Regnal lists of Ethiopia

Regnal lists of Ethiopia are recorded lists of monarchs who are claimed by tradition to have ruled Ethiopia. These lists are often recorded on manuscripts or orally by monasteries and have been passed down over the centuries.

Many surviving physical regnal lists, as well as recorded oral lists, chronicle the line of kings beginning with Menelik I to the Solomonic dynasty. In Ethiopian tradition, Menelik is believed to be the son of queen Makeda (the Biblical Queen of Sheba) and king Solomon. The rulers that followed Menelik were the kings of Axum, the Zagwe dynasty and the Solomonic dynasty. Some monarchs who ruled before Menelik are recorded in different Ethiopian traditions. These regnal lists were used to prove the longevity of the Ethiopian monarchy and to provide legitimacy for the Solomonic dynasty until its fall from power in 1974.

Traditions

Menelik I

Ethiopian traditions record a range of different monarchs from earlier times whose existence has not been verified by modern-day archeology. Their stories and legends may have elements of truth but it is unclear to what extent this is the case. Numerous king lists have been recorded either on manuscripts or via oral tradition. However, surviving information on the kings prior to the reign of emperor Yekuno Amlak (1270–1285) is often scattered, incomplete or contradictory.^[1][2] The king lists that do refer to pre-1270 Ethiopia rarely match completely with one another.^[3] This variation is likely because the lists were compiled over a long time period across several different monasteries.^[4] It is also possible that the variations in succession order could be due to tampering with the lists after the 13th century that resulted from "dynastic quarrels" and "ideological re-readings" of the Axumite regnal lists.^[5]

Notable legendary Ethiopian monarchs include:

• Arwe – Mythical serpent king who ruled for 400 years before being killed by Angabo.
• Angabo – A king of non-royal birth who killed the evil serpent Arwe, and was the father or ancestor of Makeda, the Queen of Sheba.
• Ethiopis – A king who was said to have inspired the name of the country of Ethiopia.
• Makeda – The biblical queen of Sheba who, according to Ethiopian tradition, is believed to be the mother of Menelik I.
• Menelik I – Son of the queen of Sheba and king Solomon of Israel and founder of the Solomonic dynasty in the 10th century BC. Much information on this king comes from the 14th century text Kebra Nagast, however he remains historically unverified. In reality, the Solomonic dynasty began in 1270 AD with the reign of Yekuno Amlak.
• Abreha and Atsbeha – Two brothers who supposedly brought Christianity to Ethiopia, however their existence is doubted by some historians. Some scholars believe that the story of Abreha and Atsbeha may in fact be based on the Axumite kings Ezana and Saizana.^[6]
• Gudit – Legendary queen who supposedly laid waste to the Kingdom of Axum. Her deeds are recorded in oral tradition, but the various stories about her occasionally have differing or conflicting details.

Regnal list variations

Spanish missionary Pedro Páez (1595–1678)

Historian Manfred Kropp noted that numerous regnal lists exist that date back to the 13th century and these are reliable documents. However, for the period before this there are only legendary memories of the Axumite rulers.^[2] Regnal lists were created to provide a connection between the Solomonic dynasty and the legendary Axumite kings while skipping the Zagwe dynasty. Such lists were written for the purpose of proving the legitimacy of the ruling Solomonic emperors and had information drawn from chronicles held in monasteries.^[7] Kropp believed that Ethiopian regnal lists were intended to fill in the gaps between major events, such as the meeting of Makeda and Solomon, the arrival of Frumentius and the beginning of the Zagwe dynasty. The great variation in names and order between regnal lists was likely because this process took place across several different monasteries and were also passed on orally.^[4]

E. A. Wallis Budge commented that any written information on the period of Ethiopian history before the 13th century was "incomplete" and "untrustworthy". However, he felt that this was because any regnal lists or chronological works held in Axum were likely burned or destroyed before Yekuno Amlak ascended the throne in 1270.^[1] Budge noted that numerous regnal lists were known to exist in which the number and order of kings were rarely the same. He felt that it was clear that the chronographers of Abyssinia from the 13th and 14th centuries "did not know how many kings had reigned over [their country] from the time of Makeda [...] or the exact order of succession". Budge theorized that while the regnal lists showed evidence that they were based on legend and tradition, some parts of the list suggested that the scribes did indeed "[have] access to chronological and historical documents of some kind", including Coptic and Arabic texts which were possibly brought over by monks fleeing Egypt and Nubia during the time of the Arab conquests. Some lists began with Adam or David.^[3]

Two European missionaries in the 16th and 17th centuries, Pedro Páez and Manuel de Almeida, visited Ethiopia and personally saw two different regnal lists on which they based their respective writings on the history of Ethiopia.^[8] The manuscripts likely dated to before 1620.^[8] Both Páez and de Almeida stated that the Ethiopian emperor lent them books from the church of Axum containing the regnal lists.^[8] European travellers James Bruce, Henry Salt and Carlo Conti Rossini all published different regnal lists in Europe between the late 18th and early 20th centuries. The lists were written based on information gathered from local Ethiopian scribes. These regnal lists contain a list of names from Menelik I to Dil Na'od, but both the names and order of kings only occasionally overlap between the different lists, and there are numerous kings who appear on one list but are omitted from another. There are also at least two manuscripts held in the British Museum that contain differing regnal lists covering the same lineage of monarchs.^[9] Budge theorised that the existence of multiple regnal lists were to due to rival claimants to the throne.^[10]

Studies and comparisons of the regnal lists

August Dillmann wrote an article comparing Ethiopian regnal lists in 1853.^[11] Dillman compared three lists and simply named them as A, B and C. Dillmann believed that list A was the longest because it included all rulers, regents, co-regents, pretenders and even heads of individual parts of the empire, while lists B and C only had the most important names.^[12]

Carlo Conti Rossini attempted to co-ordinate and compare the large number of different Ethiopian regnal lists, bringing together 86 different lists from libraries in Ethiopia and Italian Eritrea.^[13] The lists were divided into eight groups based on similarities and number of kings, and they were categorized by the letters A to H.^[13]

Rossini categorised the lists as follows:^[13][14][15]

