Zemene Mesafint

The Zemene Mesafint was a period of political decentralization in Ethiopia, roughly from the mid-18th century to 1855, when regional nobles dominated the emperor.

Ras: Ras is an Ethiopian noble and military title, historically ranking among the highest in the imperial hierarchy. Ras Mikael Sehul and other regional nobles used this rank to wield power at court.
Gondarine period: The Gondarine period was an era of Ethiopian history when Gondar served as the imperial capital. The Zemene Mesafint followed the weakening of the political order associated with Gondar.
Iyasu II: Iyasu II was emperor of Ethiopia from 1730 to 1755, during the weakening of imperial authority. His reign preceded the period's most pronounced domination of emperors by regional nobles.
Tewodros II's unification of Ethiopia: Tewodros II's unification of Ethiopia was the campaign to bring rival regional rulers under imperial authority in the mid-19th century. His rise ended the period by restoring a stronger central monarchy.
Fasil Ghebbi: Fasil Ghebbi is the walled royal compound in Gondar that housed Ethiopian emperors and their courts. Its monumental court architecture evokes the centralized imperial culture that preceded political fragmentation.
Gondar: Gondar is a city in northwestern Ethiopia that served as the Ethiopian imperial capital for centuries. Control of Gondar and its court helped regional rulers dominate successive emperors.
Fasilides: Fasilides was emperor of Ethiopia from 1632 to 1667 and founded the city of Gondar as an imperial capital. His capital anchored the imperial court whose authority later fractured.
Tewodros II: Tewodros II was emperor of Ethiopia from 1855 to 1868, having risen from provincial military leadership. His coronation in 1855 conventionally marks the end of the Zemene Mesafint.
Shewa: Shewa is a historic region and former kingdom in central Ethiopia. Its rulers gained influence during the era of fragmented authority and later expanded toward imperial power.
Solomonic dynasty: The Solomonic dynasty was Ethiopia's imperial ruling house, which claimed descent from the biblical King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. The dynasty continued through the period even as its emperors lost effective control.

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