	Erk-Amen I was mentioned in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie as a king who ruled in the 3rd century BC and succeeded "Atserk-Amen III".[283]	Louis J. Morié's original narrative identified this king with Ergamenes, a Kushite king mentioned in the writings of Diodorus Siculus.[284] Modern-day archaeologists consider Arqamani to be the most likely king of Kush that the story of Ergamenes is based on. Alaqa Taye swapped this king's position with Awtet Arawura below.[41]
139	Awtet Arawura[cw]	10 years	305–295 BC	5195–5205	Awtet was named on some earlier Ethiopian regnal lists as the successor of Basyo.[241][238] Arou-Amen was the successor of "Atserk-Amen IV" in Louis J. Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie.[285]	Taye Gabra Mariam swapped this king's position with Arkamen I above.[41]
140	Kolas (Koletro)[cx]	10 years	295–285 BC	5205–5215	Kalaz appeared on some earlier regnal lists as the successor of Hadir.[241][228]	Earlier regnal lists state this king ruled for 6 or 7 years.[241][228]
141	Zaware Nebrat II[cy]	16 years	285–269 BC	5215–5231	Named on some earlier regnal lists as the successor of Awtet.[241][238]	–
142	Stiyo[cz]	14 years	269–255 BC	5231–5245	Satiyo appears on some earlier regnal lists as the successor of Kalaz.[241][228]	Earlier regnal lists state this king ruled for 16 or 17 years.[241][228]
143	Safay II[da]	13 years	255–242 BC	5245–5258	Named on some earlier regnal lists as the successor of Zaware Nebrat.[241][238]	–
144	Nikosis Kandake IV[db] (Queen)	10 years	242–232 BC	5258–5268	Nicausis was listed by Morié as one of the alternate names for the Queen of Sheba.[248] Kantakeh IV was a queen who ruled in the 1st century BC and succeeded "Kantakeh III" in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie.[286]	–
145	Ramhay Arkamen II[dc]	10 years	232–222 BC	5268–5278	Ramhay was the successor of Safay on some earlier regnal lists.[241][238] Erk-Amen II was the son and successor of "Kantakeh IV" in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie.[286]	Likely a Kushite king,[273] either Arakamani or Arqamani, who ruled Kush in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC However, it is more likely this king is intended to be Arakamani, often equated with Ergamenes, a Nubian king reported by Greek historian Agatharchides to have reigned during the time of Pharaoh Ptolemy IV of Egypt (r. 221–204 BC). An unpublished chronicle from Axum states that a king named "Ramahay" reigned at the time of Alexander the Great and asked for Greek technicians and engineers to build palaces, monuments and stelae, one of which was destroyed centuries later by Gudit.[263] Alexander's rule of Egypt took place during 332–323 BC, and thus this king's reign on this regnal list is a century too late to be a contemporary of Alexander. However, this story of king Ramahay bears notable similarities with the story of Ergamenes, who was said to have been instructed in Greek philosophy, interested in Greek art and the general Greek way of life.[287] It is therefore possible that naming this king "Ramhay Arkamen" is intended to reflect that "Ramahay" is to be identified with "Ergamenes".
146	Feliya Hernekhit[dd]	15 years	222–207 BC	5278–5293	Filiya was the successor of Satiyo on some earlier regnal lists.[241][228] Hor-nekht-atew was a king who succeeded Erk-Amen III in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie.[288]	Earlier regnal lists state this king reigned for 26 years.[241][228]
147	Hende Awkerara[de]	20 years	207–187 BC	5293–5313	Handu was the successor of Ramhay or Bawawel on some earlier regnal lists.[241][228] Ouikera was the successor of "Hor-nekht-atew" in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie.[289]	Son of Feliya Hernekhit.[288] Heruy Wolde Selassie's regnal list states this king reigned for 22 years.[271] This, along with the addition of 10 years to the reign of Amen Hotep Zagdur (no. 102) and the removal of 1 year from the reign of Agalbus Sepekos (no. 123) results in all monarchs up to Queen Nicotnis Kandake V (no. 162) having their reign dates pushed forward by 11 years compared to Tafari's list.
148	Agabu Baseheran[df]	10 years	187–177 BC	5313–5323	Aglebu/Aglebul was the successor of Feliya or Safelya on some earlier regnal lists.[241][228] Psheraan was the successor of "Ouikera" in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie.[290]	Son of Hende Awkerara.[290] Some earlier regnal lists state this king reigned for 3 years.[228]
149	Sulay Kawawmenun[dg]	20 years	177–157 BC	5323–5343	Khouwoumenou was successor of "Psheraan" in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie.[290] Kawida was the successor of Bahas on some earlier regnal lists.[241][228]	Earlier regnal lists state this king ruled for 2 years.[241][228]
150	Messelme Kerarmer[dh]	8 years	157–149 BC	5343–5351	Tereremen was the next known king after "Psheraan" in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie.[291] Mesalamieh/Messalanieh was a city in Sudan named in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie.[292]	–
151	Nagey Bsente[di]	10 years	149–139 BC	5351–5361	Psentes was the next known king after "Tereremen" in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie.[293]	–
152	Etbenukawer	10 years	139–129 BC	5361–5371	Berou-Kanower was the next known king after "Psentes" in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie.[293]	–
153	Safeliya Abramen[dj]	20 years	129–109 BC	5371–5391	Ab-ra-amen was a king who reigned at some point after Berou-Kanower in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie.[288] Safelya appears on some earlier Ethiopian regnal lists, though usually as the successor of Gotoba, Hande or Ramhay.[253][241][238]	E. A. Wallis Budge and Peter Truhart both suggested that this king could be the Axumite king Aphilas,[294] although the reign dates on this list are far too early.
154	Sanay[dk]	10 years	109–99 BC	5391–5401	–	–
155	Awsena[dl] (Queen)	11 years	99–88 BC	5401–5412	Appears on earlier regnal lists as the successor of Aglebu.[241][228]	Earlier regnal lists state this monarch ruled for only 1 year and did not specify the gender.[241][228]
156	Dawit II	10 years	88–78 BC	5412–5422	–	– The reason why Tafari called this king "Dawit II" may be because Alaqa Taye Gabra Mariam numbered the king this way and referred to Menelik I as "Dawit" in his regnal list.[41]
157	Aglbul[dm]	8 years	78–70 BC	5422–5430	Appears on earlier regnal lists as the successor of Feliya.[241][228]	Earlier regnal lists state this king ruled for 3 years.[241][228]
158	Bawawl[dn]	10 years	70–60 BC	5430–5440	Appears on earlier regnal lists, usually as the successor of Aglebul.[241][238]	–
159	Barawas[do]	10 years	60–50 BC	5440–5450	Appears on earlier regnal lists as the successor of Bawawel or Awsina.[241][80]	Some earlier regnal lists state this king ruled for 29 years.[241][228] Name means "esteemed defender".[255]
160	Dinedad[dp]	10 years	50–40 BC	5450–5460	–	–
161	Amoy Mahasse	5 years	40–35 BC	5460–5465	Mahasi appears on earlier regnal lists as the successor of Birwas.[241][228]	Earlier regnal lists state this king ruled for 1 year.[241][228] Name means "Pious man".[255]
162	Nicotnis Kandake V[dq] (Queen)	10 years	35–25 BC	5465–5475	Nitocris was listed by Morié as one of the alternate names for the Queen of Sheba.[248] Nitocris was the name of a woman who was Divine Adoratrice of Amun and God's Wife of Amun and succeeded two different Kushite women in both offices.	Kushite queen Amanirenas reigned during this period, but her rule did not extend to modern day Ethiopia.
163	Nalke[dr]	5 years	25–20 BC	5475–5480	Appears on earlier regnal lists as the successor of Mahasse.[241][228]	One version of Heruy Wolde Selassie's regnal list and Alaqa Taye's regnal list both state that this king reigned for 4 years, from 14 to 10 BC[271][41] Ethiopian historian Fisseha Yaze Kassa stated that this king reigned for 2 years.[295]
164	Luzay	12 years	20–8 BC	5480–5492	Appears on at least one earlier regnal list under the name "Laka" as the successor of Nalke.[228]	One version of Heruy Wolde Selassie's regnal list and Taye Gabra Mariam's regnal list both state that this king reigned for 2 years, from 10 to 8 BC[271][41] In the case of Selassie's list, this was done due to the Christianisation of Ethiopia being moved forward ten years from 317 to 327.[296] Ethiopian historian Fisseha Yaze Kassa stated that this king reigned for 8 years.[295]
165	Bazen	17 years	8 BC–9 AD	5492–5509	Appears on most earlier regnal lists as a king who reigned 8 years before the birth of Christ.[241][80] Successor of Laka/Luzay on at least one list.[228] Other lists place Bazen after Mahasse or Nalke.[241][80]	Some earlier regnal lists claim this king ruled for 16 years.[80] Ethiopian historian Fisseha Yaze Kassa stated that this king reigned for 6 years.[295] A tomb is known to exist for this king and some local Ethiopian traditions claim he was Bathlazar.[297] Egyptologist Henry Salt claimed that he saw an ancient inscription on a stone in a church in Axum stating "This is the sepulchral stone of Bazen".[298] He did however claim that this was the name of several Abyssinian kings, so he may not have been referring to this specific king.[298]
"Before Christ 165 sovereigns reigned."[269]

Monarchs who reigned after the birth of Christ (297 years)[edit]

