Jantirar
Encyclopedia
Jantirar is a title of the Ethiopian Empire
. It is borne historically by the head of the family holding the mountain fortress of Amba Sel in Ethiopia
, similar to Wagshum, the heridary ruler of the province of Wag
, and unlike other aristocratic titles like Meridazmach or Ras. While that artistocratic family is said to be one of the most noble in Ethiopian history, they never ruled any larger realm than their own district. Empress Menen Asfaw
, consort of emperor Haile Selassie, was a daughter of Jantirar Asfaw of Ambassel
.
The meaning of the title Jantirar makes it unique. The element Jan is the same as the Jan in Janhoye, another word used to refer to the Emperor of Ethiopia
. Also, both words after Jan have almost similar meaning in Amharic
. Hoye or hoyi can be roughly translated into "hear me, hear my call", while tirar is a form of Tira which means call or calling.
However, the claim that 'they never ruled any larger realm than their own district' can be challenged in many fronts. For example, while the mother of Yekuno Amlak was from Sagarat
in the Dessie Zuria
woreda
, his father came from the highlands of Amba Sel. All the local folk histories and some remnants of the Axumite Kingdom, even before the Zagwe dynasty
appears in history, around Lake Hayq
of Amba Sel with a church that was founded in the 8th century, suggests that Ambassel and its immediate surrounding Amhara regions were well prepared to produce a king and a legend as it suits its kingdom. It is arguable that their Jantirar can not be so without some connection of their being the origin of Yekuno Amlak.
Ethiopian Empire
The Ethiopian Empire also known as Abyssinia, covered a geographical area that the present-day northern half of Ethiopia and Eritrea covers, and included in its peripheries Zeila, Djibouti, Yemen and Western Saudi Arabia...
. It is borne historically by the head of the family holding the mountain fortress of Amba Sel in Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, similar to Wagshum, the heridary ruler of the province of Wag
Wag
Wag is a traditional highland district in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia, in the approximate location of the modern Wag Hemra Zone. Weld Blundell described the district as bounded on the south by the mountains of Lasta, on the east and north by the Tellare River, and the west by the Tekezé...
, and unlike other aristocratic titles like Meridazmach or Ras. While that artistocratic family is said to be one of the most noble in Ethiopian history, they never ruled any larger realm than their own district. Empress Menen Asfaw
Menen Asfaw
Empress Menen Asfaw was the wife and consort of Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia. Empress Menen was the daughter of Asfaw, Jantirar of Ambassel...
, consort of emperor Haile Selassie, was a daughter of Jantirar Asfaw of Ambassel
Ambassel
Ambassel is one of the 105 woredas of the Amhara Region in Ethiopia, and an amba, or mountain fortress, located in the woreda; the woreda is named for this feature...
.
The meaning of the title Jantirar makes it unique. The element Jan is the same as the Jan in Janhoye, another word used to refer to the Emperor of Ethiopia
Emperor of Ethiopia
The Emperor of Ethiopia was the hereditary ruler of Ethiopia until the abolition of the monarchy in 1974. The Emperor was the head of state and head of government, with ultimate executive, judicial and legislative power in that country...
. Also, both words after Jan have almost similar meaning in Amharic
Amharic language
Amharic is a Semitic language spoken in Ethiopia. It is the second most-spoken Semitic language in the world, after Arabic, and the official working language of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Thus, it has official status and is used nationwide. Amharic is also the official or working...
. Hoye or hoyi can be roughly translated into "hear me, hear my call", while tirar is a form of Tira which means call or calling.
However, the claim that 'they never ruled any larger realm than their own district' can be challenged in many fronts. For example, while the mother of Yekuno Amlak was from Sagarat
Sagarat
Sagarat is a place in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia, near Dessie. It is part of the Dessie Zuria woreda and is very close to Kutaber town and Boru Selassie Church to one side. It faces the amba of Miderwasha in Ambassel...
in the Dessie Zuria
Dessie Zuria
Dessie Zuria is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Located at the eastern edge of the Ethiopian highlands in the Debub Wollo Zone, Dessie Zuria is bordered on the south by Were Ilu, on the west by Legambo, on the northwest by Tenta, on the north by Kutaber, on the northeast...
woreda
Woreda
Woreda is an administrative division of Ethiopia , equivalent to a district . Woredas are composed of a number of Kebele, or neighborhood associations, which are the smallest unit of local government in Ethiopia...
, his father came from the highlands of Amba Sel. All the local folk histories and some remnants of the Axumite Kingdom, even before the Zagwe dynasty
Zagwe dynasty
The Zagwe dynasty was an historical kingdom in present-day Ethiopia. It ruled large parts of the territory from approximately 1137 to 1270, when the last Zagwe King Za-Ilmaknun was killed in battle by the forces of Yekuno Amlak...
appears in history, around Lake Hayq
Lake Hayq
Lake Hayq or Lake Haik is a freshwater lake of Ethiopia. It is located north of Dessie, in the Debub Wollo Zone of the Amhara Region . The town of Hayq is to the west of the lake....
of Amba Sel with a church that was founded in the 8th century, suggests that Ambassel and its immediate surrounding Amhara regions were well prepared to produce a king and a legend as it suits its kingdom. It is arguable that their Jantirar can not be so without some connection of their being the origin of Yekuno Amlak.