Group	Notes	Sub-groups of kings			Examples and variations
		Pagan era	Christian era (Pagan)	Christian era (Christian)
Type 1
A	47 names from Bazen to Dil Na'od. Based on 22 documents dating to the 16th–19th centuries. Contained with some manuscripts of the Kebra Nagast. Some versions omit Dil Na'od and other kings after Armah, and insert queen Esato/Gudit.	–	14	33	Pedro Páez's List 3 (44 names).[16] This list begins with Senfa Asgued and ends with Armah II, but includes Dil Na'od and lists Gudit and Esato as two separate rulers. It has 12 names before Abreha and Atsbeha and 32 names from Abreha and Atseha to Armah II. August Dillmann's List C.[17] 14 names from Bazen to Agdor, 32 rulers/33 names from Abreha and Atsbeha to Terdae Gabaz (Esato and Gudit are considered to be the same person on this list, though both names are mentioned).
B	69 names from Ebne Hakim (Menelik I) to Dil Na'od. Based on 33 documents dating to the 16th–19th centuries. Found in the Debre Libanos version of Gadla Takla Haymanot and in the Short Chronicles. Probably conceived at Debre Libanos.	25	11	33	René Basset's list (69 names).[18] 26 names from Ebna Hakim (Menelik I) to Bazen, 10 names from Senfa Ared I to Senfa Ared II and 33 names from Abreha and Atsbeha to Dil Na'od. August Dillmann's List B (69 names).[19] 26 names from Ibna-Hakim (Menelik I) to Bazen, 10 names from Tsenfa Ared to Saifa Ared, 33 names from Abreha and Atsbeha to Dil Na'od.
C	91 names from Arwe to Dil Na'od[13] or Beta Israel.[14] Based on 16 documents dating to the 16th–19th centuries. Witnesses include Manuel de Almeida and Mariano Vittori [de]. Includes 6 "pre-Solomonic" kings (i.e. pre-Menelik I). Includes years of reign for each king. Several names have the "Ella" prefix. Probably compiled by someone who knew list A, a list of pre-Christian kings and possibly list D, but certainly not list B.	26	32	33	Pedro Páez's List 2 (86 names).[20] This list does not mention Arwe or the four kings who ruled before Makeda as part of the Angabo dynasty. 21 names from Azeb (Makeda) to Bazen I, 31 names from Sartu to Ahywa and 34 names from Abreha and Atsbeha to Bazen II. Henry Salt's List (79 names).[21] Salt refers to the pre-Menelik I monarchs but does not name them specifically apart from "the serpent". His list includes 17 names from Menelik I (Ibn Hakim) to Bazen, 31 names from Senatu to Ahywa and 31 names from Abreha and Atsbeha to Dil Na'od. August Dillmann's List A (91 names).[22] 6 names from "The Snake" (Arwe) to Makeda, 21 names from Menelik I to Bazen, 31 names from Sartu to Ahywa, 33 names from Abreha and Atsbeha to Gebre Meskel.
D	66 names from Ebna Hakim (Menelik I) to Dil Na'od. Based on 6 documents. Witnesses include Pedro Páez, Melchior da Silva and Manuel de Almeida.	24	13	29	Pedro Páez's List 1 (66 names).[23] 24 names from Menelik I to Bazen, 13 names from Tsenfa Asgad to Agdur and 29 names from Abreha and Atsbeha to Dil Na'od. Mentioned by Manuel de Almeida, but the full list of names were not provided.[24] James Bruce's list (55 names).[25] 22 names from Menelik I to Bazen, 11 names from Tsenfa Asgad to Agdur and 21 names from Abreha and Atsbeha to Dil Na'od.
E	67 names from Arwe to Dil Na'od. Found in only one manuscript seen by Rossini from Akele Guzai. Tries to establish a relationship between the ancient dynasty and the Hamasien region. Influenced and determined by local traditions. Angabo listed directly before Makeda.[26] Abreha and Atsbeha reigned for 65 years on this list.	28	7	32	List included in History of the Kings of Dabra Yahanes, edited by Carlo Conti Rossini, and quoted by E. A. Wallis Budge.[27] 25 kings from Menelik I to Bazen, 7 kings from Germa Sor to Tazer/Sayfa Arad, 32 kings from Abreha and Atsbeha to Del Na'od.
Type 2
F	32 names from Ebne Hakim (Menelik I) to Dil Na'od. Based on one manuscript dated to the 16th century. Attested by 2 witnesses. Found in one version of Gadla Iyasus Mo'a. An abridged version exists with 17 names from Agabos to Lebdare, seen by one witness. Probably related to list B.	6	6	20
G	74 names from Menelik I to Dil Na'od. Based on one manuscript dated to the 18th century. An expansion of List F.	29	15	30
Type 3
H	25 names from Ebne Hakim (Menelik I) to Luzay. Attested by three witnesses. An alternate version found with one copy of Kebra Negast contains 27 names, with the addition of years of reign and intermingling of emperors from the 17th and 18th centuries. Both versions claim to cover a period of 1,200 years. Probably related to list B.	25	–	–

Monarchs who reigned before Menelik I

The reign of Menelik I is traditionally dated to the 10th century BC, due to being the son of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba (Makeda), as stated in the Kebra Nagast. Multiple lists exist that chronicle Menelik's lineage through both his mother and father. While Solomon's descent is recorded in the Bible, traditions around Makeda's ancestry are more varied. She is usually assumed to be a descendant of Angabo, who saved Ethiopia from a mythical serpent king named Arwe. Another tradition attempts to link Ethiopia with an even more remote past by claiming the monarchy descended from Ham.

Arwe Dynasty

According to Ethiopian tradition, an evil serpent named Arwe ruled Ethiopia before he was defeated by Angabo, ancestor of Menelik I. One tradition recorded by Henry Salt stated that Arwe ruled for 400 years.^[28] However, a different tradition recorded by E. A. Wallis Budge instead claimed that "20 or 30 kings" descended from Arwe ruled in Tigray for 400 years.^[29]

Angabo Dynasty

After killing Arwe, Angabo became the new king of Ethiopia. Some traditions relate that he reigned for 200 years and was followed by three further kings before Makeda ascended the throne.^[30]

All rulers of this dynasty were included on the 1922 regnal list as part of the "Agdazyan" or "Ag'azyan" dynasty. In most cases their reign lengths were shortened to be more realistic.

Order	Name	Relation to predecessor	Notes
1	Angabo	–	Slayer of Arwe.[29] Reigned for 200 years.[29][28]
2	Gedur[29] or Zagdur[28]	–	Reigned for 100 years.[29][28]
3	Sebado[29] or Zazebass Besedo[28]	–	Reigned for 50 years.[29][28]
4	Kawnasya[29] or Zakawasya b'Axum[28]	–	Reigned for 1 year.[29][28]
5	Makeda,[29] Za Makeda[28] or Azeb[31]	Daughter of Kawnasya/Zakawasya[29][28]	Reigned for 50 years.[29][28] Went to Jerusalem in the fourth year of her reign and returned to Ethiopia in her 25th regnal year.[28] According to the second list quoted by Pedro Páez, this queen began her reign in Axum in the thirty-seventh year of Saul's reign.[31] A list quoted by August Dillman stated that Makeda travelled in the thirty-sixth year of Saul's reign and went to Jerusalem in the fourth year of Solomon's reign.[32] After returning to Ethiopia, she reigned for twenty-five years.[32]

Biblical List from Adam to Solomon

This regnal list chronicles kings who ruled before Menelik I, but relies on Biblical chronology, particularly from the Book of Genesis. This list essentially serves as a document of the lineage of Menelik through his father Solomon.

The following list was included in E. A. Wallis Budge's book A History of Ethiopia (Volume I) and was quoted from two manuscripts; One held in the British Museum and another held in the Bibliothèque nationale de France, which was published in René Basset's 1882 book Études sur l'histoire d'Éthiopie.^[33][34] The names of these kings also appear in the 14th-century text Kebra Nagast.^[35] Budge believed this list had "no historical value" and was only intended to fill the gap from Adam to Solomon.^[33]

The last king, 'Ebna Hakim, does not appear in the Bible and is meant to be Menelik I, the son of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.^[29] The name Ebna Hakim translates to "Son of the Wise Man" (i.e. Solomon) in Arabic.^[29]

Order	Ethiopian name[33]	Biblical figure
1	'Adam	Adam
2	Set	Seth
3	Henos	Enos
4	Kaynan	Kenan
5	Malalel	Mahalalel
6	Yared	Jared
7	Henok	Enoch
8	Matusala	Methuselah
9	Lameh	Lamech
10	Noh	Noah
11	Shem	Shem
12	Alfasked	Arphaxad
13	Kaynan	Cainan
14	Sala	Selah
15	'Ebor	Eber
16	Falek	Peleg
17	Ragwe	Reu
18	Seruh	Serug
19	Nakor	Nahor
20	Tara	Terah
21	Abreham	Abram
22	Yeshak	Isaac
23	Ya'kob	Jacob
24	Yehuda	Judah
25	Fares	Pharez
26	'Esrom	Hezron
27	'Eram	Aram
28	'Aminadab	Amminadab
29	Na'ason	Nahshon
30	Salmon	Salmon
31	Bo'ez	Boaz
32	Iyobed	Obed
33	'Eshey	Jesse
34	Dawit	David
35	Saloman	Solomon
36	'Ebna Hakim	–

The Kebra Nagast lists an additional king named 'Orni between Hezron and Aram, who was the son of Hezron and father of Aram.^[36] Budge believed this king to be Oren, son of Jerahmeel.^[36]

Biblical Hamitic List

Another Ethiopian tradition claims that the Ethiopian monarchy was descended from Ham, son of the Biblical prophet Noah. While Ham is not included in the Biblical regnal list mentioned above, a claimed genealogy from Ham to the founders of Axum does exist.^[37] According to this tradition, Axum was founded within a century after the Great Flood.^[38] This genealogy chronicles kings descending from Ham who represent Ethiopia and Axum. E. A. Wallis Budge called this dynasty the "Dynasty of Kush" and referred to the Angabo dynasty as the "Native African dynasty".^[39]