Text accompanying this section:
"These thirty-five sovereigns at the time of Akapta Tsenfa Arad had been Christianized by the Apostle Saint Matthew. There were few men who did not believe, for they had heard the words of the gospel. After this Jen Daraba, favourite of the Queen of Ethiopia, Garsemat Kandake, crowned by Gabre Hawariat Kandake, had made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem according to the law of Orit (the ancient law),^[ds] and on his return Philip the Apostle [sic] taught him the gospel, and after he had made him believe the truth he sent him back, baptising him in the name of the trinity. The latter (the Queen's favourite), on his return to his country, taught by word of mouth the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ and baptised them. Those who were baptised, not having found an Apostle to teach them the Gospel, had been living offering sacrifices to God according to the ancient prescription and the Jewish Law."^[300]

Despite the text above claiming that Christianity was introduced to Ethiopia during this line of monarchs, Charles Rey pointed out that this retelling of events contradicts both the known information around the Christianisation of Ethiopia and the story of Queen Ahwya Sofya and Abreha and Atsbeha in the next section.^[301]

The claim that Matthew the Apostle had Christianized king Akaptah Tsenfa Arad (no. 167) is inspired by Louis J. Morié's narrative in Historie de l'Éthiopie, in which he claimed that a king named "Hakaptah" ruled Aethiopia beginning in c. 40 AD and it was during his reign that Matthew converted the king's daughter Ephigenia.^[302] This narrative was inspired by the older Church story of Matthew which involved a king named "Egippus".^[303]

The story of Garsemot Kandake VI and Jen Daraba is based on the Biblical story of the Ethiopian eunuch, who was the treasurer of Kandake, queen of the Ethiopians and was baptized after travelling to Jerusalem. However, the eunuch was actually baptised by Philip the Evangelist, not Philip the Apostle as Tafari mistakenly states. Louis J. Morié's narrative did not accept that this Kandake queen, whom he numbered fifth rather than sixth, was the one who is mentioned in the story of the Ethiopian eunuch.^[304] The apparent contradiction in story of the Christianisation of Ethiopia according to Tafari's regnal list is due to an attempt to accommodate both the native Abyssinian tradition around Abreha and Atsbeha and the Biblical traditions of "Ethiopia" (i.e. Nubia).

Taye Gabra Mariam's version of this list does not refer to the traditions of the Baptism by Matthew the Apostle and the Biblical Kandake, choosing not to include the name "Akaptah" for the 167th monarch and not including the name "Kandake" for the 169th monarch.^[305]

This section is the last part of the regnal list that directly refers to ancient Nubia and the Kingdom of Kush, which came to an end in the 4th century AD following its conquest by Ezana.

Peter Truhart believed that the line of Axumite kings begins with Gaza Agdur (no. 188) and dated the beginning of his reign to c. 150.^[306]

Note: All monarchs numbered 166 to 200 (with the exception of 168 and 169) appear on earlier Ethiopian regnal lists (see Regnal lists of Ethiopia). The other lists suggest there are multiple distinct traditions regarding the order of succession from Bazen to Abreha and Atsbeha, which this regnal list attempts to combine into a longer line of succession. Numerous monarchs also have their names expanded or altered specially for the 1922 regnal list.

