Nobility of Abeshia

The nobility of Abeshia refers to the privileged social class that as dominated Abeshian society for millennia. There are two catergories of nobility in Abeshia, the Mesafint (Sabaean: መሳፍንት), the hereditary nobles, collectively called mesfin, or prince; and the Mekwanint (Sabaean: መኳንንት), the appointed dignitaries raised to noble status usually from humble background forming the bulk of the nobility.

Aristocratic titles for men

The vast majority of the titles of nobility in Abeshia drew their origin from the ancient military titles of the past. The highest non royal title is that Ras, which is more less equated to the western title Duke. Ras is followed by Dejazmach (similar to Count but equated to that of Marquess), Qenazmach, Garazmach, Fitawrari (equated to Baron), and Balambaras (similar to that of a knight)

• Ras (Duke)
• Dejazmach (Marquess)
• Qenazmach (Count)
• Garazmach (Viscount)
• Fitawrari (Baron)
• Balambaras (Knight)

In addition to these six titles of nobility, certain additional titles are used as courtesy titles by the sons of nobles or by cadet branches of the imperial house. For instance the various heads of cadet branches of the imperial family are titled Leul Ras (Literally Prince-Duke or Prince of the Blood), while tthe eldest son of a Leul Ras traditionally holds the rank of Leul Dejazmach. The male children of the mesafint (the hereditary nobility) are all called Lij.

Aristocratic titles for women

Abeshian nobility differs from other countries in that the vast majority of said titles can only be held by a male descendant, however women are entitled to use titles signifying their status as the wife or daughter of a noble. The Wives of Leul Rases are entitled to the use the honorific Leult, Princess, while the wives of Leul Dejazmaches use Emebet Hoy (Great royal lady). The honorific Emebet is used by both the daughters of Leul Rases and the grand-daughters in the female line of the imperial house. The Wives of non royal nobles such as Ras, Dejazmach, and Qenazmach use the honorific Woizero Hoy (great lady); while the wives of a Garazmach, Fitawrari, and a Balambaras use the term Woizero, (dame), which as in modern times become the established form of address for all married women regardless of their social standing.

Peerage

The Abeshian nobility is unique in the fact that while a distinct aristocratic class of nobles exists, none of them can claim rights to a title without it being bestowed on them by the emperor, because of this when a Ras dies his eldest son must attend the Emperor at court in the hopes of being granted his father's old title. In any case their are usually no fewer then 15 Rases (including the princes of the blood), 35 Dejazmaches, 51 Qenazmaches, 29 Garazmaches, some 400 Fitawraris, and over 1500 Balambarases for a total of 2,030 titled nobles. Of these only Ras through Fitawrari are members of the westernized peerage system.

List of Peerages

1. Bahr Negus; ancient title denoting rulership of the maritime province of Medri Bahri, title absorbed into the crown
2. Prince/Duke (Mesfin) of Menz, held by HIH Prince Leul Paulos Wossen Segad, a grandson of the Emperor,
3. Prince/Duke (Mesfin) of Bulga, held by HIH Ermias Sahle Selasie, who is also Dejazmach of Leqa Naqamte by virtue of his mother
4. Tigray Makonnen; Viceroy of Tigray, title held by Leul Ras Mengesha Seyum, Prince of Tigray, highest ranking peer in the empire not holding the style of Imperial Highness
5. Prince/Duke (Mesfin) of Tegulet, title held by HH Leul Ras Sahlu Mikael,
6. Prince/Duke (Mesfin) of Selale, title held by HH Leul Ras Asfa Wossen Asserate,
7. Agafari of Simien; Vicroy of Simein, title held by Dejazmach Haile Giyorgis Tewodros
8. Azmatch of Begameder; Viceroy of Begameder
9. Sahafalam of Amhara Sayint; Great Lord of the Amhara districts of Wello
10. Negus of Gojjam; tituler king of Gojjam, title held by Leul Ras Mammo Hailu,
11. Sahafalam of Damot
12. Negus of Shewa; title absorbed into the crown
13. Wagshum; hereditary title held by the male-line descendants of the Zagaw dynasty, ruling over the districts of Lasta, and Wag, the current holder is Wagshum Tafari Wossen, Dejazmach of Lasta
14. Jantirar; hereditary lord of Ambassel
15. Shum of Agame
16. Shum of Enariya
17. Shum of Sagada
18. Shum of Sagada
19. Shum of Shire
20. Shum of Tembien (held by the Prince of Tigray)
21. Shum of Enderta (held by the Prince of Tigray)
22. Sultan of Ausa
23. Sultan of Jimma
24. Amir of Harar
25. Qas of Gurage
26. Qas of Hadiya
27. Qas of Ifat
28. Garad of Bali
29. Garad of Gan
30. Sheikh of Bela Shangul

It should be noted that the order of precedence for the peerage titles in Abeshia is rather peculiar in the fact that certain titles are ranked higher by virtue of their closeness to the throne first, followed by their military importance, with the date of creation being of secondary importance. Furthermore all Muslim titled peers are ranked after Amharized christian peers. Because of this the Sultan of Jimma and the Amir of Harar are ranked lower then the Shum (lord) of Enderta is. Coincedently the holder of the title Shum of Enderta is actually ranked higher due to the title being held by the Prince of Tigray.

The four individuals holding the rank of Mesfin are ranked highly due to their proximity to the throne all being Princes of the blood, while their title itself can be translated into either Duke or more closely into Prince.

