Negus

Negus ( nəguś, Amharic ንጉሥ ) means in Ge'ez and the Amharic language "King " and is one of the oldest feudal titles of the Empire of Ethiopia.

The history of the title dates back to the time of the kingdom of Aksum. The title Neguse Negest should already have given his alleged son Solomon, the Ethiopian Menelik I.. The Negus was an independent ruler and was subject only to the Emperor of Ethiopia, and the only formal. The Ethiopian Emperor himself had the title Neguse Negest (also known as Negusa Nagast transcribed, Amharic ንጉሠ ነገሥት ) meaning King of Kings.

During the reign of Emperor Ba'eda Mariam 1468-1478 of this title was only the ruler of gene. The importance of the Negus sank in strong and increased over low imperial central power. In later times, the emperor could confer the title Negus also to the rulers of Shewa, Gonder, Tigray and Gojjam.

The last Negus Tafari Makonnen Ras 1928 by Empress Zauditu to Negus (without specifying province ) was crowned. Ras Tafari was in 1930 as Haile Selassie I himself Emperor of Ethiopia. During his reign, no crowning of a more Negus took place.