No. [307]	Name [307]	Length of reign [307]	Reign dates (Ethiopian Calendar) [307]	"Year of the World" [307]	Reason for inclusion	Notes
166	Sartu Tsenfa Asagad[dt]	21 years	9–30	5509–5530	Sartu succeeded Bazen on some earlier regnal lists.[308][309] Senfa Asgad succeeded Bazen on some earlier regnal lists.[310][311]	Earlier regnal lists state this king ruled for 26 or 27 years.[308][309] This king was remembered as a bad ruler.[312]
167	Akaptah Tsenfa Arad[du]	8 years	30–38	5530–5538	An Aethiopian king named "Egippus" who, in Church tradition, was the father of saint Ephigenia of Ethiopia, who was consecrated by Matthew.[303] This king appeared in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie under the name Hakaptah and was dated to the 1st century AD.[286] Senfa Arad succeeded Bazen on some earlier regnal lists.[314][315]	Both Heruy Wolde Selassie's regnal list and Taye Gabra Mariam's regnal list state this king ruled for only 2 years, from 30 to 32 AD[313][41]
–	Settah	–	–	–	–	An additional king named on Taye Gabra Mariam's version of this list who reigned for 8 years, from 32 to 40.[41]
168	Horemtaku[dv]	2 years	38–40	5538–5540	King Hirtacus who, in Church tradition, asked Matthew the Apostle to persuade Ephigenia to marry him, but instead Matthew rebuked the king for lusting after her and the king promptly had Matthew killed while he stood at the altar.[316] This king appeared in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie under the name Hor-em-tekhou and succeeded "Hakaptah".[317]	Brother of Akaptah Tsenfa Arad.[317] Taye Gabra Mariam's list stated this king reigned from 40 to 42.[41] Heruy Wolde Selassie's regnal list stated this king reigned from 32 to 34.[313]
169	Garsemot Kandake VI[dw] (Queen)	10 years	40–50	5540–5550	Kandake or "Candace", the Biblical "queen of the Aethiopians" whose eunuch travelled to Jerusalem and was converted by Philip the Evangelist. A queen named "Kandake" succeeded "Hor-em-tekhou" in Morié's Histoire de l'Éthiopie.[318]	The historical Kandake whose period of rule may align with this monarch could be Amanitore who ruled in the 1st century AD. According to some Ethiopian traditions, the first church of Ethiopia, the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion, was built during this queen's reign by eunuch after her converstion to Christianity.[319] However, it is more likely the church was built by Ezana in the 4th century after his conversion to Christianity.[320] Heruy Wolde Selassie's regnal list stated this queen ruled for 8 years, from 34 to 42.[313] Taye Gabra Mariam's list likewise claimed this queen ruled for 8 years, but dated her reign to 42–50.[41] Manfred Kropp theorised the name "Garsemot" was an altered form of the names Germa Sor or Germa Asfare that appear on some earlier regnal lists.[313]
170	Hatoza Bahr Asagad[dx]	28 years	50–78	5550–5578	Bahar Asgad succeeded Senfa Asgad or Senfa Arad on some earlier regnal lists.[321][322]	According to Taye Gabra Mariam's History of the People of Ethiopia, a group of Jews fled to Ethiopia after the Seige of Jerusalem and became part of the Beta Israel.[232]
171	Mesenh Germasir[dy]	7 years	78–85	5578–5585	Masenh appears on some earlier regnal lists as the successor of Les, who followed Sartu.[308][309] Germa Sor succeeded Bahar Asgad on some earlier regnal lists.[314]	Earlier regnal lists state Masenh ruled for 6 or 7 years.[308][309]
172	Metwa Germa Asfar[dz]	9 years	85–94	5585–5594	Sutuwa succeeded Masenh on some earlier regnal lists.[308][309] Germa Asfare succeeded Germa Sor on some earlier regnal lists.[314]	Earlier regnal lists state Sutuwa reigned for 9 or 12 years.[308][309][323]
173	Adgala II[ea]	10 years and 6 months	94–104	5594–5604	Successor of Sutuwa on some earlier regnal lists.[308][309]	Earlier regnal lists state a variety of different reign lengths for this king, ranging from 10 years and 2 months to 16 years and 6 months.[323][308][309]
174	Agba	6 months[eb]	104–105	5604–5605	Successor of Adgala on some earlier regnal lists.[308][309]	At least one regnal lists stated this king ruled for 7 months instead.[323]
175	Serada	16 years	105–121	5605–5621	Appears on some earlier regnal lists, usually as the successor of Germa Asfare.[308]	–
176	Malis Alameda I	4 years	121–125	5621–5625	Malik appears on some earlier regnal lists as the successor of Agba.[308][309]	Earlier regnal lists state Malik reigned either 4, 6 or 7 years.[308][324][309] "Malik" is a Semitic word for "king".
177	Hakabe Nasohi Tseyon[ec]	6 years	125–131	5625–5631	Kulu Seyon succeeded either Serada or Germa Asfare on some earlier regnal lists.[308][325]	Only known as "Tsyion" on pre-20th century regnal lists.[322] This king was a scholar and fluent in the Greek language, but was also greedy and debauched.[326]
178	Hakli Sergway[ed]	12 years	131–143	5631–5643	Hakali succeeded Malik on some earlier regnal lists.[308][309] Sharguay succeeded Kulu Seyon on some earlier regnal lists.[310]	Hakli could be the Aksumite king Zoskales, the earliest known king of Axum who ruled in c. 100. Egyptologist Henry Salt and Ethiopian scholar Sergew Hable Sellassie both theorised that Zoskales was the king known as "Za Haqala" or "Za Hakale" that appears on some Ethiopian regnal lists.[327][328] However, G.W.B. Huntingford felt that there is not enough evidence to support this identification.[329] Earlier regnal lists state Hakli reigned for 13 years.[309][308]
179	Dedme Zaray[ee]	10 years	143–153	5643–5653	Demahe succeeded Hakli on some earlier regnal lists.[308][309] Zaray succeeded Sharguay on some earlier regnal lists.[310][322]	–
180	Awtet[ef]	2 years	153–155	5653–5655	Successor of Demahe on some earlier regnal lists.[308][309]	–
181	Alaly Bagamay	7 years	155–162	5655–5662	Bagamay succeeded Zaray on some earlier regnal lists.[310]	Brother of Dedme Zaray.[330] The names "Bagamai" and "Arka"/"Herka" are often listed independently on other Ethiopian regnal lists, which could mean that they are two different kings.[331] However, no regnal list (apart from Tafari's) includes both names, so it is possible they are meant to be two names for the same person.
182	Awadu Jan Asagad[eg]	30 years	162–192	5662–5692	Aweda succeeded Awtet on some earlier regnal lists.[308][309] Jan Asgad succeeded Bagamay on some earlier regnal lists.[310]	Brother of Dedme Zaray.[330] Morié believed this was the king whose conquests was recorded on the Monumentum Adulitanum inscription.[332]
183	Zagun Tseyon Hegez[eh]	5 years	192–197	5692–5697	Zigen appears on some earlier regnal lists as a co-ruler with Rema and successor of Aweda.[308][309] Seyon Hegez succeeded Jan Asgad on some earlier regnal lists.[310]	Zigen and Rema co-ruled for either 8, 20 or 40 years on earlier regnal lists.[308][309][324]
184	Rema Tseyon Geza	3 years	197–200	5697–5700	Rema appears on some earlier regnal lists as a co-ruler with Zigen and successor of Aweda.[308][309] Seyon Geza succeeded Saba Asgad on some earlier regnal lists.[314][322]
185	Azegan Malbagad[ei]	7 years	200–207	5700–5707	Moal Genha succeeded Seyon Hegez on some earlier regnal lists.[310]	Taye Gabra Mariam's list stated this king reigned either 5 or 7 years.[41]
186	Gafale Seb Asagad[ej]	1 year	207–208	5707–5708	Gafale succeeded Zigen and Rema on some earlier regnal lists.[308][309] Saba Asgad succeeded Zaray on some earlier regnal lists.[314][322]	–
187	Tsegay Beze Wark[ek]	4 years	208–212	5708–5712	Besi Sark succeeded Gafale on some earlier regnal lists.[308][309]	–
188	Gaza Agdur	9 years	212–221	5712–5721	Agdur succeeded Ṣenfa Arad or Saifa Arad on earlier regnal lists.[310][322]	Known as "Graza Agdour" in a list attached at the end of the Acta of Abreha and Atsbeha found in the Axum Zion Church, which also states he reigned for 8 years, from 212 to 221.[333] This king may be identifiable with the Aksumite king GDRT, who appears in some regnal lists under the name "Gedur", "Zegdur" or "Zegduru" ("Ze" meaning "of" in Ge'ez). A similarly named king "Amen Hotep Zagdur" appears earlier in Tafari's list as no. 102. However, archaeologists believe that king GDRT reigned at some point in the early third century AD, which more closely matches the date of the 188th king on this list. The name of this king could be a reference to Gaza in Palestine, which was promised by king Solomon to Makeda according to the Kebra Nagast.[334]
189	Agduba Asgwegwe[el]	8 years	221–229	5721–5729	Asgwagwa succeeded Besi Sark on some earlier regnal lists.[308][309]	Known as "Agdour Asguagua" in a list attached at the end of the Acta of Abreha and Atsbeha found in the Axum Zion Church, which also states that he reigned for 8 years, from 221 to 229.[333] Some chronicles claim that a king named "Azguagua" was the son of a king named "Alada" and was converted to Christianity by Frumentius and his brother Edesius.[230] The 1922 regnal list rejects this tradition and instead dates the conversion of Ethiopia to Christianity in the reign of Ahywa Sofya. The reign dates for Asgwegwe on this list are also far too early to be in line with the lifetime of Frumentius. Earlier regnal lists state this king reigned for 76 or 77 years.[308][309] Peter Truhart identified this king with the Axumite king ʽDBH or "Adhebah".[306]
190	Dawiza[em]	1 year	229–230	5729–5730	Besi Sawesa appears on some earlier regnal lists as the successor of Herka, who is not included on this list.[308][309]	Brother of Agduba Asgwegwe.[335]
191	Wakana (Queen)	2 days[en]	230	5730	Successor of Besi Sawesa on some earlier regnal lists, which do not state Wakana's gender.[308][309]	–
192	Hadawz	4 months	230	5730	Hadus succeeded Wakana on some earlier regnal lists.[308][309]	Some regnal lists state this king ruled for 2 months.[309]
193	Ailassan Sagal[eo]	3 years	230–233	5730–5733	Sagal succeeded Hadus on some earlier regnal lists.[308][309]	Some regnal lists state this king ruled for 2 years.[324] Peter Truhart identified this king as the Axumite king Zoskales and dated the beginning of his reign to c. 210 or 220.[306]
194	Asfehi Asfeha[ep]	14 years	233–247	5733–5747	Asfeha succeeded Sagal on some earlier regnal lists.[308][309]	Some regnal lists state this king ruled for 10 years.[309]
195	Atsgaba Seifa Arad[eq]	6 years	247–253	5747–5753	Saifa Arad appeared on some earlier regnal lists, but usually as the successor of Moal Genha or Seyon Geza.[310][322]	According to the Tarika Nagast (History of Kings), the father of Abreha and Atsbeha was king Sayfa-Ar'ed.[336] E. A. Wallis Budge referred to the king from the Tarika Nagast account as "Senfa Arad (II)".[337] This identification however still raises questions over the 1922 regnal list, as this king is followed by four further kings before the mother of Abreha and Atsbeha becomes ruler of Ethiopia. One regnal list quoted by Carlo Conti Rossini claimed that "Seifa Arad" was the throne name of king Tazer,[315] who numbered 199 on this list is plausibly the father of Abreha and Atsbeha.
196	Ayba	17 years	253–270	5753–5770	Named on earlier regnal lists, but usually as the successor of Samera.[308][309]	Earlier regnal lists state this king ruled for 16 or 17 years.[308][309]
197	Tsaham Lakniduga[er]	9 years	270–279	5770–5779	Saham is named on some earlier regnal lists as the successor of Eskendi.[308][309]	Son of Ayba.[306]
198	Tsegab	10 years	279–289	5779–5789	Named on some earlier regnal lists as the successor of Asfeha.[308][309]	Earlier regnal lists state this king ruled for 23 years.[308][309] Peter Truhart tentatively identified this king as the Axumite king Wazeba.[306] This identification allows for Tafari's list to match with archaeological evidence that shows that Wazeba was succeeded by Ousanas, who Truhart identifies with the next king Tazer. Truhart dated the beginning of this king's reign to c. 300 and stated his reign lasted for either 10 or 13 years.[306]
199	Tazer[es]	10 years	289–299	5789–5799	Appears on at least one earlier regnal list as the successor of Ahendir.[338]	This king's throne name was Sayfa Arad.[338][336] Father of Abreha and Atsbeha according to a book titled Gedle Abreha and Asbeha from the Church of Abreha wa-Atsbeha.[339] Peter Truhart identified this king with "Ela Ameda" or Ousanas.[306] This identification allows for Tafari's list to match with archaeological evidence that shows Ousanas was succeeded by his wife Sofya as regent before their son became king of Axum. A king named Ameda reigned before Ahywa on some earlier regnal lists and was in power for at least 30 years.[308][309]
200	Ahywa Sofya[et] (Queen)	7 years	299–306	5799–5806	Ahywa was the immediate predecessor of Abreha and Atsbeha on some earlier regnal lists.[308][309] According to an unpublished history of the kings of Axum, a queen named "Ahiyewa" was the mother of Abreha and Atsbeha and she ruled for three years during the minority of her sons.[340]	Wife of Tazer according to Gedle Abreha and Asbeha.[339] Tafari's regnal list notes that "her regnal name was Sofya, and she was the mother of Abreha Atsbeha".[341] An Aksumite queen named Sofya ruled Axum as regent following the death of her husband Ousanas (otherwise known as Ella Allada) in c. 330. Her son was king Ezana. Some earlier regnal lists state that "Ahywa" reigned for 3 years.[308][309] Peter Truhart [de] dated the beginning of this queen's reign to c. 325.[306] Manfred Kropp [de] theorised that the story of Queen Ahywa Sofya and her sons Abreha and Atsbeha was modeled on Roman Empress Helena and her son Constantine I, and that the traditional date of the conversion of Ethiopia to Christianity (317) is deliberately placed before the time of the First Council of Nicaea.[342]

Christian Sovereigns (187 years)[edit]

"Chronological table of the Christian sovereigns who received baptism and followed completely the law of the Gospel."^[341]

Brothers Abreha and Atsbeha are often cited in Ethiopian tradition as the first Christian kings of Ethiopia. According to Tyrannius Rufinus, Christianity was introduced to this region by Frumentius and his brother Edesius. They were sailing down the Red Sea with a Syrian merchant named Meropius when they landed on the coast and were seized by the native people, who spared the two brothers and took them to the king. Frumentius was made the king's chancellor and Edesius was made cupbearer or butler. After the king's death, the widowed queen asked both men to stay until her son was grown up and Frumentius assisted her in ruling the kingdom. During his time in power, Frumentius had many churches built and obtained facilities to allow more trade with Christians and years later asked Athanasius, the Pope of Alexandria, to send a bishop to Abyssinia to teach the Christians there who had no leader. E. A. Wallis Budge believed that the brothers had initially arrived at Adulis.^[343]

Tafari's regnal list reflects the above tradition by specifically crediting Frumentius, under the name of Aba Salama, with introducing Christianity during the rule of queen Ahywa Sofya, who is the widowed queen of the story. According to Tyrannius Rufinus, the Axumites converted to Christianity during the reign of the Roman Emperor Constantine I (306–337).^[344] The dating of Tafari's list aligns with this narrative.