Enno Littmann recorded a tradition from an Ethiopian priest named Gabra Wahad, who stated the following:

Ham begot Kush, Kush begot Aethiopis, after whom the country is called Aethiopia to this day. Aethiopis was buried in Aksum, and his grave is known there to this day. It was said that a fire used to burn in it, and that if any donkey's excrement, or any bit of stuff fell into it, it was consumed. Aethiopis begot 'Aksumawi, 'Aksumawi begot Malayka 'Aksum, and begot also Sum, Nafas, Bagi'o, Kuduki, 'Akhoro, Fasheba. These six sons of 'Aksumawi became the fathers of Aksum. When they wished to divide their land, there came a man called May Bih, and as people say divided their land as an agent. Each of the six gave him two acres of land and he settled down with them.^[40]

Order[39]	Name[39]	Relation to predecessor[39]	Notes
1	Ham	–	–
2	Kush	Son of Ham	–
3	Aethiopis	Son of Kush	The king whose name inspired the name "Ethiopia".
4	'Aksumawi	Son of Aethiopis	Traditional founder of Axum.[41]
5	Malayka Aksum	Son of 'Aksumawi	–
–	Sum		The six sons of 'Aksumawi were the "fathers" of Aksum but were not kings of Ethiopia.[41] Budge believed that they may have "[represented] the dynasty of the serpent which was destroyed by Angabo".[41]
–	Nafaz
–	Bagi'o
–	Kuduki
–	Akhoro
–	Farheba

Monarchs from Menelik I to Bazen

Beginning with Menelik I, Ethiopian regnal lists begin to diverge on the exact order of succession. Only a few rulers' names are consistently recorded across all lists. This section looks at rulers who are named as reigning between Menelik I and Bazen, who began his reign eight years before the birth of Jesus. Despite tradition claiming that Menelik ruled in the 10th century BC, the reign lengths provided on most lists do not allow for a sufficient number of monarchs to have reigned over a span of ten centuries.

Spanish Missionary Pedro Páez believed that the reason for the differences in names on various lists was because the Ethiopian emperors used different names prior to their accession to the throne, and some lists used their regnal names while others listed their birth names.^[42] This was supposedly done in imitation of Menelik I, who was named David when he was crowned.^[43] E. A. Wallis Budge theorised that the existence of multiple king lists suggest that these represent rival claimants to the throne.^[10]

Lists recorded by Páez, James Bruce, August Dillmann and Carlo Conti Rossini, as well as the 1922 regnal list, are all in agreement that Christ was born in the eighth year of Bazen's reign, a statement that is also clear on one of the British Museum manuscripts recorded by E. A. Wallis Budge.^[44] If one was to calculate backwards from the Bazen's reign, then Henry Salt's list would date Menelik I's reign to 128–99 BC, over 9 centuries after the traditional 10th century BC dating of Menelik's reign. If the same was done for Bruce's list, then Menelik's reign would be pushed back nearly a century earlier but would still fall far short of the 10th century BC dating. The 1922 regnal list attempted to correct this by combining various monarchs into a longer list that allows Menelik to be firmly dated to the 10th century BC.

Variation 1

This table contains names from the following recorded lists:

• The second regnal list recorded by Spanish missionary Pedro Páez in 1620.^[31] He believed this list contained the regnal names for the kings.^[31] This list omits the kings named Wazeha and Hazer that appear on the other lists in this table.
• A list recorded by Scottish traveller James Bruce in his book Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile (1790).^[45] He had gathered information for his regnal list from local scribes, though did not believe they were trustworthy or that his regnal list was complete.^[46]
• The first regnal list recorded by English Egyptologist Henry Salt in his book A Voyage to Abyssinia (1814).^[47] Most kings have the "Za" prefix in front of their names on this list. This list omits the kings named Kalaz, Satiyo, Filiya and Aglebu that appear on the other lists in this table.
• August Dillmann's List A (1853), which he compiled from multiple sources.^[48] On this list, Menelik is preceded by Arwe and the dynasty of Angabo.
• The first of two manuscripts held in the British Museum published in E. A. Wallis Budge's A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia Volume I (1928).^[9] This manuscript was filed under Oriental No. 821, fol. 28b. Most kings have the "Za" prefix in front of their names on this list.

No.	Common Name	List and Position	Name on List	Reign Length	Notes
1	Menelik I Ebna El-Hakim David I	Páez 2 (1)	Ebnâ Elehaquim	29 years
		Bruce (1)	Menilek, or David I	4 years	Bruce dated Menelik's reign to 986–982 BC.[45]
		Salt (1)	Menilek, or Ibn' Hakim	29 years
		Dillmann A (1)	Ibn-al-Hakim	25 years
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (1)	'Ebna 'Ĕl-Hakīm	24 years
2	[Za] Handadyu	Páez 2 (2)	Handodeâ	1 year
		Bruce (2)	Hendedya, or Zagdur		August Dillmann believed the name "Hendedya, or Zagdur" was simply an opinion expressed by Bruce based on supposition.[49]
		Salt (2)	Za Hendedyu
		Dillmann A (2)	Handadjó
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (2)	Za Handadyū	8 years
3	[Za] Aweda	Bruce (3)	Awida	11 years
		Salt (3)	Awda
		Dillmann A (3)	'Auda–'Âmat
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (3)	Za 'Āweda
4	[Za] Awseyo	Páez 2 (3)	Auceô	3 years
		Salt (4)	Za Awsyu
		Dillmann A (4)	Ausejó
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (4)	Za 'Awesyō
5	[Za] Sawe	Páez 2 (4)	Zaoê	34 years
		Bruce (4)	Sawé	31 years
		Salt (5)	Za Tsawe	3 years and 10 months	The reign length could be an error.
		Dillmann A (5)	Tzauě	31 years
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (5)	Za Şawě'		Could be the same king as "Tahawasya" in variation 2.[50]
6	[Za] Gasyo	Páez 2 (5)	Gaceô	½ a day
		Bruce (5)	Gefaya	15 years	Dillmann believed the name and reign length of this king was a corruption on Bruce's list.[49]
		Salt (6)	Zagesyu	½ a day
		Dillmann A (6)	Gasjó		Reigned until noon.[32]
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (6)	Za Gasyō
–	—	Bruce (6)	Katar	15 years	Dillmann believed the name and reign length of this king was a corruption on Bruce's list.[49]
7	[Za] Mawat or Mawta	Páez 2 (6)	Maoât	8 years and 1 month	The differences in reign lengths for this king could be explained by the similarities of the Geʽez numbers 8 (፰) and 20 (፳) for the years and the numbers 1 (፩) and 4 (፬) for the months.
		Bruce (7)	Mouta	20 years
		Salt (7)	Za Maute	8 years and 4 months
		Dillmann A (7)	Mawat
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (7)	Za Mawaṭ	20 years and 1 month
8	[Za] Bahas	Páez 2 (7)	Bahâz	9 years
		Bruce (8)	Bahas
		Salt (8)	Za Bahse
		Dillmann A (8)	Báhas
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (8)	Za Baḥas		Possibly the same king as "Bassyo" in variation 2.[51]
9	[Za] Kawida	Páez 2 (8)	Caudâ	2 years
		Bruce (9)	Kawida
		Salt (9)	Kāwuda
		Dillmann A (9)	Qâwdâ
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (9)	Za Tāwedā
10	[Za] Kanaz	Páez 2 (9)	Canêz	10 years
		Bruce (10)	Kanaza
		Salt (10)	Kanazi
		Dillmann A (10)	Qánaz
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (10)	Za Ḳanaz
11	[Za] Hadena	Páez 2 (10)	Hadenâ	9 years
		Bruce (11)	Katzina
		Salt (11)	Haduna
		Dillmann A (11)	Hadûnâ
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (11)	Za Ḥadēnā (I)
12	[Za] Wazeha	Bruce (12)	Wazeha	1 year
		Salt (12)	Za–Wasih
		Dillmann A (12)	Wázha
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (12)	Za Ẇanẖā
13	[Za] Hazer or Hadir	Bruce (13)	Hazer	2 years
		Salt (13)	Za–dir
		Dillmann A (13)	Hadîr
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (13)	Za Ḥadēnā (II)
14	[Za] Kalaz	Páez 2 (11)	Calâz	6 years
		Bruce (14)	Kalas
		Dillmann A (14)	Káḷ'as	7 years	Dillmann noted some lists give this king 6 years of rule.[49] The similarities of the Geʽez numbers 6 (፮) and 7 (፯) could explain the different reign lengths.
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (14)	Za Kal'ākū	6 years
15	[Za] Satyo	Páez 2 (12)	Çateô	17 years
		Bruce (15)	Solaya	16 years
		Dillmann A (15)	Satjô	17 years	Dillmann noted some lists give this king 16 years of rule.[49] The similarities of the Geʽez numbers 16 (፲፮) and 17 (፲፯) could explain the different reign lengths.
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (15)	Za Satyō	16 years
16	[Za] Filiya	Páez 2 (13)	Fileâ	27 years
		Bruce (16)	Falaya	26 years
		Dillmann A (16)	Fîljâ		Dillmann noted some lists give this king 27 years of rule.[49] The similarities of the Geʽez numbers 26 (፳፮) and 27 (፳፯) could explain the different reign lengths.
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (16)	Za Fīlyā
17	[Za] Aglebu	Páez 2 (14)	Aguelbû	3 years
		Bruce (17)	Aglebu
		Dillmann A (17)	Aglebû
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (17)	Za 'Aglebū
18	[Za] Awsina	Páez 2 (15)	Aucinâ	1 year
		Bruce (18)	Awsisena
		Salt (14)	Za Awzena
		Dillmann A (18)	Ausênâ
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (18)	Za 'Awsīnā
19	[Za] Birwas	Páez 2 (16)	Zebuôas	29 years
		Bruce (19)	Brus
		Salt (15)	Za Ber–was
		Dillmann A (19)	Berîwâs
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (19)	Za Birwās
20	[Za] Mahasi	Páez 2 (17)	Maheci	1 year
		Bruce (20)	Mohesa
		Salt (16)	Za Mahasi
		Dillmann A (20)	Mâhsî
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (20)	Za Māhelē
21	[Za] [Besi] Bazen	Páez 2 (18)	Bacên	17 years
		Bruce (21)	Bazen	16 years
		Salt (17)	Zabesi Bazen
		Dillmann A (21)	Bésê–Bâzên	17 years	Dillmann noted some lists give this king 16 years of rule.[49] The similarities of the Geʽez numbers 16 (፲፮) and 17 (፲፯) could explain the different reign lengths.
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (21)	Za B'esī Bāzēn	16 years

