Dinqinesh Mercha
Encyclopedia
Dinqinesh Mercha was Empress-Consort of Emperor Tekle Giyorgis II of Ethiopia
. Empress Dinqinesh was the daughter of Shum Mercha of Tembien
, and his wife Woizero Silass of Enderta
. Through the old aristocratic families of Tembien and Enderta districts of Tigray
, Empress Dinginesh could trace her lineage to the Solomonic dynasty
through at least two female links.
Her brother Dejazmatch Kassai (sometimes spelled Kassa), was her husband's leading rival for the Imperial throne after the death of their common enemy, Emperor Tewodros II. Following the defeat of her husband (July 11, 1871), and the crowning of her brother as Emperor Yohannes IV (January 12, 1872), Empress Dinqinesh chose to accompany her husband in his captivity, and lived with him at the monastery of Abune Gerima overlooking the town of Adwa
. It is often said that her husband had been blinded to prevent him from furthering his Imperial ambitions.
Following her husband's death in 1873, Empress Dinqinesh moved to her brother's capital at Mekele, and was later remarried to Ras Wolde Kiros. She retained her title of Empress, and as her brother Emperor Yohannes was a widower throughout his reign, was the de-facto first lady of the Empire during that time. She died at Axum
in 1907 during the reign of Menelik II, and was mourned officially as a dowager Empress by the Imperial court in Addis Ababa
.
Tekle Giyorgis II of Ethiopia
Tekle Giyorgis II was of Ethiopia from 1868 to 1872....
. Empress Dinqinesh was the daughter of Shum Mercha of Tembien
Tembien
Tembien is one of the former provinces of Ethiopia. It is a mountainous area of that country.The name Tembien has also been used for:*Tembien, an Italian 600-Serie Adua class submarine sunk in World War II...
, and his wife Woizero Silass of Enderta
Enderta
Enderta may refer to:* Enderta province, a historic subdivision of Ethiopia* Enderta, a woreda within the Tigray Region of Ethiopia...
. Through the old aristocratic families of Tembien and Enderta districts of Tigray
Tigray Province
Tigray was a province of Ethiopia. The Tigray Region superseded the province with the adoption of the new constitution in 1995. The province of Tigre merged with its neighboring provinces, including Semien, Tembien, Agame and the prominent Enderta province and towards the end of 19th century it...
, Empress Dinginesh could trace her lineage to the Solomonic dynasty
Solomonic dynasty
The Solomonic dynasty is the Imperial House of Abyssinia. Its members claim lineal descent from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, the latter of whom tradition asserts gave birth to the first King Menelik I after her Biblically described visit to Solomon in Jerusalem .-Overview:The dynasty, a...
through at least two female links.
Her brother Dejazmatch Kassai (sometimes spelled Kassa), was her husband's leading rival for the Imperial throne after the death of their common enemy, Emperor Tewodros II. Following the defeat of her husband (July 11, 1871), and the crowning of her brother as Emperor Yohannes IV (January 12, 1872), Empress Dinqinesh chose to accompany her husband in his captivity, and lived with him at the monastery of Abune Gerima overlooking the town of Adwa
Adwa
Adwa is a market town in northern Ethiopia, and best known as the community closest to the decisive Battle of Adowa fought in 1896 with Italian troops. Notably, Ethiopian soldiers won the battle, thus being the only African nation to thwart European colonialism...
. It is often said that her husband had been blinded to prevent him from furthering his Imperial ambitions.
Following her husband's death in 1873, Empress Dinqinesh moved to her brother's capital at Mekele, and was later remarried to Ras Wolde Kiros. She retained her title of Empress, and as her brother Emperor Yohannes was a widower throughout his reign, was the de-facto first lady of the Empire during that time. She died at Axum
Axum
Axum or Aksum is a city in northern Ethiopia which was the original capital of the eponymous kingdom of Axum. Population 56,500 . Axum was a naval and trading power that ruled the region from ca. 400 BC into the 10th century...
in 1907 during the reign of Menelik II, and was mourned officially as a dowager Empress by the Imperial court in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
.