Heruy Wolde Selassie's book Wazema provided a somewhat different explanation for the Christinisation of Ethiopia. According to him Frumentius, known as Käsate Berhan (Revealer of the Light (of Faith)), went from Ethiopia to Alexandria in 309 E.C. and was appointed by Athanasius as Metropolitan of Ethiopia, where he returned in 330 and baptized the Ethiopians.^[313] Selassie also stated that according to the Synaxarium, Frumentius was sent to Egypt by Queen Sofya with letters for the Patriarch, arriving there before the Council of Nicaea (317 E.C.) but only returning to Ethiopia in 330.^[313]

Peter Truhart believed that a "period of disintegration" began with the reign of Queen Adhana I during which there may have been multiple reigning monarchs at the same time.^[345] Truhart dated this period to c. 375–450.^[345] E. A. Wallis Budge previously stated that he believed there were "kinglets" who ruled parts of Ethiopia between 360 and 480 separate from other lines of kings. This theory was used to explain why there was so much variation between different Ethiopian regnal lists. Budge identified most of the monarchs from Adhana I to Lewi as "kinglets",^[346] while the later kings were those who appear more frequently on regnal lists. John Stewart's book African States and Rulers provides alternate reign dates and succession order for the monarchs from Abreha I to Del Na'od.^[347]

No. [341]	Name [341]	Length of reign [341]	Reign dates (Ethiopian Calendar) [341]	"Year of the World" [341]	Reason for inclusion	Notes
"In the year 327 [sic] after Jesus Christ – 11 years after the reign of these two sovereigns (mother and son) – the gospel was introduced to Ethiopia by Abba Salama, and the Queen Sofya, who was baptised, became a good Christian."[341][eu]
201	Abreha and Atsbeha[ev] (Joint rule)	26 years	306–332	5806–5832	Regarded traditionally as the first Christian monarchs of Ethiopia in the early 4th century.[350] They appear on all Regnal lists of Ethiopia that cover the Christian period.	The names 'Abreha' and 'Atsbeha' may be corruptions of the names of Ezana and his brother Shiazana.[351][352] Egyptologist Henry Salt equated Abreha with Ezana and Atsbeha with Saizana.[353] However, E. A. Wallis Budge was skeptical of this and suggested that the chroniclers deliberately avoided mentioning Ezana and Shizana and instead preferred to claim conversion took place through members of the so-called Solomonic line, which Ezana and Shizana may not have been part of.[354] It is known that it was Ezana who was the first king to convert to Christianity, due to the teachings of Aba Salama. Despite this, Ezana is largely absent from many Ethiopian regnal lists.[355] Stuart Munro-Hay theorized that the story of Abreha and Atsbeha resulted from a confusion over two historical figures; The Aksumite king Kaleb, whose throne name was Ella Atsbeha, and Aksumite general Abraha, who promoted Christianity in Yemen.[356] The dates on this list roughly correspond with the estimated period of Ezana's reign by historians (c. 320s-360). According to Tafari, it was during this joint reign that Aba Salama introduced the Gospel to Ethiopia in 327 and the Queen Ahwya Sofya was baptised.[341] Manfred Kropp [de] argued that this date was wrong and it should be 317.[349] Some Ethiopian traditions state that it was in the year 333 that the people converted to Christianity.[337] On the version of this regnal list included in Heruy Wolde Selassie's Wazema, the date of Christianization is brought forward by ten years to 327.[296] Some earlier regnal lists state these kings ruled for 27 years.[357] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) for Abreha and Atsbeha from John Stewart: 356–370.[347] Peter Truhart dated Ezana's reign to c. 339–365 (26 years).[345] Peter Truhart dated the beginning of Saizana's reign to c. 365 and believed he reigned 17 years.[345]
202 [ew]	Abreha or Atsbeha (alone)[ex]	12 years	332–344	5832–5844	Earlier regnal lists specify that one of the brother ruled by himself after the joint reign, but differ on whether this was Abreha or Atsbeha.[358][359]
203	Asfeh Dalz[ey]	7 years	344–351	5844–5851	Successor of Abreha and Atsbeha on some earlier regnal lists.[357]	One regnal list quoted by Pedro Páez stated this king co-ruled with Arfed and Amsi, who were all brothers and divided each day into three parts so each could rule during a different part of the day.[360]
204	Sahel I[ez]	14 years	351–365	5851–5865	Successor of Asfeh on some earlier regnal lists.[357]	One tradition states that this king was a co-ruler with Abreha and Atsbeha from 356 to 370, and that each day of their joint reign was divided into three parts, so that each king was absolute during a specific part of the day.[346] Peter Truhart dated the beginning of this king's reign to c. 365 and theorized that he may be the same king as Saizana.[345]
205	Arfed Gebra Maskal	4 years	365–369	5865–5869	Successor of Asfeh on some earlier regnal lists.[361][359]	One regnal list quoted by Pedro Páez stated this king co-ruled with Asfeh and Amsi, who were all brothers and divided each day into three parts so each could rule during a different part of the day.[360] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 370–374.[347]
206	Adhana I[fa] (Queen)	5 years	369–374	5869–5874	Successor of Sahel I on some earlier regnal lists.[357]	Earlier regnal list state this monarch ruled for 14 years and did not specify the gender.[357][362] Name means "God renews him".[363] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 374–379.[347]
207	Riti	1 year	374–375	5874–5875	Successor of Adhana I on some earlier regnal lists.[357]	Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 379–380.[347]
208	Asfeh II[fb]	1 year	375–376	5875–5876	Successor of Riti on some earlier regnal lists.[357]	Son of Asfeh Dalz or Arfed Gebra Maskal.[363] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 380–381.[347]
209	Atsbeha II	5 years	376–381	5876–5881	Successor of Asfeh II on some earlier regnal lists.[357]	Son of Asfeh II.[363] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 381–386.[347]
210	Ameda I[fc]	15 years	381–396	5881–5896	Successor of Atsbeha II on some earlier regnal lists.[357]	Second son of Asfeh II.[363] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 386–401.[347]
211	Abreha II	7 months	396	5896	Successor of Ameda on some earlier regnal lists.[357]	Some earlier regnal lists state this king ruled for 6 months.[357] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 401.[347]
212	Sahel II[fd]	2 months	396	5896	Successor of Abreha II on some earlier regnal lists.[357]	According to one tradition, this king was murdered by his successor Elagabaz.[346][345] The king was known to be vain and proud and refused to allow his daughter Admas to be married to Elagabaz when he asked for her hand in marriage. The king died shortly after being imprisoned.[364] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 401–402.[347]
213	Elagabaz I[fe]	2 years	396–398	5896–5898	Successor of Sahel II on some earlier regnal lists.[357]	One Ethiopian tradition claims that Elagabaz killed his predecessor and married a princess named Admas before proclaiming himself king.[346] He had been ordered to be executed by the king, but rose up against him with an army.[365] Elagabaz later married a pagan queen named Lab, who was from a neighbouring district. This resulted in a brother of Admas, named Shahel (or Suhal), to rise up and kill both Elagabaz and Lab, and proclaim himself king.[346] Possibly the Axumite king WʽZB who reigned during the mid 6th century, also known as "Ella Gabaz" on an inscription where he states that he is the son of "Ella Atsbeha" or king Kaleb, who is placed much further down Tafari's list.[366] Alternatively WʽZB may be the second king named Elagabaz on this list (no. 222). Name means "Hero of God".[365] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 402–404.[347]
214	Sahel III[ff]	4 years	398–402	5898–5902	Successor of Gobaz on some earlier regnal lists.[357]	According to one tradition, this king was the brother-in-law of Elagabaz, and slew him to become king. E. A. Wallis Budge dated the beginning of his reign to 394.[346][345] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 404–408.[347] Peter Truhart dated the beginning of this king's reign to c. 395.[345]
215	Abreha III	10 years	402–412	5902–5912	Co-rulers on some earlier regnal lists, which usually state they ruled together for 16 years and do not specify Adhana's gender.[357]	Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 408–418.[347] Peter Truhart dated the beginning of this king's reign to c. 400.[345]
216	Adhana II[fg] (Queen)	6 years	412–418	5912–5918		Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 418–424.[347] With the exception of the usurper Gudit, Adhana II is the last queen named on this regnal list and it appears that no legitimate female monarch reigned over Ethiopia until Empress Zewditu in 1913. Mentewab had herself crowned co-ruler on the accession of her son Iyasu II in 1730 but this is not noted in the regnal list.
217	Yoab[fh]	10 years	418–428	5918–5928	–	Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 424–434.[347]
218	Tsaham II[fi]	2 years	428–430	5928–5930	Successor of Abreha III and Adhana II on some earlier regnal lists.[357]	Earlier regnal lists state this king ruled for 28 years.[357][362] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 434–436.[347]
219	Ameda II[fj]	1 year	430–431	5930–5931	Successor of Saham on some earlier regnal lists.[357]	Earlier regnal lists state this king ruled for 12 years.[357][362] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 436–446.[347] Peter Truhart identified this king with the Axumite king Sembrouthes.[345] Truhart dated the beginning of this king's reign to c. 430 and believed he may have reigned for between 1 and 12 years.[345]
220	Sahle Ahzob[fk]	2 years	431–433	5931–5933	Successor of Ameda on some earlier regnal lists.[357]	Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 446–448.[347]
221	Tsebah Mahana Kristos	3 years	433–436	5933–5936	Successor of Sahel IV on some earlier regnal lists.[357]	Earlier regnal lists state this king ruled for 2 years.[357] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 448–451.[347]
222	Tsaham III[fl]	2 years	436–438	5936–5938	Successor of Sebah on some earlier regnal lists.[357]	Earlier regnal lists state this king ruled for 15 years.[357][362] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 451–466.[347] Stewart lists the next king Elagabaz II as his co-ruler from 463 to 466.[347]
223	Elagabaz II[fm]	6 years	438–444	5938–5944	Successor of Saham on some earlier regnal lists.[357]	Earlier regnal lists state this king ruled for 21 years.[357][362] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 463–474.[347] Stewart lists the previous king as his co-ruler from 463 to 466.[347] This king may be the Aksumite king WʽZB who reigned during the sixth century (see note for Elagabaz I, no. 212).
224	Agabi	1 year	444–445	5944–5945	Co-rulers and successors of Gobaz II on some earlier regnal lists.[357]	Earlier lists state these two kings co-ruled for 2 or 4 years.[357][346] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from E. A. Wallis Budge and John Stewart: 474–475.[346][347]
225	Lewi[fn]	3 years	445–448	5945–5948
226	Ameda III (Yacob I)[fo]	2 years	448–450	5948–5950	Ameda was the successor of Agabi and Lewi on some earlier regnal lists.[357] Yakob was usually a different king who co-ruled with Dawit as successors of Ameda.[357]	Earlier regnal lists state that Ameda ruled for 11 years.[357] Yakob and Dawit co-ruled for 3 years according to earlier regnal lists.[357] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 475–486.[347] John Stewart believes this king was Alla Amidas,[347] who other historians believe reigned in the mid 6th century. Alternatively, this king may be Ousanas, also known as Ella Allada or Ella Amida, who reigned in the 4th century. Stewart lists joint kings Jacob and David (who do not appear on Tafari's list) as ruling between Alla Amidas and Armah from 486 to 489.[347] E. A. Wallis Budge also confirmed one Ethiopian tradition that states that Yakob (Jacob) and Dawit (David) ruled jointly for three years following Alla Amidas.[368] Alaqa Taye called this king "Ameda III (Yacob)", seemingly combining Yakob with Alla Amidas, and Dawit being combined with Armah.[41]
227	Armah I (Dawit III)[fp]	14 years	450–464	5950–5964	Armah succeeded Yakob and Dawit on some earlier regnal lists.[357] However this regnal list combines Yakob with Ameda and Dawit with Armah. Dawit was a co-ruler with Yakob who succeeded Ameda and preceded Armah on some earlier regnal lists.[357]	Earlier regnal lists state that Armah ruled for 14 years.[357][362] Yakob and Dawit co-ruled for 3 years according to earlier regnal lists.[357] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from E. A. Wallis Budge and John Stewart: 489–504.[362][347] John Stewart lists two kings after Armah who do not appear on Tafari's list: Zitana (504–505) and Jacob II (505–514).[347] Budge also gives the same kings' names and dates, adding that one Ethiopian tradition claimed Jacob II (Yakob II) was called "Arwe" because of his cruelties and was defeated by 'Ella 'Asbeha, otherwise known as Kaleb.[362] Peter Truhart stated this king ruled for between 6 and 14 years.[345]
228	Amsi	5 years	464–469	5964–5969	Appears on some earlier regnal lists, but usually as the successor of Arfed.[361][359] The kings from Sahel I to Armah I usually appear in separate line of succession from Abreha and Atsbeha, but have been inserted between Arfed and Amsi on this list to provide a longer and more realistic line of succession up to the reign of Kaleb.	Descendant of Adhana I.[345] One regnal list quoted by Pedro Páez stated this king co-ruled with Asfeh I and Arfed, who were all brothers and divided each day into three parts so each could rule during a different part of the day.[360] This regnal list however rejects the tradition by moving Amsi's reign much further down in chronological order.
229	Saladoba[fq]	9 years	469–478	5969–5978	Successor of Amsi on some earlier regnal lists.[361][359]	Son of Amsi.[345][369] According to the Tarika Nagast (History of Kings), it was during the reign of this king that the Nine Saints arrived in Ethiopia.[336]
230	Alameda II[fr]	8 years	478–486	5978–5986	Successor of Saladoba on some earlier regnal lists.[361][359]	Son of Salayba.[336] Possibly either the Aksumite king Ousanas, also known as Ella Allada or Ella Amida, or Alla Amidas, who reigned in the mid 6th century and during whose reign the Nine Saints came to Ethiopia. Peter Truhart stated this king ruled for between 8 and 30 years.[345]
231	Pazena Ezana[fs]	7 years	486–493	5986–5993	Tazena was a king who succeeded Al-Ameda on some earlier regnal lists and directly preceded Kaleb.[361][359] Zitana was a king who succeeded Armah on some earlier regnal lists and is explicitly named as the father of Kaleb in some sources.[336][357]	Son of Alameda II/Ellamida.[336] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 325–356.[347] Despite sharing the same name as the Axumite king Ezana, he reigned much earlier than these dates and it is more likely this king is meant to be Tazena, father of Kaleb, the next king on this list. The king is also known by the name Zitana.[370][336] Peter Truhart called this king "Ezana II", having previously acknowledged Abreha I as the same person as Ezana of Axum.[345]
"Of the posterity of Sofya and Abreha Atsbeha until the reign of Pazena Ezana 31 [sic] sovereigns reigned over Ethiopia: from Ori until the reign of Pazena Ezana 230 [sic] sovereigns."[341]

