Mengesha Yohannes

Illegitimate son of Emperor Johannes IV of Ethiopia and member of the Royal family of the Ethiopian Empire (1868–1906)

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Lived 1868–1906, aged 38

Wikipedia
6 languages
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Era
1868–1906
Aged 38

Summary

Updated 2026-07-09

Ras Mengesha Yohannes was governor of Tigray and a son of Emperor Yohannes IV. His mother was Welette Tekle Haymanot wife of dejazmach kassa Mercha. Ras Araya Selassie Yohannes was his younger half brother. Prior to the Battle of Metemma, Mengesha Yohannes was considered to be a nephew of Emperor Yohannes IV. During the battle, the Emperor was mortally wounded and it was on his deathbed that Mengesha Yohannes was acknowledged as his "natural" son and designated as his heir. This created something of a succession problem.