List of kings of Axum
The kings of Axum ruled an important trading state in the area which is now Eritrea and northern Ethiopia, from approximately 100–940 AD.[1]
Zenith of the Kingdom of Axum
| Dates of Tenure | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| c. 10 B.C. | Bazen | |
| c. 100 | Za Haqala (possibly Nza ya Nkla or Zoskales) | |
| c. 200 | GDRT (vocalized by historians as "Gadarat") |
inscriptions mention his son BYGT (vocalized as "Beygat" or "Beyga") |
| c. 230 – c.240 | `DBH (vocalized as "`Azaba" or "`Adhebah") |
inscriptions mention his son GRMT (vocalized as "Girma") |
| c. 250 | Sembrouthes | |
| c. 260 | DTWNS (vocalized as "Datawnas") |
inscriptions mention his son ZQRNS (vocalized as "Zaqarnas") |
| c. 270 – c.300 | Endubis | |
| fl. early 4th century | Aphilas | |
| fl. early 4th century | Mzamba | |
| c. 320 | Ousanas | |
| c. 333 – c. 356 | Ezana | |
| c. 350 | MHDYS (vocalized as "Mehadeyis") |
|
| fl. late 4th century | Ouazebas | |
| c. 400 | Eon | possibly the "Unina" from the Book of the Himyarites |
| fl. 5th century | Ebana | |
| fl. 5th century | Nezool | also called "N'zana" |
| c. 500 | Ousas, also spelled "Ousana(s)" |
possibly Tazena, father of Kaleb |
| c. 520 | Kaleb | tradition names his son Gabra Masqal |
| fl. mid 6th century | Alla Amidas | |
| fl. mid 6th century | Wazena | |
| fl. mid 6th century | W`ZB vocalized as "Wa`zabe" |
possibly "Ella Gabaz", son of Kaleb |
| fl. mid 6th century | Ioel | |
| c. 575 | Hataz | identified with "Iathlia" |
| c. 577 | Saifu | |
| c. 590 | Israel | tradition also records an Israel, son of Kaleb |
| c. 600 | Gersem | |
| c. 614 | Najashi | possibly identical with Sahama |
| died c. 630 | Sahama | tradition also records an Ella Tsaham (Illa Ṣaḥām) |
Later kings
| Name[2] | Notes | Dates (E. A. Wallis Budge)[2] |
Dates (Tafari Makannon/Charles Fernand Rey)[3] (Gregorian Dates)[nb 1] |
Dates (John Stewart)[5] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kwastantinos | or Constantine[2] | All kings ruled between 600-900 | c. 544-572 | 564-578 |
| Wasan Sagad | Bazagar?[2] | c. 572-587 | 578-591 | |
| Fere Shanay | or Fere Shernay[2] | c. 587-610 | 591-601 | |
| 'Adre'az | or 'Adre'azar[2] | c. 610-630 | 601-623 | |
| 'Akla Wedem | or Eklewudem[2][5] | c. 630-638 | 623-633 | |
| Germa Safar | c. 638-653 | 633-648 | ||
| Zergaz | or Gergaz[2] | c. 653-663 | 648-656 | |
| Degna Mikael | or Dengna Mika'el[2] | c. 663-689 | 656-677 | |
| Bahr Ikela | c. 689-708 | 677-696 | ||
| Gum | or Hezba Seyon[5] | c. 708-732 | 696-720 | |
| 'Asgwomgum | c. 732-737 | 720-725 | ||
| Letem | c. 737-753 | 725-741 | ||
| Talatem | c. 753-774 | 741-762 | ||
| 'Oda Gosh | or 'Oda Sasa[2]/ Adegos[5] | c. 774-787 | 762-775 | |
| 'Ayzur | who reigned half a day and was strangled to death[2] | c. 787 | 775 | |
| Dedem | or Dedem Almaz[5] | c. 787-782 | 775-780 | |
| Wededem | c. 782-802 | 780-790 | ||
| Wedem 'Asfare | or Demawedem;[5] reigned 150 years according to some traditions.[2] | c. 802-832 | 790-820 | |
| 'Armah | or Rema Armah[5] | c. 832-837 | 820-825 | |
| Degna Djan | or Ged'a Djan[2] | c. 837-856 | 825-845 | |
| Ged'a Djan | Not listed as a separate king by Budge | c. 856-857 | 845-846 | |
| Gudit (Queen) | Not included on Budge's list | c. 857-897 | 846-885 | |
| 'Anbasa Wedem | son of Degna Djan | All kings reigned from 600-900 | c. 897-917 | 885-905 |
| Dil Na'od | son of Degna Djan | c. 917-927 | 905-c.950 |
Notes
- ^ The dates included on Tafari Makannon's king list follow the Ethiopian calendar. According to Charles Fernand Rey, the Gregorian date equivalent would be 7 or 8 years ahead.[4]
See also
References
- ^ S.C. Munro-Hay, Aksum (Edinburgh: University Press, 1991), pp. 67f
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Budge, E. A. Wallis (1928). A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia (Volume 1). London: Methuen & Co. p. 269-270.
- ^ C. F. Rey, In the Country of the Blue Nile (1927), Camelot Press, London, pg. 270-271
- ^ C. F. Rey, In the Country of the Blue Nile (1927), Camelot Press, London, pg. 263
- ^ a b c d e f g Stewart, John (2005). African States and Rulers. London: McFarland. p. 23. ISBN 0-7864-2562-8.