Dynasty of Atse (Emperor) Kaleb until Gedajan (427 years)[edit]

Other Ethiopian regnal lists do not acknowledge a dynastic break between Kaleb and earlier kings. It is possible that this list marks a break here only because it considers Kaleb to be the first emperor of Ethiopia. Louis J. Morié stated that Saint Elesbaan (another name for Kaleb) was the first to claim the title of "Emperor".^[371] However, Henry Salt believed that Menelik I was the first to use this title.^[371]

Taye Gabra Mariam's list did not make a break between Tazena and Kaleb.^[372] Taye's list also inserted the heading "Of the reign of Gudit and her descendants" between Gedajan and Gudit, though the two kings Anbase Wedem and Dil Na'od are not usually considered descendants of Gudit in other sources.^[373]

Despite this section's heading, three further rulers are named after Gedajan, with Dil Na'od being the actual last king of this line of Axumite kings. The choice of title for this section may be due the interruption of the Axumite line by queen Gudit, although some Ethiopian traditions state that she usurped the throne after Dil Na'od, and thus her reign is sometimes dated later compared to this regnal list.

According to a text named Tarika Nagast, the kings from Kaleb to Dil Na'od were each the son of the previous king (omitting Za Israel, Gedajan and Gudit from its list of kings).^[336] The text quotes the list of kings from a manuscript held in the church of Debre Damo.^[336]