Variation 2

This version of the line of succession does not contain reign lengths.

This table contains names from the following recorded lists:

• The second regnal list recorded by English Egyptologist Henry Salt in his book A Voyage to Abyssinia (1814), which he considered to be a "corrupt" list.^[47] This list does not include the king named Awseyo and mistakenly combines Tomai and Zagdur into one king.
• August Dillmann's List B (1853).^[48] This list claims that each king was the father of the next.
• A list recorded by French Orientalist René Basset in his book Études sur l'histoire d'Éthiopie (1882).^[52] This list claimed that each king was the son of the previous king.
• The second of two manuscripts held in the British Museum published in E. A. Wallis Budge's A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia Volume I (1928).^[53] This manuscript was filed under Oriental No. 821, fol. 36a. Budge regarded this manuscript to be the most authoritative.^[10]

No.	Common Name	List and Position	Name on List	Notes
1	Ebna El-Hakim (Menelik I)	Salt 2 (1)	Ibn Hakim
		Dillmann B (1)	Ibna-Hakím
		Basset (1)	Ëbna–Hakim
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (1)	'Ěbna Ḥakīm
2	Tomai	Salt 2 (2)	Tomai Zagdur	Likely a mistaken combination of Tomai and Zagdur as one king.
		Dillmann B (2)	Tomái
		Basset (2)	Tomâï
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (2)	Tōmās	Son of Menelik I.[10]
3	[Za] Gedur or Zagdur	Dillmann B (3)	Za–Gedúr
		Basset (3)	Zagdour
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (3)	Zagdūr
4	Aksumay	Salt 2 (3)	Acsumai
		Dillmann B (4)	Axumâi
		Basset (4)	Aksoumâï
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (4)	'Aksūmāy
5	Awseyo	Dillmann B (5)	Ausejó
		Basset (5)	Aousyo
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (5)	'Awsāyō
6	Handadyu	Salt 2 (7)	Endor
		Dillmann B (9)	Handejó
		Basset (9)	Handadyo
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (9)	Ḥandadyō
7	Tahawasya	Salt 2 (4)	Tahawasya
		Dillmann B (6)	Tahawâsjâ
		Basset (6)	Taḥaouâsyâ
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (6)	Taḥawāsyā
8	Abralyus	Salt 2 (5)	Abralius
		Dillmann B (7)	Abrâljûs
		Basset (7)	Abrâlyos
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (7)	'Abrālyūs	An alternate name for "Abraham".[54]
9	Warada Tsahay or Warada Dahay	Salt 2 (6)	Wurred–Sai
		Dillmann B (8)	Wárada–Tzahâi
		Basset (8)	Ouarada–Dhahaï	Name means "the sun has descended".[52]
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (8)	Warada Ḍaḥāy
10	Warada Nagash	Salt 2 (8)	Wurred Negush
		Dillmann B (10)	Wárada–Nagâsh
		Basset (10)	Ouarada–Nagâch
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (10)	Warada Nagāsha
11	Awesya	Salt 2 (9)	Ausanya
		Dillmann B (11)	Ausejâ
		Basset (11)	Aousyâ
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (11)	'Awesyā
12	Elaliyon	Salt 2 (10)	Elalior
		Dillmann B (12)	Elâljón
		Basset (12)	Ilâlyon
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (12)	'Ělālyōn
13	Toma Seyon	Salt 2 (11)	Toma Sion
		Dillmann B (13)	Tômâ–Zion
		Basset (13)	Tomâ–Ṣyon
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (13)	Tōmās Ḍaḥay
14	Basyo	Salt 2 (12)	Basilius
		Dillmann B (14)	Bâsjô
		Basset (14)	Bâsyo
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (14)	Bāsyō
15	Awtet	Salt 2 (13)	Autet
		Dillmann B (15)	Autet
		Basset (15)	Aouṭëṭ
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (15)	'Aweṭeṭ
16	Zaware Nebrat	Salt 2 (14)	Zaware
		Dillmann B (16)	Zawârè–Nébrat
		Basset (16)	Zaouâri–Nëbrat
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (16)	Zawārī Nebrat
17	Safay	Salt 2 (15)	Scifi
		Dillmann B (17)	Saifâi
		Basset (17)	Saïfâï
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (17)	Safāy
18	Ramhay	Salt 2 (16)	Rami
		Dillmann B (18)	Rámhai
		Basset (18)	Ramḥäï
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (18)	Ramhay
19	Hande	Salt 2 (17)	Artsé
		Dillmann B (19)	Handê
		Basset (19)	Ḥandé
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (19)	Ḥandū
20	Safelya	Salt 2 (18)	Suffelia
		Dillmann B (20)	Safêjâ
		Basset (20)	Safélyâ
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (20)	Safēlyā
21	Aglebul	Salt 2 (19)	Agbul
		Dillmann B (21)	Aglebûl
		Basset (21)	Aglëboul
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (21)	Aglebēl
22	Bawawel	Salt 2 (20)	Bawaul
		Dillmann B (22)	Bawâwel
		Basset (22)	Baouâouël
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (22)	Bawāwel
23	Bawaris	Salt 2 (21)	Bawaris
		Dillmann B (23)	Bawarís
		Basset (23)	Baouaris
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (23)	Bawarīs
24	Mahase	Salt 2 (22)	Mahassé
		Dillmann B (24)	Mahasê
		Basset (24)	Maḥasé
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (24)	Maḥasē
25	Nalke	Salt 2 (23)	Naqué
		Dillmann B (25)	Nâlkê
		Basset (25)	Nâlké
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (25)	Nālkē
26	Bazen	Salt 2 (24)	Bazen
		Dillmann B (26)	Bâzên
		Basset (26)	Bâzèn
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (26)	Tāzēn

Variation 3

This variation includes does not include reign lengths. Many names appear on variations 1 and 2, but some names are unique to this version.

