ETHIOPIA
THE IMPERIAL ARMS
The lion and the cross depicted in the report of Ulrich Richental and shown here, matches the description of the King of Ardeslib as the defender of the church (of Nubia). The three coats of arms in the report of Richental suggest that the three delegates represented the administrative, the religious and the armed powers of the Ethiopian state, the arms with the balance and strewn with crosses symbolizing the judicature exercised by the clergy. This, together with the Abuna we met before, makes
the organization of the Ethiopian state consisting of a supreme spiritual
leader, a chief executive, the administrators, the judges and the warriors.
This very much resembles the organisation of the Mameluk state in Egypt
(1250-1517) which consisted of the Caliph, the Sultan, the men of the pen,
the men of the turban and the men of the sword. [1]
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The arms with the lion and the cross in the Constanz Chronicle [2] Argent, a lion rampant Or
with a latin cross Gules. |
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The coat of arms, Argent, a lion rampant Or, in his forepaws a latin cross Gules, was copied by other European authors in the 16th and 17th centuries, for example by Sebastian Münster and Abraham Ortelius. [3] After the “Historia de Ethiopia” of Manoel d’Almeida of the middle of the 17th century, the cross in the paws of the lion was changed into a crucifix and this was copied throughout the 18th and 19th centuries until the end of anarchy in Ethiopia in 1855. [4] ` Arms of Ethiopia by Sebastian Münster, 1550. |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
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Arms of Ethiopia in European sources: 1.
17th century a ribbon with the motto VICIT LEO DE TRIBU JUDA added; 2. From
L’encyclopédie de Diderot et d’Alembert (1751-’72), a crown of thorns and two
whips added; 3. 19th century. |
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Menelik II |
*1844-†1913 King of Shoa
1855-1913 Emperor 1889 -1913 |
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Emperor Menelik II undertook a throughgoing restyling of the
imperial presentation. That, also, is demonstrated by the new title of “Elect of
God, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah and King of Kings of Ethiopia” he adopted [5]. The
restyling started with the adoption of a coat of arms which differed slightly
from the coat of arms passed on in European sources. In its place, the coat
of arms as depicted in the report of the Council of Konstantz was more or
less readopted, the lion passant instead of rampant now, the
colors reversed, all like on the seal of 1874. The
shield crowned with the imperial crown. A
second coat of arms was adopted about 1894 when a postal service was
organized and coins were struck. This coat of arms was: Arms: Argent, masoned Sable, a natural lion passant guardant Gules, imperially crowned Or, keeping in his sinister claw a procession cross with a streamer of the national colors, standing on a green field. Motto: He is Born the Lion of Judah, in amharic, on a listel, its ends knotted, Argent above the arms. Garland: Branches of coffee and cotton. [6] 16 guerche stamp,
1894 A version of this arms is on stamps issued 1894 shown here. |
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On
an uncertain date but somewhat before 1909, an Imperial Achievement was
designed which replaced the older coat of arms. [7] ¼ Guerche stamp issued 27.03.1909 Representing the
achievement The achievement is as follows: Emblem: The Lion’s Throne of Solomon, on its seat
an orb proper, on its back a Solomon’s seal. Exterior Ornaments: The archangels Michael and Gabriel,
vested Or and Vert, on their breasts a square cross cross patonce, above the throne an open
bible between the amharic letters Alef, Wau and Alef;
before the throne the Ethiopian Lion, walking to the dexter Motto: The Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah,
on his procession cross a note. Mantle: On two branches of olive, Gules, lined
Argent, fringed and tasseled Or, crowned with the Imperial Crown of Ethiopia.
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This
achievement demonstrates the claim of the Ethiopian rulers that they
descended from Solomon, king of the united monarchy of Israel (970-931 BC) and which served
to legitimize their power. Its central symbol is the Throne of Solomon,
mentioned in the Bible: 1 Kings 10 :
18 Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the
best gold. 19 The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round
behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two
lions stood beside the stays. 20 And twelve lions stood there on the one side
and on the other upon the six steps: there was not
the like made in any kingdom. 2 Chronicles 9 :
17 Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure
gold. 18 And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold,
which were fastened to the throne, and stays on each side of the sitting
place, and two lions standing by the stays: 19 And twelve lions stood there
on the one side and on the other upon the six steps. There was not the like made in any kingdom. |
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The Lion’s Throne was from ancient Egyptian times the seat of the ruler. In the European middle ages it was the seat of kings but only in a very few cases these thrones can be interpreted as the Throne of King Solomon. Such an exeption is the throne on which the Roman Emperor Henry VI (1190-’97) is sitting in the manuscript of Petrus of Ebulo. [8] On the back of the throne is a hexagram which can be interpreted as the symbol of King David, the father of Solomon and in this case the symbol of the Ethiopian Solomonic Dynasty. The orb is the common symbol of the Empire, the orb with the cross the symbol of a Christian Empire. The archangels Gabriel and Michael are also mentioned in
the Bible [9] They are the main spokesman and the main
warrior of the Jewish and Christian God and in this sense they were also
adopted by Islam. The two archangels are always depicted winged and armed,
Gabriel holding a balance as a symbol of the Last Judgement, and Michael a
palmleaf as a symbol of Victory. In the time of the designing of the
Ethiopian achievement the two archangels were the supporters of the arms of
the Emperors of Russia.