No. [374]	Name [374]	Length of reign [374]	Reign dates (Ethiopian Calendar) [374]	"Year of the World" [374]	Reason for inclusion	Notes
232	Kaleb	30 years	493–523	5993–6023	Appears on most regnal lists as the successor of either Tazena or Yakob II.[358][359]	Son of Pazena Ezana/Zitana.[336][370] Known as Constantinos on some earlier regnal lists.[357] Abdicated and entered a monastery.[375] Some earlier regnal lists state Kaleb ruled for 28 or 40 years.[357][376] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from E. A. Wallis Budge and John Stewart: 514–542.[370][347] Peter Truhart dated this king's reign to c. 493–533.[345] James Bruce on the other hand stated that this king came to power in 522.[377]
233	Za Israel	1 month[ft]	523	6023	Successor of Constantinos/Kaleb on some earlier regnal lists.[357] Israel however is frequently omitted from many regnal lists.	Son of Kaleb.[378] Earlier regnal lists state this king reigned for 8 months.[357] Previously governor of Adwa[379] or Himyar.[380] Various sources suggest that there was a struggle for the throne between Israel and his brother Gabra Maskal after the death of abdication of their father.[378] One source claims that Israel usurped the throne but dropped dead when the priests announced that Kaleb had chosen Gabra Maskal as his successor.[381] Another source claims that Israel became leader of the Zar cult after failing the usurp the throne after his father's abdication.[381] However, a different source claims that it was his brother who usurped the throne and Israel returned to Ethiopia to try to regain it, resulting in a long-lasting conflict.[381] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 542–550.[347] Peter Truhart dated this king's reign to either 533 or 534.[345] One regnal list quoted by Carlo Conti Rossini gave this king a reign of 8 months.[382]
–	Gebru	1 month	523	6023	–	A king named on Taye Gabra Mariam's version of this list but not on Tafari's list or Heruy Wolde Selassie's list.[41] Could be Gebre Krestos, a son of Kaleb who is only recorded on one known regnal list and a Ge'ez inscription.[380] Alternatively, this could simply be a throne name of Gebre Meskel.[380] This king's name could be an error.[372]
234	Gabra Maskal	14 years	523–537	6023–6037	Successor of Israel on some regnal lists.[357] However, the majority of lists place this king after Kaleb.[361][359]	Son of Kaleb.[378] This king's name means "Servant of the Cross".[383] Some earlier regnal lists state Gabra Maskal ruled for 14 or 40 years.[357][359] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 550–564.[347] E. A. Wallis Budge also believed that this king's reign begun around 550.[383] Peter Truhart dated this king's reign to 534–548.[345]
235	Kostantinos[fu]	28 years	537–565	6037–6065	Successor of Gabra Maskal on earlier regnal lists.[361][359]	Son of Gabra Maskal.[345] Also known as Yeshak.[359] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 564–578.[347] Peter Truhart dated this king's reign to 548–576.[345]
236	Wasan Sagad[fv]	15 years	565–580	6065–6080	Successor of Kostantinos on earlier regnal lists.[361][359]	Son of Gabra Maskal.[361][345] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 578–591.[347] Exiled to Arabia.[384] Wasan Sagad could be the king named Saifu in Chinese sources based on dating and a possible similarity in the names. Stuart Munro-Hay identified "Saifu" as a grandson of Kaleb.[385]
237	Fere Sanay[fw]	23 years	580–603	6080–6103	Successor of Wasan Sagad on earlier regnal lists.[361][359]	Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 591–601.[347]
238	Advenz[fx]	20 years	603–623	6103–6123	Successor of Fere Sanay on earlier regnal lists.[361][359]	Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 601–623.[347] According to Taye Gabra Mariam this king's reign coincided with the ascendance of Muhammad and the Muslim Migration to Abyssinia.[41]
239	Akala Wedem[fy]	8 years	623–631	6123–6131	Successor of Advenz on earlier regnal lists.[361][359]	Taye Gabra Mariam stated this king reigned for 10 years, from 623 to 633 (Ethiopian dates).[41] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart and Peter Truhart: 623–633.[347][345] This king became blind.[386]
240	Germa Asafar	15 years	631–646	6131–6146	Successor of Akala Wedem on earlier regnal lists.[361][359]	Taye Gabra Mariam stated this king reigned from 633 to 648 (Ethiopian dates).[41] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart and Peter Truhart: 633–648.[347][345] Could be Aksumite king Gersem, who ruled at the beginning of the 7th century.
241	Zergaz	10 years	646–656	6146–6156	Successor of Germa Asafar on earlier regnal lists.[361][359]	Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart and Peter Truhart: 648–656.[347][345] Taye Gabra Mariam stated this king ruled for 8 years, from 648 to 656 (Ethiopian dates).[41] August Dillmann suggested this king's name was an alternate version of "Cyriacus".[361]
242	Dagena Mikael[fz]	26 years	656–682	6156–6182	Successor of Zergaz on earlier regnal lists.[361][359]	Name means "Minister of Saint Michael".[387] Taye Gabra Mariam stated this king ruled for 21 years, from 656 to 677 (Ethiopian dates).[41] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart and Peter Truhart: 656–677.[347][388]
243	Bahr Ekla	19 years	682–701	6182–6201	Successor Dagena Mikael on earlier regnal lists.[361][359]	Taye Gabra Mariam stated this king ruled for 14 years, from 677 to 691 (Ethiopian dates).[41] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart and Peter Truhart: 677–696.[347][388]
244	Gum	24 years	701–725	6201–6225	Successor of Bahr Ekla on earlier regnal lists.[361][359]	Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart and Peter Truhart: 696–720.[347][388] Also known as "Hezba Seyon".[347][388]
245	Asguagum[ga]	5 years	725–730	6225–6230	Successor of Gum on earlier regnal lists.[361][359]	Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart and Peter Truhart: 720–725.[347][388]
246	Latem	16 years	730–746	6230–6246	Successor of Asguagum on earlier regnal lists.[361][359]	According to Alaqa Taye Gabra Mariam's History of the People of Ethiopia, it was in the tenth year of this king's reign that a second group of the Weyto tribe, who had split from from the earlier group 3,100 years before and settled in Egypt and Sudan, arrived in Ethiopia.[128] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart and Peter Truhart: 725–741.[347][388]
247	Talatam	21 years	746–767	6246–6267	Successor of Latem on earlier regnal lists.[361][359]	Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart and Peter Truhart: 741–762.[347][388]
248	Gadagosh[gb]	13 years	767–780	6267–6280	Successor of Talatam on earlier regnal lists.[361][359]	Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart and Peter Truhart: 762–775.[347][388] Also known as "Lul Sagad".[388]
249	Aizar Eskikatir[gc]	Half a day[gd]	780	6280	Successor of Gadagosh on earlier regnal lists.[361][359]	This king died due to suffocation by a crowd on the same day he was crowned, which is why it became illegal afterwards to approach the emperor.[389] A barrier was thereafter placed before the emperor to prevent this from happening again.[387] "Eskakatir" means "until Noon". Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart and Peter Truhart: 775.[347][388] One manuscript from Gojjam claims that this king was the father of Gudit and had a wife named Makia Maryam who was Gudit's mother.[390] Like Tafari's list, this manuscript states that Aizar only reigned for half a day and reigned two decades before Wudme Asfare (who is claimed to be Gudit's grandfather in other sources).[390]
250	Dedem	5 years	780–785	6280–6285	Successor of Aizar on earlier regnal lists.[361][359]	Name means "new blood".[387] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart and Peter Truhart: 775–780.[347][388] Also known as "Almaz Sagad".[388]
251	Wededem	10 years	785–795	6285–6295	Successor of Dedem on earlier regnal lists.[361][359]	Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart and Peter Truhart: 780–790.[347][388]
252	Wudme Asfare	30 years	795–825	6295–6325	Successor of Wededem on earlier regnal lists.[361][359]	Some chronicles claim this king ruled for 150 years.[390] An unpublished chronicle from Axum states that this king was the grandfather of Gudit through his daughter.[390][388] Ethiopian historian Sergew Hable Selassie estimated that Wudme Asfare's 30-year reign to have taken place from 792 to 822 AD[390] Selassie felt that the actual reign dates could differ by as much as 100 years compared to written sources.[390] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart and Peter Truhart: 790–820.[347][388]
253	Armah II[ge]	5 years	825–830	6325–6330	Successor of Wudme Asfare on earlier regnal lists.[361][359]	Also known as "Remha" or "Rema".[388][347] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart and Peter Truhart: 820–825.[347][388]
254	Degennajan	19 years[gf]	830–849	6330–6349	Successor of Armah II on earlier regnal lists.[361][359]	Knud Tage Anderson estimated this king's reign lasted from c. 925 to c. 945. One tradition claims this king died of thirst while visiting an Arab country.[391] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart and Peter Truhart: 825–845.[347][388]
255	Gedajan	1 year[gg]	849–850	6349–6350	Successor of Degennajan on some earlier regnal lists.[361]	Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 845–846.[347] This name has been suggested as an alternate name for Degnnajan,[392] though this list considers them to be separate kings and other regnal lists name Gedajan as a separate king.[393][361] One tradition claims that Gedajan or Gidajan was the name of Anbase Wedem before he became king.[394] The 10-month reign length is also found on one regnal list.[394]
256	Gudit (Queen)	40 years	850–890	6350–6390	A queen from Ethiopian tradition who sacked Axum and brought an end to the Axumite line.[395] Some earlier regnal lists place this queen before Anbase Wedem,[396][397] while others place her reign after Del Naad.[398]	Also known as Yodït, which may have been her real name.[399] The name "Gudit" is likely a nickname, as it means "the freak, the monster, the unnatural or unusual or surprising or strange one".[399] Also known as Esato, which means "Fire".[390] A regnal list quoted by Pedro Páez stated that Esato was a Jewish queen who reigned in Amhara while Gudit was a different queen who reigned in Tigray for 40 years and destroyed Churches in the region.[400] However, a different list quoted by August Dillmann instead claimed that Esato and Gudit were the same woman, and that the names were what they were known as in Amhara and Tigray respectively.[396] Sometimes known as Terdai Gobaz.[26][388] However, a list quoted by August Dillmann named her separately from Gudit/Esato and lists her after Del Naad and directly before the Zagwe dynasty.[401] This suggests that Terdai Gobaz is the same person as Masoba Warq. Moved the capital of Ethiopia to Lasta after sacking Axum.[398] One version of the legend places Gudit after Del Naad, who she supposedly had overthrown.[402] Knud Tage Anderson argued that Gudit was the same woman as Masoba Warq, a daughter of Del Naad who married Mara Takla Haymanot, the founder of the Zagwe dynasty.[403] However, he notes that a crucial difference is that Gudit is considered to be the predecessor of Anbase Wedem while Masoba Warq followed Dil Na'od, the last Axumite king.[394] Some Ethiopian traditions state that Gudit was a granddaughter of Wudme Asfare.[388] Scottish traveler James Bruce noted a version of the story of Gudit in which she was a cousin of Mara Takla Haymanot, who took over rule of Ethiopia following the reigns of Gudit's successors and founded the Zagwe dynasty.[404] Bruce also recorded one legend that stated that Gudit was a princess and a wife of a governor of the district of Bugna who wanted to overthrow the Christian religion and place her infant son on the throne. According to this version of the story Gudit had 400 royal princes killed and Del Naad (who was an infant) was taken to Shewa as the last survivor of his line.[405] Páez and de Almeida mentioned a different version of the legend where Gudit was a woman who ruled the kingdom of Tigre for 40 years, destroying all the churches there and was followed by Anbase Wedem (as also shown on Tafari's list).[406] A different Queen named Esato was said to have ruled in Amhara and was part of "a generation of traitors".[406] Queen Esato however does not appear on Tafari's list. Yet another legend claims that Gudit was a poor girl who came to Axum and became a prostitute. A priest who slept with her stole a piece of golden curtain from the treasury of the Siyon church, made it into golden shoes and gave them to her. The priest was declared innocent of this theft because Gudit was blamed for tempting him, and she was then punished to have her right breast removed and be exiled. She met a Jewish Syrian prince named Zanobis, who pitied her and married her, and she converted to Judaism. Together the destroyed the city of Axum and were able to do so because the king, Degnajan, had perished of thirst while visiting an Arab country.[407] Gudit's historicity appears to be confirmed in the writings of traveller Ibn Hawqal, who mentions that Ethiopia (called "the country of the Habasha") had been ruled by a woman for many years by the time of his visit and that she assumed power after killing the previous king.[408] Ibn Hawqal's travels took place between 943 and 977, which would mean that Gudit's reign is dated later than what is suggested on this list. Ibn Hawqal stated that the queen had ruled for around 30 years by the time of his travels, meaning her reign began by 947 at the latest.[409] A chronicle called History of the Patriarchs of the Egyptian Church also confirms Gudit's historicity. The chronicle quotes a letter written in c. 980 to the patriarch of Alexandria which makes reference to a "Queen of the Bani al-Hamwiah" who imprisoned many Ethiopians and destroyed churches. The Ethiopian king had also been driven out. The queen's reign came to an end when the patriarch Philotheos sent a new Metropolitan bishop to Ethiopia.[410] Knud Tage Anderson argued that the negative portrayal of Gudit was a creation of later times. He believed that Gudit/Yodit had been a member of the royal family and took power after the disappearance of king Degnajan's army and his death by thirst in Arabia. He also argued that she may have saved the country from political disaster, just as the biblical Judith had saved her people from disaster. He noted that Ibn Haqwal's description of Gudit/Yodit was positive and even in admiration of this queen.[391] E. A. Wallis Budge dated Gudit's accession to roughly 300 years before the beginning of Yekuno Amlak's reign (c. 970).[59] Taddesse Tamrat dated the beginning of Gudit's reign to c. 945.[409] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 846–885.[347] Sometimes known as "Ga'wa", but this is likely a conflation with the much later Tigray queen Ga'ewa from the sixteenth century.[390]
257	Anbase Wedem	20 years	890–910	6390–6410	Appears on earlier regnal lists as the successor of either Degennajan,[359] Gedajan[361] or Gudit.[396]	One tradition states he succeeded his father Degnajan but roamed from mountain to mountain to escape Gudit.[394] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 885–905.[347] According to Taye Gabra Mariam's History of the People of Ethiopia, this king took revenge against the Ethiopian Jews after they had helped Gudit burn churches in Aksum and overthrow the kingdom.[gh] A group of Jews had entered Ethiopia from Egypt before Gudit's reign.[232] The placement of Anbase Wedem's reign as following that of Gudit's is corroborated by an unpublished chronicle from Aksum.[411] Páez and de Almeida also read of one version of the Gudit legend which named Anbase Wedem as her successor.[406] However, this is not supported by all sources. A version of the Gudit legend recounted by James Bruce places Gudit after Dil Na'od.[402] regnal lists seen by Páez and de Almeida,[393] Salt and Budge[359] all state that Anbase Wedem succeeded Degna Djan, not Gudit. Peter Truhart stated this king had been a "pretender" to the throne from 875 until his accession in 885.[388]
258	Del Naad[gi]	10 years	910–920	6410–6420	Successor of Anbase Wedem on some earlier regnal lists.[361][359] Last king of Axum according to some earlier regnal lists.[361][359] However, some lists name further kings after him.[396] Maiday is a name that appears on some regnal lists, usually those which name further Axumite kings after Del Naad.[396]	Son of Anbase Wedem according to the Tarika Nagast.[336] Some traditions however state he was a son of Degennajan and younger brother of Anbase Wedem. Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 905–c. 950.[347] James Bruce stated that this king's reign ended in 960.[377] Henry Salt dated the end of this king's reign to c. 925.[398] Last king of Axum.