The following list is included in this table:

• The first regnal list recorded by Pedro Páez in 1620.^[43] He believed this list contained the birth names of the kings. Some kings have the prefix "Za" placed in front of their names.

No.	Common Name	List and Position	Name on List	Notes
1	Menelik I	Páez 1 (1)	Menilehêc
2	[Za] Gedur or Zagdur	Páez 1 (2)	Zagdûr
3	[Za] Basyo I	Páez 1 (3)	Zabaceô
4	Tawasya	Páez 1 (4)	Taoceâ	Likely the same king as Tahawasya in variation 2.
5	Aderiya	Páez 1 (5)	Aderia	Possibly Abralyus from variation 2.
6	Warada	Páez 1 (6)	Vareçâ	Possibly Warada Dahay or Warada Nagash from variation 2.
7	Awseyo	Páez 1 (7)	Auceô
8	Maseyo	Páez 1 (8)	Maceô	Possibly Gasyo from variation 1.
9	[Za] Wa or Zaua	Páez 1 (9)	Zaûa	Possibly Mawat from variation 1.
10	Basyo II	Páez 1 (10)	Baceô
11	Awtet	Páez 1 (11)	Autêt
12	Bahasya	Páez 1 (12)	Bahaçâ	Possibly Bahas from variation 1.
13	[Za] Aweda	Páez 1 (13)	Zaoadâ	Possibly Aweda from variation 1 or Zaware Nebrat from variation 2..
14	Adena	Páez 1 (14)	Adenâ	Possibly Hadina from variation 1 or Hande from variation 2.
15	Kalaz	Páez 1 (15)	Calêz	Unique to this variation.
16	Gotoba	Páez 1 (16)	Gotobâ	Unique to this variation.
17	[Za] Feliya or Safelya	Páez 1 (17)	Zafeleâ
18	Aglebul	Páez 1 (18)	Elguebûl
19	Bawawel	Páez 1 (19)	Baoaûl
20	Bawaris	Páez 1 (20)	Baoarêz
21	Awena	Páez 1 (21)	Aoenâ	Possibly Awsena from variation 1.
22	Mahase	Páez 1 (22)	Mahacê
23	Malke	Páez 1 (23)	Malcuê	Likely Nalke from variation 2.
24	Bazen	Páez 1 (24)	Bacên

Variation 4

This variation does not include reign lengths for most kings. Many names on this version can be found on variation 2, but some names are unique and some names from variation 2 have been omitted completely. The names and order is similar to variation 2, but it does not include Warada Nagash (unless he can be equated with Walda Mehrat), swaps the order of Bawaris and Bawawel, and moves Hande further down the succession order.

The following list is included in this table:

• One regnal list included in a book titled History of the Kings of Dabra Yahanes (1903), edited by Italian orientalist Carlo Conti Rossini.^[55]

No.	Common Name	List and Position	Name on List	Notes
1	Menelik I	Rossini (1)	Menīlek	Reigned for 15 years.[55]
2	Tomai or Abd-Rakid	Rossini (2)	Tōmāy or 'Abd–Rākīd	Reigned for 15 years.[55]
3	[Za] Gedur or Zagdur	Rossini (3)	Zagdūru
4	Aksumay	Rossini (4)	'Aksūmāy
5	Awseyo	Rossini (5)	'Awsābyōs
6	Handar	Rossini (6)	Ḥandar	Probably the same king as Handadyu from variation 2.
7	Tahawasya	Rossini (7)	Tā'āsyā
8	Walda Mehrat	Rossini (8)	Walda Meḥrat	Unique to this variation or possibly the king named Warada Nagash from variation 2.
9	Warada Dahay	Rossini (9)	Warada Ḍaḥāy
10	Awseya	Rossini (10)	'Asānyā
11	Elaliyon	Rossini (11)	Īlālyōs
12	Toma Seyon	Rossini (12)	Tōma Seyōn
13	Bawas	Rossini (13)	Bā'ōs	Probably the same king as Basyo from variation 2.
14	Awtet	Rossini (14)	'Awesteṭ
15	Zaware Nebrat	Rossini (15)	Zawārē Nebrat
16	Safay	Rossini (16)	Safāy
17	Ramhay	Rossini (17)	Ramḥay
18	Safelya	Rossini (18)	Safalyā
19	Engeleb	Rossini (19)	'Ěngēleb	Possibly the same king as Aglebul from variation 2.
20	Gawras	Rossini (20)	Gawras	Possibly the same as Bawaris from variation 2.
21	Bawawel	Rossini (21)	Bāwel
22	Hande	Rossini (22)	Hendēn
23	Mahase	Rossini (23)	Māḥasī
24	Laka (Luzay)	Rossini (24)	Lākā	Unique to this variation.
25	Bazen	Rossini (25)	Bāzēn

Variation 5

This variation does not include reign lengths and has only been attested on one known list dated to the 16th century.^[13] This variation has a notably smaller number of rulers between Menelik I and Bazen compared to other versions.

The table includes names from Carlo Conti Rossini's "List F".^[56]

No.	Common Name	List and Position	Name on List	Notes
1	Ebna El-Hakim (Menelik I)	Rossini List F (1)	Ebna Elḥakim
2	Abrakid	Rossini List F (2)	Abrākid	Unique to this variation. No. 2 on list G under the name "Barakid".[56]
3	Ataram	Rossini List F (3)	Atārām	Unique to this variation.
4	Abralyus	Rossini List F (4)	Abrālyus
5	Warada Sahay	Rossini List F (5)	Warada Ṣahay	No. 7 on list G.[57]
6	Warada Nagash	Rossini List F (6)	Warada Nagāš
7	Bazen	Rossini List F (7)	Bāzēn

Summary of the regnal lists

Páez List 1 (Birth Names) (1620)	Páez List 2 (Regnal Names) (1620)	Bruce (1790)	Salt (1814)	Salt's "corrupt" list (1814)	Basset (1882)	Rossini (1903)	Dillmann A (1853)	Dillmann B (1853)	British Museum manuscript Oriental No. 821, fol. 28b	British Museum manuscript Oriental No. 821, fol. 36a
24 Kings	20 Kings 209 years and 1 month	22 Kings 231 years	17 Kings 138 years and 10 months	24 Kings	26 Kings	25 Kings	21 Kings 210 years and 4 months	26 Kings	21 Kings 228 years and 1 month	26 Kings

Monarchs who reigned between Bazen and Abreha and Atsbeha

These lists name the monarchs who ruled after Bazen up to Abreha and Atsbeha, brothers who are credited in Ethiopian tradition with being the first rulers to convert to Christianity. Tradition recorded that Bazen's reign began in 8 BC and Ethiopia converted to Christianity in the 4th century. However, the reign lengths on some king lists push Abeha and Atsbeha's reign into the 5th century instead.

Variation 1

This table compares the following regnal lists:

• The second regnal list recorded by Pedro Páez in 1620, which he believed listed regnal names.^[58]
• One regnal list recorded by English Egyptologist Henry Salt in his book A Voyage to Abyssinia (1814).^[59] Most rulers have the "Za" prefix in front of their names on this list except for Herka and all rulers after Hadus, who instead have the "El" prefix. Asgwagwa has a combination of both and is styled as "Za Elasguaga".
• A regnal list recorded by German explorer Eduard Rüppell in his book Reise in Abyssinien (1840).^[60]
• August Dillmann's List A (1853), which was compiled from multiple sources.^[61]
• The first of two manuscripts from the British Museum published by E. A. Wallis Budge in 1928. This manuscript was filed under Oriental No. 821, fol. 28b.^[62] The names on this list have the "Za" prefix, with all names from Asgwagwa to Ahywa (except for Besi Sawesa, Wakana and Hadus) additionally being preceded by the "Ela" prefix.