The crown is the symbol of administrative power, the Imperial crown of Ethiopia the symbol of the supreme administrative power with which the Emperor is invested. On the front of the crown is the effigy of St. George slaying the dragon. St. George can generally be interpreted as the personification of the Defender of the Faith and in this way the qualification of “Servant of the Cross” of the mediaeval rulers of Ardeslib became a part of the Ethiopian imperial presentation. |
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Haile Selassie |
*1892-†1975 Regent 1916-1930 King 1928 Emperor 1930-1974 |
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Shield of
the Imperial Embassy Coll. Musée Quai Branly, Paris [10] Imperial
achievement of Haile Selassie. It is the same as the achievement of his predecessor Menelik II, but
the lion walking to the sinister, keeping the processional cross in his
dexter paw, the note replaced by a streamer in the national colours. |
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AFRICA ORIENTALE ITALIANA |
9.V.1936-27.XI.1941 |
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An achievement for
the Emperor Victor Emanuel III of
Savoy was adopted by Royal decree of 31 of August 1939 and published
in the Gazzetta Ufficiale of 16 April 1940. Foto Archivio Centrale
dello Stato, Roma. |
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The decree
reads: GAZZETTA
UFFICIALE DEL REGNO D’ITALIA Roma - Martedi, 16 aprile 1940 - Anno
XVIII (pp. 1373-1374) REGIO DECRETO 31 Agosto
1939-XVII, n. 2225. Determinazione
della foggia dello Stemma Imperiale dell’Africa Orientale Italiana. VITTORIO EMANUELE III PER GRAZIA DI DIO E PER VOLONTÀ DELLA NAZIONE RE D’ITALIA E DI ALBANIA IMPERATORE D’ETIOPIA Volendo determinare la foggia dello Stemma
Imperiale dell’Africa Orientale Italiana; Veduti i Regi decreti-legge 9 maggio
1936-XIV, n. 754, covertito nella legge 18 maggio 1936-XIV, n. 867, e 1°
giugno 1936-XIV, n. 1019, convertito nella legge 11 gennaio 1937-XV, n. 285; Sentito il Nostro Commissarario presso la
Consulta Araldica; Sentito il Consiglio dei Ministri; Sulla proposta del DUCE del Fascismo, Capo
di Governo e Ministro Segretario di Stato per l’Africa Italiana e del
Guardasigilli, Ministro Segretario di Stato per la grazia e giustizia; Abbiamo decretato e decretiamo: 1. - Lo Stemma Imperiale dell’Africa
Orientale Italiana è formato da uno scudo sannitico
inquartato: Nel primo (Eritrea): troncato: al 1° d’argento alla leonessa
illeopardita di rosso, armata d’oro, caricata di una stella d’argento sul
cuore; al 2° ondato d’azzurro e d’argento di sei pezzi; Nel secondo (Amara):
al 1° d’oro, al braccio steso vestito di manica di camicia nera impugnante
con la mano destra di carnagione un gladio romano, il tutto posto in fascia;
al 2° di rosso alla croce copta d’oro; Nel terzo (Somalia): troncato
innestato d’argento sulla partizione; al 1° d’azzurro al leopardo d’oro,
chiazzato di nero, sormentato da una stella d’argento nel punto del capo; al
2° di rosso a due stelle d’argento di sei raggi poste in fascia; Nel quarto
(Galla e Sidama): d’oro alla fascia ondata di azzurro, accompagnata in capo
da un aratro al naturale; Controinnestato, in capo (Scioa): d’azzurro al
monte di cinque colli all’italiana d’argento, movente dalla punta, sormontato
dall’emblema legionario romano d’oro; in punta (Harar): d’argento al montante
di verde. Sul tutto allo Scudo di Savoia: di rosso alla croce d’argento. Lo scudo: accostato da due Fasci Littori,
sostenuti da due leoni d’oro, linguati di rosso, controrampanti, con la testa in maestà, pogginati su una lista d’azzurro con la
scritta: «FERT - FERT - FERT »; accolato alla grande Collana
dell’Ordine Supremo della SS. Annunziata e alla decorazione dell’Ordine
coloniale della Stella d’Italia; sormontato dalla Corona Imperiale che
è chiusa da otto vette d’oro (cinque visibili) moventi da aquile d’oro ad ali aperte, e da scudetti di Savoia sostenuti da Fasci
Littori d’oro, alternati le une e gli altri con gruppi di tre perle disposte
1-2, riuniti con doppia curvatura sula sommità, fregiata all’esterno da otto
grosse perle decrescenti dal centro e sostenenti un globo d’oro cerchiato,
cimato dalla Croce Mauriziana d’oro, trifogliata, sulla sommità del globo; il