Sovereigns issued from Zagwe (333 years)[edit]

The following monarchs are historically verified, though exact dates remain unclear among historians. Some historians, such as Carlo Conti Rossini, believe that this dynasty did not come to power until the 12th century,^[412] disagreeing with the much earlier dates suggested by Tafari's list. Some Ethiopian regnal lists omit the Zagwe dynasty altogether, considering it illegitimate. Many regnal lists state that after the reign of Dil Na'od the kingdom was ruled by "another people who were not of the tribe of Israel" (i.e. not descended from king Solomon).^[413] Dr. Ghelawdewos Araia disagreed with the idea that the Zagwe kings were usurpers and instead argued that they "continued the material and spiritual culture" of Axum.^[41] He also stated that the Zagwe line was founded by the Agaw people.^[41]

Multiple traditions around the Zagwe dynasty exist, most commonly stating that the dynasty was in power for 133 or 333 years. Tafari follows the longer tradition for his regnal list. Carlo Conti Rossini suggested that the Zagwe dynasty was actually founded shortly before 1150.^[414] 16th century missionary Pedro Páez stated that the Zagwe dynasty had ruled for 143 years.^[415] E. A. Wallis Budge noted another version of the Zagwe tradition states that 11 kings ruled for 354 years, meaning that each king reigned for an average of 32 years, which Budge felt was unrealistic. James Bruce theorized that five kings of this dynasty were Jewish and descendants of Gudit, while the other six kings were Christians and originated from Lasta.^[26] Bruce specifically named Tatadim, Jan Seyum, Germa Seyum, Harbai and Mairari as the "Pagan" or Jewish kings, while Mara Takla Haymanot, Kedus Harbe, Yetbarak, Lalibela, Yemrehana Krestos and Na'akueto La'ab (in these chronological orders) were Christians.^[11]

E. A. Wallis Budge noted another tradition that claimed that Na'akueto La'ab abdicated the throne in favour of Yekuno Amlak. If this was the case, then according to Budge the dynasty may have continued to claim the title of Negus until c. 1330, with their descendants governing Lasta for centuries after this.^[416]

The following list includes seven consecutive kings ruling for 40 years each. This is also reported in other regnal lists, although there is no confirmed proof that these seven kings ruled for these exact number of years. The suspiciously round numbers given for their reign lengths suggest certain gaps in Ethiopia's history that were filled in by extending the reigns of the Zagwe kings. The existence of multiple traditions for this dynasty, ranging from 133 to 333 years in power, further suggest great uncertainty over this period in Ethiopian history. See regnal lists of Ethiopia for more information on the alternate lines of succession for this dynasty.

No. [135]	Name [135]	Length of reign [135]	Reign dates (Ethiopian Calendar) [135]	"Year of the World" [135]	Notes
259	Mara Takla Haymanot (Zagwe)[gj]	13 years	920–933	6420–6433	Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 1117–1133.[347] A text from Dabra Libanos stated this king reigned for 40 years, like most kings of this dynasty.[417] Ethiopian traditions differ on the exact circumstances around the rise of the Zagwe dynasty. One tradition states that Mara married Masoba Wark, a daughter of Dil Na'od, and overthrew him to become king. According to this tradition, Mara Takla Haymanot was a high-ranking official before taking the throne.[412][403] Another tradition states that Dil Na'od was instead overthrown by Gudit who was succeeded to the throne by several of her own family before her cousin Mara ascended to the throne.[418] Knud Tage Anderson argued that Masoba Wark and Gudit were the same woman.[403] According to Taye Gabra Mariam's History of the People of Ethiopia, the Oromo people arrived in Ethiopia in the tenth year of this king's reign.[419]
260	Tatawdem[gk]	40 years	933–973	6433–6473	Elder son of Mara Takla Haymanot.[420] E. A. Wallis Budge dated the reigns of the first two kings of this dynasty to c. 992–1030 based on the reign lengths of 3 and 40 years that are given for these kings on some regnal lists.[421] Name means "Sun of the Blood" or "Blood of the Sun".[422]
261	Jan Seyum	40 years	973–1013	6473–6513	Son of Mara Takla Haymanot.[420] Name means "Fear of the Divie majesty".[423]
262	Germa Seyum	40 years	1013–1053	6513–6553	Son of Mara Takla Haymanot.[420] Name means "Fear of the Divine name".[424]
263	Yemrhana Kristos	40 years	1053–1093	6553–6593	Son of Germa Seyum. Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 1133–1172.[347] Name means "May Christ forgive us".[424]
264	Kedus Arbe (Samt)[gl]	40 years	1093–1133	6593–6633	Son of Jan Seyum. Name means "Holy Warrior".
265	Lalibala	40 years	1133–1173	6633–6673	Son of Jan Seyum. Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 1172–1212.[347] Another set of accepted Gregorian reign dates by some historians for this king are 1181 to 1221.[425][420]
266	Nacuto Laab	40 years	1173–1213	6673–6713	Son of Kedus Harbe. Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 1212–1260.[347] This king's name means "Let us give thanks to the Father".[426]
267	Yatbarak	17 years	1213–1230	6713–6730	Son of Lalibala.[420][41] Alternate reign dates (Gregorian) from John Stewart: 1260–1268.[347] Heruy Wolde Selassie believed that this king was the last of the Zagwe line.[41] E. A. Wallis Budge theorized that this king died in c. 1290 after a reign of 22 years if the tradition of Na'akueto La'ab abdicating in favour of Yekuno Amlak is to be believed.[416]
268	Mayrari	15 years	1230–1245	6730–6745	Son of Yetbarak.[427] E. A. Wallis Budge theorized that this king died in c. 1308 after a reign of 15 or 18 years if the tradition of Na'akueto La'ab abdicating in favour of Yekuno Amlak is to be believed.[416]
269	Harbay	8 years	1245–1253	6745–6753	Taye Gabra Mariam stated this king ruled for 10 years, from 1245 to 1255.[41] E. A. Wallis Budge theorized that this king died in c. 1330 after a reign of 20 or 23 years if the tradition of Na'akueto La'ab abdicating in favour of Yekuno Amlak is to be believed.[416] Possibly the same king as Kedus Harbe.[423]
"Of the posterity of Mara Takla Haymanot (whose regnal name was Zagwe) until the reign of Harbay 11 sovereigns reigned over Ethiopia; 268 [sic] sovereigns in all."[428]

