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Zewditu I of Ethiopia

Empress of Ethiopia (1876-1930)

PersonDied aged 53humanQ148524

Also known as Zewditu · Askala Maryam · Askala Mariam · Zewditu Menilek · Zewditu Menelik

Born: April 29, 1876
Died: April 2, 1930
Birthplace: Ejersa Goro
Place of death: Addis Ababa
Citizenship: Ethiopia
1
Sources
1.Stated in Dictionary of African Biography
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Occupation: politician
, emperor
1
Sources
1.Stated in Dictionary of African Biography
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Positions held: Emperor of Ethiopia(1916–1930)
Spouse: Gugsa Welle
, Araya Selassie Yohannes
, Gwangul Zegeye
+1 more

Overview

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · Read full article · Text CC BY-SA 4.0

Zewditu was Empress of Ethiopia from 1916 until her death in 1930. She officially adopted the regnal name "Zewditu" at the beginning of her reign, which was triggered by the dethroning of Lij Iyasu in 1916. Her coronation was held on February 11, 1917, in the Cathedral of St. George in Addis Ababa—a capital founded by her father. Forty years old and childless when crowned, she is the first and only empress regnant of the Ethiopian Empire. Described as the first modern female head of a nation in Africa, she was the last female Ethiopian head of state until the 2018 election of Sahle-Work Zewde as president. Her reign, which she is said to have closely patterned after the legacy of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, is noted for the reforms of her Regent and heir apparent Ras Tafari Makonnen – changes which she was at best ambivalent and often stridently opposed to, due to her staunch conservatism and strong religiosity.

Overview

Named after them

1 linked to Zewditu I of Ethiopia in Wikidata

ZZewditu Hospitalbuilding in Ethiopia

Founded

1 linked to Zewditu I of Ethiopia in Wikidata

Order of the Queen of Sheba1922 · order of Ethiopian Empire

All data

59 statements · 19% with external sources · numbers in brackets are citations

Father: Menilek II
Sex or gender: female
1
Sources
1.Stated in Dictionary of African Biography
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Family: House of Solomon
Religion or worldview: Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
Given name: Judit
Significant event: coronation(February 11, 1917) location: Addis Ababa · positions held: Emperor of Ethiopia
Child: N. Gwangul father: Gwangul Zegeye
N. Gugsa father: Gugsa Welle
Mother: Abetchew Bayan
Sibling: Shoa Reggad Menelik
Noble title: empress regnant
Place of burial: Imperial Palace, Addis Ababa
Stepparent: Taytu Betul

On other databases

32 identifiers linking Zewditu I of Ethiopia across the web's reference databases

Data quality

statements

19%

externally sourced

Source last edited October 6, 2026. AIDB refreshes this page daily.

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AIDB. (2026). Zewditu I of Ethiopia (Q148524). Retrieved from https://aidb.si/e/zewditu-i-of-ethiopia-Q148524