A noticeable problem with these lists is that over 400 years pass between the end of Bazen's reign and the beginning of Abreha and Atsbeha's reign. This pushes their joint reign to the early 5th century, a whole century after the traditional early 4th century date for the Christianisation of Ethiopia. Because of this, Henry Salt deliberately altered the placement of Abreha and Atsbeha on his list so that the thirteenth year of their joint reign would fall correctly on the date when Christianity was introduced to Ethiopia instead of contradicting this tradition. His suggested alteration placed Abreha and Atsbeha after king El Semera. Salt noted that one chronicle explicitly stated that 330 years had passed between the birth of Christ and the thirteenth year of Abreha's reign, when Christianity was introduced.^[47] This is the same period of time which is quoted in other Ethiopian chronicles.^[47] However the same chronicle makes a "very striking error" by placing Abreha after El Ahiawya and thus suggesting that his thirteenth year of rule took place 465 years after the birth of Christ.^[63] As a result, Salt's personal king list alters the order slightly by placing Abreha and Atsbeha much further up the king list (the table below however retains the order of his original source).^[63] Salt believed that the five rulers of his list from El Ahiawya to Seladoba "should [probably] be also removed" altogether, which is why E. A. Wallis Budge did not name them when quoting Salt's king list.^[63][64] Salt additionally believed that there should only be one king named Ameda, though his list names two kings of this name.^[63]

Salt theorised that the change of prefix from "Za" to "El" after the reign of Za Elasguaga reflected a change of dynasty.^[47] He believed that this theory could be confirmed by the short reigns of Za Baesi Tsawesa, Za Wakena and Za Hadus, who all reigned for a combined total of 1 year, 4 months and 2 days after the first "El" king, El Herka.^[47] He believed that the "Za" kings were the "shepherd kings" or "original Ethiopians" before being replaced by a new "race" of kings.^[47] Salt suggested that this change may have been caused by colony of Syrians who were placed by Alexander the Great near the mouth of the Red Sea according to an account written by Philostorgius.^[47]

An unpublished history of the kings of Axum states that a queen named "Ahiyewa" was the mother of Abreha and Atsbeha and she ruled for three years during the minority of her sons.^[65] This confirms that the ruler named "Ahywa" who preceded Abreha and Atsbeha in this line of succession was a queen who ruled as regent during their minority. If Abreha and Atsbeha can be identified with the historical Ezana and Saizana, as Henry Salt did in his list,^[59] then this suggests that "Ahywa" is another name for Sofya, wife of Ousanas. A book titled Gedle Abreha and Asbeha from the Church of Abreha wa-Atsbeha confirms that "Sofya" was one of the names for the mother of Abreha and Atsbeha.^[65] The first British Museum manuscript published by Budge however stated that "'Eguālā 'Anbasā" was the name of their mother despite also listing "Ahywa" as their predecessor.^[62]