Claimants during the Zagwe period[edit]

"Chronological table of the 8 generations of an Israelitish dynasty, who were not raised to the throne, during the period of the reign of the posterity of the Zagwe."^[428]

Tafari provides no background information, reign dates or lengths for this line of kings, but E. A. Wallis Budge explained these kings reigned at Shewa and were descendants of Dil Na'od.^[11] Henry Salt likewise stated that the Axumite royal family fled to Shewa after Axum was destroyed by Gudit and reigned there for 330 years until the accession of Yekuno Amlak.^[398] The names and order of kings on Tafari's list matches that found in René Basset's 1882 book Études sur l'histoire d'Éthiopie.^[11]

A manuscript from Dabra Libanos included a list which numbered a total of 44 kings and a woman named Masoba Wark.^[429] In some traditions, Masoba Wark, whose name means "golden basket",^[391] is claimed to be a daughter of Dil Na'od who married Mara Takla Haymanot.^[412] She supposedly married him against her father's will and together they took the throne.^[403] A different regnal list from Debre Damo lists all of these kings as rulers of the Zagwe dynasty.^[336] This list begins the dynasty with a king named "Zagwe", followed by king named "Del Na'ad" (apparently different from the Axumite king of the same name) and then provides the following eight kings as his successors.^[336]

The description of this dynasty as an "Israelitish" dynasty is a reference to the Ethiopian monarchy's claimed descent from Solomon. Yekuno Amlak would claim his descent from king Solomon through this line of kings (see Emperors of Ethiopia Family Tree).

These kings were not mentioned in Taye Gabra Mariam's History of the People of Ethiopia.

Name [428]	Notes
Mahbara Wedem	Son of Dil Na'od.[430] The Debre Damo regnal list instead claims this king's father was called Del Na'ad, but was a different man to the Axumite king.[336] Peter Truhart dated the beginning of this king's reign to c. 920[388] while Louis J. Morié believed his reign did not begin until after 980.[430] Name means "blood abundant in riches".[430]
Agbea Tseyon	Son of Mahbara Wedem.[430] Name means "Restore Zion".[430]
Tsenfa Arad	Son of Agbea Tsyon.[430] Morié dated this king's reign to c. 1110.[430]
Nagash Zare	Son of Tsinfa Arad.[430] Name means "Royal seed".[430] Peter Truhart dated this king's reign to after 1000.[431] Morié dated this king's reign to c. 1150–1190 and claimed he sent an embassy to Pope Alexander III in 1177.[430]
Asfeh	Son of Nagash Zare.[430] Peter Truhart dated this king's reign to after 1000.[431] Morié dated this king's reign to c. 1200.[430]
Yakob	Son of Asfeh.[430]
Bahr Asagad	Son of Yakob.[430] Name means "Venerable as the sea" or "Who guards the sea".[430] Peter Truhart dated this king's reign to after 1100.[431] Henry Salt listed an additional king named "Asgud" between Bahr Asagad and Edem Asagad.[432] Morié also mentioned a king named "Asged" who, on some regnal lists, was confused with his predecessor under the name "Birasgud-Asgud".[430]
Edem Asagad	Son of Bahr Asagad.[430] Reigned directly before Yekuno Amlak.[11][431][430] Peter Truhart dated this king's reign to c. 1210–1255.[431] Morié believed this king died in either 1255 or 1258.[430]
"These eight did not mount the throne."[428]

Solomonic dynasty before the Ethiopian-Adal war (247 years)[edit]

"Chronological table of the sovereigns from Yekuno Amlak, Emperor, and of his posterity, all issued from the ancient dynasties which were raised to the throne".^[433]

Note: The following emperors are historically verified. However, some of the reign dates listed below are not used by Ethiopian historians and are inaccurate. For the correct reign dates, see List of emperors of Ethiopia.

The Solomonic dynasty is historically verified, but the dates included on Tafari's regnal list do not always match with the generally accepted dates used by historians, even when taking into account the 7 or 8-year gap between the Ethiopian calendar and the Gregorian calendar.

Taye Gabra Maryam titled this section "Reign of As'e Yekuno Amlak and his descendants".^[373]

Historian Manfred Kropp [de] was skeptical of the way this dynasty is often referred to as the "Solomonic" or "Solomonid" dynasty, which he believes was a creation of European Renaissance scholars. He noted that Ethiopian chronicles refer to the throne of the monarchy as the "Throne of David", not Solomon.^[434] Tafari's regnal list certainly makes no direct reference to this dynasty being called the "Solomonic" line, only that they were descended from the earlier ancient dynasties.

No. [433]	Name [433]	Length of reign [433]	Reign dates (Ethiopian Calendar) [433]	"Year of the World" [433]	Notes
270	Yekuno Amlak	15 years	1253–1268	6753–6768	Son of Edem Asagad. 'Yekuno Amlak' means "There shall be to him sovereignty".[435] While many historians accept that Yekuno Amlak became ruler of Ethiopia after defeating the last Zagwe king at the Battle of Ansata, James Bruce related a different tradition where the monk Tekle Haymanot persuaded Na'akueto La'ab to abdicate in favour of Yekuno Amlak, who was reigning at Shewa, where a line of princes from Dil Na'od had continued to rule after the original Solomonic line was deposed by Gudit.[436] Taye Gabra Mariam stated this king ruled for 13 years, from 1255 to 1268.[41]
271	Yasbeo Tseyon[gm]	9 years	1268–1277	6768–6777	Son of Yekuno Amlak. 'Yagbe'a Seyon' means "He [God] shall bring back Zion".[437]
272	Tsenfa Arad[gn]	1 year	1277–1278	6777–6778	Son of Yagbe'u Seyon. E. A. Wallis Budge called this king Senfa 'Ar'ed IV, acknowledging the reigns of Akaptah Tsenfa Ared (no. 167), Atsgaba Seifa Arad (no. 195) and the unnumbered Tsinfa Arad from the Israelite dynasty on Tafari's list.[437]
273	Hesba Asagad	1 year	1278–1279	6778–6779	Son of Yagbe'u Seyon.
274	Kedme Asagad	1 year	1279–1280	6779–6780	Son of Yagbe'u Seyon.
275	Jan Asagad[go]	1 year	1280–1281	6780–6781	Son of Yagbe'u Seyon. Name means "venerable majesty".[438]
276	Sabea Asagad	1 year	1281–1282	6781–6782	Son of Yagbe'u Seyon. E. A. Wallis Budge called this king Sab'a Asgad (II).[437]
277	Wedma Arad[gp]	15 years	1282–1297	6782–6797	Son of Yekuno Amlak.
278	Amda Tseyon I[gq]	30 years	1297–1327	6797–6827	Son of Wedem Arad. 'Amda Seyon' means "Pillar of Zion".[437]
279	Saifa Ared[gr]	28 years	1327–1355	6827–6855	Son of Amda Seyon I. More commonly known as Newaya Krestos. "Saifa Ared" was his throne name. 'Newaya Krestos' means "Vessel of Christ".[439]
280	Wedma Asfare	10 years	1355–1365	6855–6865	Son of Newaya Krestos. More commonly known as Newaya Maryam. "Wedma Asfare" was his throne name.
281	Dawit (IV)[gs]	30 years	1365–1395	6865–6895	Son of Newaya Krestos.
282	Tewodros I[gt]	4 years	1395–1399	6895–6899	Son of Dawit I.
283	Yeshak	15 years	1399–1414	6899–6914	Son of Dawit I.
284	Andreyas[gu]	6 months	1414	6914	Son of Yeshaq I.
285	Hesba Nañ[gv]	4 years and 6 months	1414–1418	6914–6918	Son of Dawit I. More commonly known as Takla Maryam. "Hezbe Nañ" was his throne name. 'Takla Maryam' means 'Plant of Mary'.[440]
286	Badl Nan[gw]	6 months	1418–1419	6918–6919	Son of Takla Maryam. This emperor's actual name was "Sarwe Iyasus" and his throne name is usually known to be "Mehreka Nan". The name "Badl Nan" or "Badel Nan" is however used in some sources, such as a manuscript held in the Debre Damo monastery.[336] "Sarwe Iyasus" means "Prop of Jesus".[441] Taye Gabra Mariam stated this king ruled for 1 year and 6 months, from 1418 to 1419.[41]
287	Amde Eyasu[gx]	7 years	1419–1426	6919–6926	Son of Takla Maryam. This emperor is usually known as "Amda Iyasus", however some sources, such as a manuscript held in Debre Damo, give the name "Amda Seyon".[336] The same manuscript is possibly a source for the 7-year reign given on this regnal list, even though Amda Iyasus likely only reigned for less than a year.[336]
288	Zara Yakob	34 years	1426–1460	6926–6960	Son of Dawit I.
289	Boeda Maryam[gy]	10 years	1460–1