Mentewwab

Ethiopian empress

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July 18, 2026

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Empress Mentewwab was a significant figure in Ethiopian history who ruled jointly with her son and grandson during the 18th century. Her reign, from 1730 to 1769, was a period of cultural flourishing, with the court sponsoring arts, education, and religious institutions.1

Despite these advancements, ethnic, regional, and religious divisions ultimately led to the collapse of the kingdom in 1769, ushering in the "Age of the Princes" (1769–1855), an era characterized by feudal anarchy and increased oppression of the farming population.1

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Ethiopia
Challenge, revival, and decline (16th–19th century)
…century under the sponsorship of Empress Mentewwab (reigned 1730–69), a remarkable woman who ruled jointly with her son and grandson. However, ethnic, regional, and religious factionalism undermined the kingdom and led in 1769 to its collapse. The Zamana Masafent (“Age of the Princes”; 1769–1855), an era of feudal anarchy, had…
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…century under the sponsorship of Empress Mentewwab (reigned 1730–69), a remarkable woman who ruled jointly with her son and grandson. However, ethnic, regional, and religious factionalism undermined the kingdom and led in 1769 to its collapse. The Zamana Masafent (“Age of the Princes”; 1769–1855), an era of feudal anarchy, had…
Read More