No.	Common Name	List and Position	Name on List	Reign Length	Notes
1	[Za] Sartu	Páez 2 (1)	Certû	27 years
		Salt (1)	Za–Senatu	26 years
		Rüppell (1)	Seretu	27 years
		Dillmann A (1)	Sarṭú		Dillmann noted at least one list gives 26 years of rule for this ruler.[61] The similarities of the Geʽez numbers 26 (፳፮) and 27 (፳፯) could explain the different reign lengths.
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (1)	Za Sarṭu	26 years
2	[Za] Les or Las	Páez 2 (2)	Leâz	10 years
		Salt (2)	Za Les
		Rüppell (2)	Lekas
		Dillmann A (2)	La'as
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (2)	Za L'as
3	[Za] Masenh	Páez 2 (3)	Macenêh	7 years
		Salt (3)	Za Masenh
		Rüppell (3)	Masenqo
		Dillmann A (3)	Masênḥ		Dillmann noted at least one list gives 6 years of rule for this ruler.[61] The similarities of the Geʽez numbers 6 (፮) and 7 (፯) could explain the different reign lengths.
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (3)	Za Mūsēnḥ	6 years
4	[Za] Sutuwa or Setwa	Páez 2 (4)	Ceteio	12 years
		Salt (4)	Za Sutuwa	9 years
		Rüppell (4)	Satuwa
		Dillmann A (4)	Seṭwâ
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (4)	[Za] Sheṭeṭ
5	[Za] Adgala	Páez 2 (5)	Adguelâ	10 years and 2 months
		Salt (5)	Za–Adgaba	10 years and 6 months
		Rüppell (5)	Adegela	10 years and 10 months
		Dillmann A (5)	Adgalâ	10 years and 7 months
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (5)	Za 'Adgasā	16 years and 6 months
6	[Za] Agba	Páez 2 (6)	Agueba	7 months
		Salt (6)	Za Agba	6 months
		Rüppell (6)	Agba	2 years and 2 months	This reign length could be an error.
		Dillmann A (6)	Agbâ	6 months
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (6)	Za 'Agābōs
7	[Za] Malik or Malis	Páez 2 (7)	Meliz	4 years
		Salt (7)	Za–Malis	6 years
		Rüppell (7)	Malis	4 years
		Dillmann A (7)	Masìs (or Mạlís)	7 years	Dillmann noted some lists give 6 years of rule for this ruler.[61] The similarities of the Geʽez numbers 6 (፮) and 7 (፯) could explain the different reign lengths.
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (7)	Za Malīk	4 years (?)
8	[Za] Hakali	Páez 2 (8)	Haquelê	13 years
		Salt (8)	Za–Hakale
		Rüppell (8)	Hakeli		Rüppell agreed with Salt's theory that this king was Zoskales, and dated his reign to c. 83 AD.[66]
		Dillmann A (8)	Heqlé
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (8)	Za Ḥaḳlī
9	[Za] Demahe	Páez 2 (9)	Demahê	10 years
		Salt (9)	Za Demahé
		Rüppell (9)	Demahé
		Dillmann A (9)	Demáhé
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (9)	Za Demāḥē
10	[Za] Awtet	Páez 2 (10)	Autêt	2 years
		Salt (10)	Za Awtet
		Rüppell (10)	Autet
		Dillmann A (10)	Auṭeṭ
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (10)	Za 'Awṭeṭ
11	[Za] [El–] Aweda	Páez 2 (11)	Elaudâ	30 years
		Salt (11)	Za Elawda
		Rüppell (11)	Elalad
		Dillmann A (11)	Ela–Auda		Known as "Alda" on at least one list.[61]
		B.M. Manuscript (11)	Za El–'Āwedā
12 and 13	[Za] Zigen and Rema	Páez 2 (12 and 13)	Zeguên e Zarema	8 years
		Salt (12 and 13)	Za Zigen and Rema	40 years
		Rüppell (12)	Rema or Za–Zigen	4 years	Rüppell believed both names referred to one king instead of two separate kings like other sources. He also believed that the 40-year reign length given by Salt was an error.[67]
		Dillmann A (12 and 13)	Zégen und Rêmâ	8 years	Dillmann noted at least one list gives 4 years of rule for this joint reign.[61]
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (12 and 13)	Bezṭā and Zemārē	20 years (each?)	Notably different names to other lists.
14	[Za] Gafale	Páez 2 (14)	Gafalê	1 year
		Salt (14)	Za Gafale
		Rüppell (13)	Geralé
		Dillmann A (14)	Gafalé
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (14)	Za Gafalī
15	[Za] Besi Sark	Páez 2 (15)	Becêçarê	4 years
		Salt (15)	Za Baesi serk
		Rüppell (14)	Basi Serk
		Dillmann A (15)	Be'sê–Sarq
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (15)	Za Be'sī Sarḳ
16	[Za] [Ela–] Asgwagwa	Páez 2 (16)	Azguaguâ	77 years
		Salt (16)	Za Elasguaga	76 years
		Rüppell (15)	El Guak	77 years	Rüppell believed that these 77 years belonged to a new dynasty instead of a single ruler. He believed that regnal lists combined all the rulers' reigns into a single 77-year period before the old dynasty returned to power for a brief period.[68]
		Dillmann A (16)	Ela–Azguâguâ
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (16)	Za Ela–Azgwāgwā	76 years
17	[Ela–] Herka	Páez 2 (17)	Hercâ	21 years	Peter Truhart believed this king is the name as "Bagamay" in variation 2.[69]
		Salt (17)	El Herka
		Rüppell (16)	El Haris
		Dillmann A (17)	Ela–Herkâ
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (17)	[Za] Ela–Ḥerkā
18	[Za] [Besi] Sawesa	Páez 2 (18)	Beecê Zaueçà	1 year
		Salt (18)	Za Baesi tsawesa
		Rüppell (17)	Tzawira	1 month	Possibly an erroneous reign length.
		Dillmann A (18)	Be'sê–Tzawêtzâ	1 year	At least one list gives 6 months of rule for this king.[61]
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (18)	Za Be'sī Ṣāwēzā
19	[Za] Wakana	Páez 2 (19)	Oecanâ	2 days
		Salt (19)	Za Wakena
		Rüppell (18)	Wakena	24 days	"1/15th" of a year.[68]
		Dillmann A (19)	Wạkậnâ	1 day	Known as "Wakena" on at least one list.[61] Dillmann noted that at least one list gave 2 days of reign for this monarch, and at least one other list gave one month.[61]
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (19)	Za Waknā	2 days
20	[Za] Hadus	Páez 2 (20)	Hadaûz	4 months
		Salt (20)	Za Hadus
		Rüppell (19)	Hades	1 month	The reign length be an erroneous reading based on the similarity of the Geʽez numbers for 1 (፩) and 4 (፬).
		Dillmann A (20)	Haḍaús	4 months	Known as "Hadas" on at least one list.[61]
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (20)	Za Ḥadāwesā	2 months
21	[Ela–] Sagal	Páez 2 (21)	Zaguêl	3 years
		Salt (21)	El Segel	2 years
		Rüppell (20)	Asgel
		Dillmann A (21)	Ela–Sagal	3 years
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (21)	Za Ela–Sagal
22	[Ela–] Asfeha	Páez 2 (22)	Azfahâ	14 years
		Salt (22)	El Asfeh
		Rüppell (21)	Alabech
		Dillmann A (22)	Ela–A'sfeha
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (22)	Za Ela 'Asfeḥā	10 years
23	[Ela–] Segab	Páez 2 (23)	Zegâb	23 years
		Salt (23)	El Tsegaba
		Rüppell (22)	Askabu
		Dillmann A (23)	Ela–Tzegâb
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (23)	Za Ela Ṣegāb
24	[Ela–] Samera	Páez 2 (24)	Çamerâ	3 years
		Salt (24)	El Semera
		Rüppell (23)	Samura		Rüppell dated the end of this king's reign to 282 AD/5782 AM, based on the Abyssinian dating of the creation of the world to 5500 BC.[68]
		Dillmann A (24)	Ela–Samarâ
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (24)	Za Ela Samrā		E. A. Wallis Budge theorised that this king could be equated with Sembrouthes,[70] although this king ruled for at least 24 years according to an inscription found at Dekemhare.
25	[Ela–] Aiba	Páez 2 (25)	Aibâ	16 years
		Salt (25)	El Aiba
		Rüppell (24)	Atiba
		Dillmann A (25)	Ela–Aibâ		Dillmann noted that at least one list gave 17 years of rule for this monarch.[61] The similarities of the Geʽez numbers 16 (፲፮) and 17 (፲፯) could explain the different reign lengths.
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (25)	Za Ela [...]
26	[Ela–] Eskandi	Páez 2 (26)	Escandi	37 years
		Salt (26)	El Iskandi	36 years
		Rüppell (25)	Sara Din		Rüppell theorised this king could have been Abreha, based on the traditional dating for the Christianisation of Axum in 333 AD/5833 AM.[71]
		Dillmann A (26)	Ela–Eskendí	37 years	Known as "Sthenden" on at least one list.[61]
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (26)	Za Ela Eskendī	36 years
27	[Ela–] Saham I	Páez 2 (27)	Zahâm	9 years
		Salt (27)	El Tshemo
		Rüppell (26)	Tzahem
		Dillmann A (27)	Ela–Tzaham
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (27)	Za Ela Ṣaḥam
28	[Ela–] San	Páez 2 (28)	Zan	13 years
		Salt (28)	El San
		Rüppell (27)	La San		Rüppell believed this king was Ezana because the date 356 AD/5856 AM would fall during this king's reign if all reign lengths were correct.[71] This was the year that Constantius II sent a letter to Ezana asking him to replace Frumentius with Theophilos the Indian because the latter supported Arianism.
		Dillmann A (28)	Ela–Sân
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (28)	Za Ela Sān
29	[Ela–] Ayga	Páez 2 (29)	Aigâ	18 years
		Salt (29)	El Aiga
		Rüppell (28)	Adaga
		Dillmann A (29)	Ela–Aigâ
		B.M. Manuscript 1 (29)	Za Ela 'Aygā
30	[Ela–] Ameda I	Páez 2 (30)	Alamida	30 years and 8 months	Peter Truhart identified this king as Ousanas.[69]
		Salt (30)	El Ameda	40 years and 8 months
		Rüppell (29)	Ameda	30 years
		Dillmann A (30)	El–Amídá	30 years and 8 months
		B.M. Manuscript (30)	Za Ela 'Amīdā
–	Wochen	Rüppell (30)	Wochen	10 years
31	[Ela–] Ahywa	Páez 2 (31)	Aheyeô	3 years
		Salt (31)	El Ahiawya
		Rüppell (31)	Acheot
		Dillmann A (31)	Ela–Ahjawá
		B.M. Manuscript (31)	Za Ela 'Aḥyawā

Variation 2

This version of the line of succession does not contain reign lengths.

The following lists are compared in this table:

• The first and third regnal lists recorded by Spanish missionary Pedro Páez in 1620.^[72] The third list was treated by Páez as another list of regnal names and is placed directly after the second list in his book.^[73]
• The regnal list recorded by Scottish traveller James Bruce in his book Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile (1790).^[74] This list was kept in the monastery of Debre Libanos in Shewa. The list omits the kings named Bahar Asgad and Zaray who are named on the other lists in this table.
• August Dillmann's List C (1853).^[75] This list originates from a manuscript which did not name the kings of Axum who reigned between Arwe and Bazen.

According to some chronicles, the father of Abreha and Atsbeha was a king named Seifa Arad.^[76] Páez's first list and Bruce's list place this king before Abreha and Atsbeha, but not as their direct predecessor, and the second British Museum manuscript places a similarly named king "Senfa Arad" as their immediate predecessor.^[77]