List of prominent nobles in the present

• Leul Paulos Wossen Segad, Duke of Menz
• Leul Ermias Sahle Selasie, Duke of Bulga, Dejazmach of Leqa Naqamte
• Leul Ras Mengesha Seyum, Prince of Tigray
• Leul Ras Mammo Hailu, Prince of Gojjam
• Leul Ras Asfa Wossen Asserate, Prince of Selale
• Leul Ras Sahlu Mikael, Prince of Tegulet

• Ras Solomon Eskander
• Ras Yohannes Andargachew
• Ras Dawit Abiye
• Ras Amanuel Mesfin
• Ras Hailu Getachew
• Ras Mikael Hailu (of Gojjam)
• Ras Gobana Abebe
• Ras Yilma Endelkachew
• Ras Sabagadis Sebhat, Shum of Agame
• Ras Hanfare Alimirah, Sultan of Aussa
• Ras Ali Gwangul, of Yejju
• Ras Bitul Gugsa
• Ras Giyorgis Adafersaw
• Ras Gebre-Hiwot Mikael

• Wagshum Tafari Wossen, Dejazmach of Lasta
• Amha Kassa, Dejazmach of Leqa Qallam
• Dejazmach Haile Giyorgis Tewodros
• Dejazmach Merid Beyene
• Dejazmach Samson Beyene
• Dejazmach Kifle Irgetu
• Dejazmach Workineh Wolde Amanuel
• Dejazmach Aemero Selassie Abebe
• Dejazmach Solomon Abreha
• Dejazmach Sahelu Difeye
• Dejazmach Worku Enko Selassie
• Dejazmach Legese Bezu
• Dejazmach Kebede Aliwele Asfaw
• Dejazmach Bazabi Kafi
• Dejazmach Aba Jobir, Sultan of Jimma
• Dejazmach Zewde Gebre-Selassie
• Dejazmach Samson Fikre Selassie
• Dejazmach Girma Yohannes
• Dejazmach Kifle Seifu
• Dejazmach Metaferia Melke Tsedek
• Dejazmach Mengesha Wube
• Dejazmach Habte'Mikael Yinadu
• Dejazmach Mekonnen Wosssen
• Dejazmach Seyum Desta
• Dejazmach Belay Ali
• Dejazmach Haile Selassie Aba Jebel
• Dejazmach Hailu Tesfaye
• Dejazmach Abebe Ayelewerk
• Dejazmach Ayalew Birru
• Dejazmach Tesfa Tiku
• Dejazmatch Kebede Aragaw
• Dejazmatch Kassa Sibhat

• Qenazmach Yilma Aboye
• Qenazmach Tsige Werdeworq
• Qenazmach Tsige Yimamu
• Qenazmach Habte'Mikael Birru
• Qenazmach Lema Bisewur
• Qenazmach Leul Seged Deneke
• Qenazmach Mola Wenberu
• Qenazmach Desta Welde Kiros
• Qenazmach Dehne Wolde Mariam
• Qenazmach Wolde Tsadik Zegeye
• Qenazmach Yeshineh
• Qenazmach Keterew Wolde Aregai
• Qenazmach Woldeyes Ayele
• Qenazmach Kebede Meshesha
• Qenazmach Haile Mikael Haji Bilto
• Qenazmach Haile Tsion Kawotona
• Qenazmach Haile Digua Wuhaw
• Qenazmach Nigatu Beshe
• Qenazmach Amare Gebre Mariam
• Qenazmach Tsige WerdeWerk
• Qenazmach Tsige Yimamu
• Qenazmach Tsemiru Gebre-Selassie

• Garazmach Haile Mariam Gessese
• Garazmach Gizaw Petros
• Garazmach Asfaw Tamene
• Garazmach Legesse Gizaw
• Garazmach Mesha Wenberu
• Garazmach Belew Tessema
• Garazmach Bedasso Abdulahi
• Garazmach Biyad Gilign
• Garazmach Tebeje
• Garazmach Tedla Haile Giyorgis
• Garazmach Asfaw Tamene
• Garazmach Asres Tessema
• Garazmach Abebe Nake
• Garazmach Demise Abe
• Garazmach Kassa Raklis
• Garazmach Wolde Mikael Desalegn
• Garazmach Kebede Tasew
• Garazmach Gibaw Gizaw
• Garazmach Gizaw Serawitu

• Fitawrari Iyoas Amda Abera
• Fitawrari Tadesse Enko Selassie
• Fitawrari Demisse Alamirew
• Fitawrari Zewde Germachew
• Fitawrari Asfaw Manaye
• Fitawrari Leul Seged Wendyirad
• Fitawrari Sahle Giorgis Nadew
• Fitawrari Temesgen Bitew
• Fitawrari Tefera Mesfin
• Fitawari Haile Wolde Tsadik
• Fitawrari Asfaw Man'Aye
• Fitawrari Ayalew Birru
• Fitawrari Demise Habte-Selassie
• Fitawrari Girma Mamo
• Fitawrari Gebre-Selassie Aba Wurji
• Fitawrari Gediwon Guangul
• Fitawrari Desalegn Cherinet
• Fitawrari Desta AtnafSeged
• Fitawrari Wolde Giorgis Adem

• Balambaras Mahateme Selassie Wolde Meskel
• Balambaras Minase Asfaw
• Balambaras Leul Seged Yimer
• Balambaras Liben Gebrehiwot
• Balambaras Reda
• Balambaras Tessema Ali
• Balambaras Asfaw WoldeGiorgis
• Balambaras Abera Ketema
• Balambaras Haile Geta Bicha
• Balambaras Asfaw TekleMariam
• Balambaras Emagnu Yimer
• Balambaras Mesai Wond Bewossen
• Balambaras Girma Yayehyirad
• Balambaras Degefu Gebre