tutto con alla base un cerchio d’oro con i margine cordonati fregiato da otto
grossi zaffiri e rubini, cinque visibili, divisi da otto nodi di Savoia,
quattro visibili. 2. - La foggia del presente Stemma è
approvata come è
effigiata nella tavola unita al presente decreto, la quale sarà firmata dal
Nostro Commissario presso la Consulta Araldica, con il visto, d’ordine
Nostro, del DUCE del Fascismo, Capo del Governo. Ordiniamo che il presente decreto, munito
del sigillo dello Stato, sia inserto nella Raccolta ufficiale delle leggi e
dei decreti del Regno d’Italia, mandando a chiunque spetti di osservarlo e di
farlo osservare. Dato di San Rossore, addi 31 agosto
1939-XVII VITTORIO EMANUELE MUSSOLINI - GRANDI VISTO, il
Guardasigilli: GRANDI Registrato alla Corte dei conti,
addi 31 ottobre
1939-XVIII Atto dei Governo, registro 414, foglio 143. - MANCINI |
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That is to say: Arms: Quarterly: 1. Eritrea; 2. Amhara; 3. Somalia; 4. Galle and Sidamo; the chief entée en point of Shoa the base entée en point of Harrar. On an escutcheon Savoy. Crown: A crown of five hoops, on the diadem four groups of three pearls, two escutcheons of Savoy and one golden Roman eagle, being the Imperial Crown of Ethiopia. Orders: The collar and jewel of the Order of the Annunciation and the star and ribbon of the Ordine Coloniale della Stella d’Italia. Supporters: Two lions guardant each supporting a fasces proper. Motto: FERT FERT FERT in golden lettering on a blue ribbon. â Amhara: Per fess, the first Or, an outstreched arm, vested in a black sleeve of a camicia nera, holding a Roman sword (gladius) per fess pointing to the dexter; the second Gules an Ethiopian cross Or. Eritrea: Per fess, the first Argent, a lion passant Gules, langued and unguled Or, his shoulder charged with a mullet Argent; the second barry wavy of six pieces Azure and Argent. Galle and Sidamo: Or, a fess wavy Azure in chief a plow proper. Harar: Argent a crescent Vert. Shoa: Azure, a five topped mountain Argent supporting a Roman standard Or. Somalia: Per fess a fess nebuly Argent, the first Azure a leopard passant proper, in chief a mullet Argent; the base Gules two six pointed stars Argent. [11] |
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Viceroys |
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The vice-regal flag shows the crowned coat of arms taken from the national- and navy flag of 1879 on a white field and within a blue border charged with italian fasces in the four corners, their axes pointing inwards. |
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After the
collapse of A.O.I. and the return of Haile Selassie, the old symbols of state
were restored Stall plate of Haile Selassie, Knight of the Garter,
1954 © The Dean and Canons of Windsor |
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©
Hubert deVries 2009-11-04; Updated 2015-07-11
[1] The organigram of the Mameluk state in: Riley-Smith, Jonathan: The Atlas of the Crusades. London, 1991.
[2] Richental Ulrich: Das Konzil zu Konstantz MCDXIV-MCDXVIII. Faksimile Ausgabe. Josef Keller Verlag. Hamburg, 1964. Fol. 130a.
[3] Ortelius, Abraham: Presbiteri Iohannis sive Abessinorvm Imperii Descriptio, 1572.
[4] Telles, Balthasar: Historia geral de Ethiopia a Alta ou Abassia do Preste Ioam, e do que nella obraram os Padres da Companhia de Iesus: composta na mesma Ethiopia pelo Padre Manoel d'Almeyda, natural de Visev, Provincial e Visitador, que foy na Índia. Abreviada com nova releyçam, e methodo. Coimbra, Officina de Manoel Dias Impressor de Universidade, 1660.
[6] Zervos, Adrien: Les emblèmes et insignes nationaux de l'Ethiopie. In: L'Empire d'Ethiopie, le miroir de l'Ethiopie moderne. 1936, pp. 29-31, ill..
[7] The oldest representations available on stamps issued 1911.
[8] Ebulo, Petrus de: Liber ad Honorem Augusti sive de rebus Siculis. Codex 120 II der Burgerbibliothek Bern, fol. 147.
[9] Gabriel in Daniël 8 : 16 and Lucas 1 : 19 and Michael in Daniël 10 : 13 and Revelation 12 : 7.
[10]
N° inventaire : 71.1940.3.4 D / Toponyme(s)
: Afrique /Afrique orientale / Ethiopie / Précédente
collection :Musée de l'Homme (Afrique) / Matériaux et Techniques :Bois,
pigments /Dimensions : 72,5 x 62 x 3,5 cm, 1280 g
/ Objet non exposé
[11]
Der Herold, 1941, pp. A2 & A3, A22; Gallo, G.:
Vexilla Italica (s.d.); Bascapè, 1983.