Imperial, Royal and Noble Titles

Western Equivalent

Negusa Negest ze Ethiopia

Emperor of Ethiopia

Negus

King

Negeste-Negestate

Empress (in her own right)

Itegé

Empress (consort)

Alga Worrach

Heir Apparent; Crown Prince

Enderassé

Viceroy

Mesfin

Title given to Le’uls, Le’ul Rases, and Rases and, in the traditional Shoan framework, Meridazmatches. Now used mainly to signify a Duke in the modern sense [see below].

Meridazmatch

Title of Shoan heads-of-state until 1813, when Sahle Selassie took the title of Negus. Literally a prince at the head of an advance military force. Still used in this context.

Le’ul

Prince of the Imperial House

Le’ul Ras

Prince of the blood, but recently with connotations of governorship, or military/regional leadership. Recently given to princes more distant from the Monarch.

Le’ult

Princess of the Imperial House

Wagshum

Leader of the previous, Zagwé dynastic family, nominally seated second to the Emperor, but without political power outside the Wag areas.

Bahr Negus

Antique and now disused title meaning “ruler of the North” or “Ruler of the Maritime Province” [ie: Eritrea]. Basically intended to mean “Ruler of the Seas”.

Titles Bestowed by the Crown

Literally

Ras

Head; in some senses a Field Marshal. Traditionally often equivalent to the rank of Duke.

Bitwoded

Beloved [of the Emperor/Nation]. Principal advisor to the Emperor or a Negus. Also bestowed on the commander of a fort in ancient times.

Dejazmatch

Keeper of the Door; often translating as Governor-General. The one who, in a war camp, resides near the door of the Emperor’s tent; or Marshal of a provincial headquarters, equivalent of a Count. Under the Italians, the title was stripped of authority and prestige. Sometimes in some areas, the title is “dejatch” of “dejaz”.

Fitawrari Impérial

Traditional title given to the Minister of Defence.

Liqa Maqas/Liqä Makwas

Literally “gatekeeper”. In fact, the official who walks in front of the Emperor, clearing a path. Was “the king’s double in battle”, which often meant that the person was chosen to look like the king, in order to rally the troops and distract the enemy. Became the title of an important military leader in the centre of the battle front.

Qaññazmatch/Kegnazmatch

Leader of the Right Wing [of an Army]. In civil life, the title in Imperial times was bestowed on governors of districts.

Fitawrari

Leader of the Front/Centre; commander of the advance guard, similar to the classic concept of a knight. In a civilian context, the title is bestowed on people for loyalty to the Emperor. Ranks behind a Dejazmatch.

Gerazmatch

Leader of the Left Wing [of an army]. In its civilian context, the title was given to high-ranking government officials in times of peace; had local court (magistrate/judge) functions.

Blattengeta

Privy Council, Prelate to the Sovereign. Literally means “master of youths”, meaning a teacher of great wisdom and usually bestowed on learned men. It is higher than Blata, which means an intellectual, traditionally in legal, religious or almost all other matters.

Afe-Negus

Minister of Justice. Literally “Mouth of the King”. Not always Minister of Justice. Often the most senior form of judge, sometimes in the traditional sense, sometimes in the modern legal system.

Azazh/Azaj

Minister of the Palace.

Bajirond

Treasurer

Tsahafi Te’ezaz

Minister of the Pen. The Emperor’s spokesman, speechwriter, historian, custodian of the Imperial seal; Chancellor of the Imperial orders and decorations.

Enderassé

A governor of a province, representing the Emperor.

Lij

Male descendant of a Noble, generally of a Le’ul or Ras. Literally means “boy”. When the figure is clearly a high noble, the title Abetu (?) is also often used instead of Lij.

Emebet

Female descendant of a Noble, generally a Le’ul or Ras. Literally means “girl” or “woman”.

Abagaz

A ruler of a district or region.

Balambaras

Today often a local civilian leader. It can also refer to the commander of a fort.

Negradas

Chief of merchants, or trade commissioner.

Kantiba

Mayor, under the Chief of a Province.

Agafari

Protocol official; “superintendent of banquets”. In the modern sense: chief of protocol.

Ethiopian Military Titles

Modern Western Equivalents

Ras

General (or, when the Emperor is in the field, Lt.-General)

Dejazmatch

Lt.-General

Fitawrari

Major-General

Gerazmatch

Brigadier-General (staff) (literally means commander of the left wing of an army)

Qaññazmatch/Kegnazmatch

Brig.-General (line) (lit., commander of the right wing)

Meridazmatch

Colonel (staff)

Shalaqa

Colonel (line) (literally “chief of a thousand”)

Balambaras

Lt.-Colonel

Shambal

Major

Matoalaga

Captain

Hamsalaga

Lieutenant

Basha/Bacha

Commander of a rifle “corps” (may mean a company of squad-sized unit). No direct equivalent.

Gwandari

Private