Tekle Giyorgis I facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tekle Giyorgis I |
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| Emperor of Ethiopia | |
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| Reign | 1779–1800 |
| Predecessor | Salomon II |
| Successor | Demetros |
| Born | c. 1751 |
| Died | 12 December 1817 (aged 66) |
| House | House of Solomon |
| Religion | Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church |
Tekle Giyorgis I (born around 1751, died December 12, 1817) was an Emperor of Ethiopia. His throne name was Feqr Sagad. He ruled on and off between July 20, 1779, and June 1800. He was part of the Solomonic dynasty, a famous royal family. He was the youngest son of Emperor Yohannes II and Woizoro Sancheviyer. He was also the brother of Tekle Haymanot II. Some people called him Fiṣame Mengist, which means 'the end of the government'. This was because he was seen as the last emperor to truly rule on his own.
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Emperor Tekle Giyorgis's Appearance
Imagine Tekle Giyorgis I when he was about 66 years old. He was tall and well-built. He always wore his hair long and braided. He had big eyes and a strong nose. His face looked very manly and expressive.
Interestingly, his skin was dark, like mahogany wood. This was unusual because his parents and brother had lighter skin. He was very proud of how he looked. Even though he was a little bald, he styled his long hair to cover it. He often wore a silver or gold pin called a wolever on his forehead. He also wore special silver or gold beads around his ankles, like many women did.
Tekle Giyorgis's Life and Reigns
Tekle Giyorgis I became emperor for the first time in 1779. He was brought from a royal prison called Wehni. However, he wasn't always popular. He lost and regained his throne five times! This shows how unstable the country was during his rule.
First Time as Emperor
In his first year, Tekle Giyorgis had a disagreement with a powerful leader named Kenfu Adam. Kenfu Adam's son-in-law, Bajrond Tsadalu Egabet, caused trouble. He lost his war drums, which were symbols of his office.
Later, an ally of Kenfu Adam, Gadlu, started a rebellion. On January 14, 1780, Emperor Tekle Giyorgis marched to fight Gadlu. He surrounded Gadlu's mountain fortress, called an amba, and cut off its water. Gadlu eventually fled.
Tekle Giyorgis then learned that Kenfu Adam was trying to replace him. Kenfu Adam had brought the former emperor, Salomon II, from prison. But Tekle Giyorgis's loyal noble, Dejazmach Mebaras Boqatu, defeated Kenfu Adam. Both Kenfu Adam and Hailu Adara were captured.
In 1780, Kenfu Adam escaped and went to Gojjam. Tekle Giyorgis chased him. Kenfu Adam was recaptured. Instead of executing him, Tekle Giyorgis had Kenfu Adam and his brother blinded. This was a common punishment at the time.
In November, Tekle Giyorgis went on another military trip to Wollo. He wanted to visit Shewa and make its ruler, Asfa Wossen, accept his authority. During this trip, he ordered the building of the Debre Metmaq Maryam church in Gondar. This church was the last big building project by an emperor in Gondar for that century.
The emperor first fought and defeated the Oromo people at Wuchale on March 14, 1782. He also had to stop a plot against him. But when his soldiers reached the Bashilo, they refused to cross into Shewa. He had to turn back. He received some tribute from Asfa Wossen later, but it wasn't much for his failed trip.
Tekle Giyorgis lost his throne for the first time in 1784. Powerful leaders, Dejazmach Ali Gwangul and Ras Haile Yosadiq, worked together to remove him. He was defeated in battle and had to go into exile.
Second Time as Emperor
Tekle Giyorgis became emperor again on April 24, 1788. At this time, there were two other people who wanted to be emperor. Until he lost the throne again on July 26, 1789, Tekle Giyorgis was one of five emperors ruling in Ethiopia! This shows how much conflict there was for the throne.
Third Time as Emperor
In January 1794, Tekle Giyorgis defeated a powerful warlord named Ras Haile Yosadiq. He became Emperor once more. He went to the province of Dembiya to get help from Dejazmach Gadlu, but Gadlu wouldn't see him. However, Ras Aligaz, who had a large army, did help him. With Aligaz's help, Tekle Giyorgis stayed on the throne until April 15, 1795.
Later Reigns
Tekle Giyorgis was restored as emperor a fourth time in December 1795. He ruled until May 20, 1796. His fifth time as emperor was from January 4, 1798, to May 20, 1799. His very last time on the throne was from March 24, 1800, until June of that year.
After his last reign, he lived the rest of his life in Waldebba and Tigray. Even though the emperor's throne had little real power or money, Tekle Giyorgis still tried to get it back. He met with a powerful leader named Ras Wolde Selassie in 1814, hoping for help. But the Ras refused.
Tekle Giyorgis then went to another leader, Ras Gebre, and tried to cause trouble between him and Wolde Selassie. Eventually, Ras Wolde Selassie took Tekle Giyorgis into his care and sent him to Axum. He was watched closely there until Ras Wolde Selassie died.
After the Ras's death, Tekle Giyorgis went to Axum. He was doing quite well there, selling noble titles to victorious warlords for parts of their treasures. He died of natural causes in Axum on December 12, 1817. He was buried in the churchyard of Mariam Zion in that city.