No.	Common Name	List and Position	Name on List	Notes
1	Senfa Asgad	Páez 1 (1)	Zenfâ Azguêd
		Páez 3 (1)	Zenfa Azguêd
		Bruce (1)	Tzenaf Segued
		Dillmann C (1)	Tzénfa–Asgad
2	Bahar Asgad	Páez 1 (2)	Bahar Azguêd
		Páez 3 (2)	Bahâr Azguêd
		Dillmann C (2)	Bâhr–Sagad
–	Germa Kalaz	Páez 1 (3)	Guermâ Calez	Possibly an erroneous duplicate and combination of Germa Asfare or Kalez.
3	Germa Asfare I	Páez 1 (4)	Guermâ Azferê
		Páez 3 (3)	Guermâ Azfarê
		Bruce (2)	Garima Asfari
		Dillmann C (3)	Germâ–Asfar
4	Sarada	Páez 1 (5)	Zaradô	Omitted from Páez's third list.
		Bruce (3)	Saraada
		Dillmann C (4)	Ser'âdâ	Known as "Salaaiuba" on at least one regnal list.[75]
5	Kulu Seyon	Páez 1 (6)	Cululeaceôn
		Páez 3 (4)	Culule Ceôn
		Bruce (4)	Tzion
		Dillmann C (5)	Kuelû–la–Zion
6	Sharguay	Páez 1 (7)	Zarguaê
		Páez 3 (5)	Cergoû
		Bruce (5)	Sargai
		Dillmann C (6)	Sarguai
7	Zaray	Páez 1 (8)	Zarai
		Páez 3 (6)	Zeroû
		Dillmann C (7)	Zarái
8	Bagamay	Páez 3 (7)	Begamâi	Omitted from Páez's first list.
		Bruce (6)	Bagamai
		Dillmann C (8)	Bagâmâi
9	Jan Asgad	Páez 3 (8)	Jan Azguêd	Omitted from Páez's first list.
		Bruce (7)	Jan Segued
		Dillmann C (9)	Djân–Asgad
–	?	Páez 1 (9)	Zarrâ Azguêd	Possibly an erroneous duplication of Zaray combined with Jan Asgad.
10	Seyon Hegez	Páez 1 (10)	Zeôn Haguêz
		Páez 3 (9)	Zeôn Hegz
		Bruce (8)	Tzion Heges
		Dillmann C (10)	Zion–Hegez
11	Moal Genha	Páez 1 (11)	Mala Agnâ
		Páez 3 (10)	Moaêlguehâ
		Bruce (9)	Moal Genha
		Dillmann C (11)	Mawàal–Genh	Known as "Malghene" and "Moal–Genha" on at least one other list each.[75]
12	Saifa Arad	Páez 1 (12)	Zaf Arâd
		Páez 3 (11)	Zaf Arâd
		Bruce (10)	Saif Araad
		Dillmann C (12)	Sâf–Ar'ad
13	Agdur	Páez 1 (13)	Agdêr
		Páez 3 (12)	Agdêr
		Bruce (11)	Agedar
		Dillmann C (13)	Agdôr

Variation 3

This variation does not include reign lengths. The kings named Bahar Asgad, Germa Asfare, Sharguay, Zaray and Agdur appear in variation 2 lists, but other kings do not.

The following lists are compared in this table:

• August Dillmann's List B (1853).^[78] This list claimed that each king was the son of the previous one.
• A list recorded by French Orientalist René Basset in his book Études sur l'histoire d'Éthiopie (1882).^[52] This list claimed that each king was the son of the previous king, except for Saba Asgad, who is listed as a brother of his predecessor Zaray and both of them were sons of Sharguay.^[52]
• The second of two manuscripts held in the British Museum which were published by British archeologist E. A. Wallis Budge in 1928.^[79]

The final king, Senfa Arad, is named as the father of Abreha and Atsbeha in some sources.^[76]

No.	Common Name	List and Position	Name on List	Notes
1	Senfa Ared	Dillmann B (1)	Tzénfa–A'rěd
		Basset (1)	Sēnfa–Ar'ēd
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (1)	Ṣenfa 'Ar'ad
2	Bahar Asgad	Dillmann B (2)	Bâhr–Asgad
		Basset (2)	Bâḥr–Asgēd
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (2)	Bāḥer [A]sgad
–	Germa Sor	Dillmann B (3)	Germâ–Sôr	Possibly an erroneous duplicate of Germa Asfare.
3	Germa Asfare	Dillmann B (4)	Germâ–Asfarê
		Basset (3)	Gērmâ–Asfaré
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (3)	Germā 'Asfarē
4	Sharguay	Dillmann B (5)	Sarguai
		Basset (4)	Charguâï
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (4)	Sharguāy
5	Zaray	Dillmann B (6)	Zar'ái
		Basset (5)	Zarëaï
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (5)	Zar'ay
6	Saba Asgad	Dillmann B (7)	Sáb'a–Asgad
		Basset (6)	Sabëa–Asgēd
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (6)	Sabe' 'Asgad
7	Seyon Geza	Dillmann B (8)	Zion–Gezâ
		Basset (7)	Ṣyon–Gēza
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (7)	Ṣeyōn Gezā
8	Agdur	Dillmann B (9)	Agdûr
		Basset (8)	Agdour
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (8)	'Agdūr
9	Senfa Arad	Dillmann B (10)	Saifa–A'rêd
		Basset (9)	Ṣēnfa–Ar'ēd
		B.M. Manuscript 2 (9)	Ṣenfa 'Ar'ad

Variation 4

The following list is included in this table:

• One regnal list included in a book titled History of the Kings of Dabra Yahanes (1903), edited by Italian orientalist Carlo Conti Rossini.^[77]

This line of succession is a condensed version of variations 2 and 3 with the addition of two names, "Ahendir" and "Tazer", and does not list any reign lengths.

No.	Common Name	List and Position	Name on List	Notes
1	Germa Sor	Rossini (1)	Germā Sōr	Rossini's list specified this king's throne name was "Kaleb".[77]
2	Sharguay	Rossini (2)	Sharguāy
3	Zaray	Rossini (3)	Zarāy
4	Seyon Geza	Rossini (4)	Ṣeyōn Gezā
5	Saba Asgad	Rossini (5)	Sabe' 'Asgad
6	Ahendir	Rossini (6)	'Ahendīr
7	Tazer	Rossini (7)	Tāzēr	Rossini's list specified this king's throne name was "Safya 'Ar'ad", the name used in some sources for the father of Abreha and Atsbeha.[77] According to a book titled Gedle Abreha and Asbeha from the Church of Abreha wa-Atsbeha, Tazer was the father of Abreha and Atsbeha and his wife was Sofya.[65]

Variation 5

This variation does not include reign lengths and has only been attested on one known list dated to the 16th century.^[13]

The table includes names from Carlo Conti Rossini's "List F".^[56]

No.	Common Name	List and Position	Name on List	Notes
1	Palez	Rossini List F (8)	Pālēz	Unique to this variation.
2	Fazel	Rossini List F (9)	Fāzēl	Unique to this variation.
3	Kalem	Rossini List F (10)	Kālēm	Unique to this variation. Rossini theorised this name referred to Kaleb.[57]
4	Talem	Rossini List F (11)	Tālēm	Unique to this variation.
5	Tazer	Rossini List F (12)	Tāzēr

Summary of the regnal lists

Páez List 1 (Birth Names) (1620)	Páez List 2 (Regnal Names) (1620)	Páez List 3 (Regnal Names) (1620)	Bruce (1790)	Salt (1814)	Rüppell (1840)	Dillmann A (1853)	Dillmann B (1853)	Dillmann C (1853)	Basset (1882)	Rossini (1903)	British Museum manuscript Oriental No. 821, fol. 28b	British Museum manuscript Oriental No. 821, fol. 36a
13 kings	31 kings 403 years, 9 months and 2 days	12 kings	11 kings	31 kings 440 years and 2 days	31 kings 409 years, 2 months and 24 days	31 kings 412 years, 9 months and 1 day	10 kings	13 kings	9 kings	7 kings	31 kings 435 years and 2 days	8 kings

Monarchs from Abreha and Atsbeha to the end of the Axumite kingdom

Mural in Qusayr 'Amra depicting an Axumite king from the first half of the eighth century.

The following lists chronicle the kings who reigned from Abreha and Atsbeha, the first kings of Axum to convert to Christianity in the 4th century, to the last kings who ruled the kingdom before it fell in the 10th century. Dil Na'od is usually considered the last king of the kingdom, but some lists name monarchs who reigned after him.

The 1922 regnal list attempted to combine the different variations into one line succession dating from 306 to 920 E.C., and did this by placing most of the kings in variation 1 directly after Abreha and Atsbeha and then continuing the line with the kings of variations 2 and 3. This allowed a sufficient number of kings to reign between Abreha and Atsbeha in the early 4th century and Alla Amidas in the late 5th century, and also continue the line of kings into the early 10th century.

Variation 1

This version of the line of succession after Abreha and Atsbeha contains lesser known rulers, and is quoted by writers more rarely. These lists do not go up to the reign of Dil Na'od, but do contain reign lengths for individual monarchs. The approximate time span of these rulers goes from the early 4th century when Abreha and Atsbeha converted to Christianity to the reign of Gebre Meskel in the early or mid-6th century. The reign lengths on Páez's and Dillmann's lists add up to 265–280 years, which may be slightly too long for the gap between the historical reigns of Ezana (one of the likely inspirations for Abreha and Atsbeha) and Gebre Meskel.

The following lists are compared in this table:

• The second regnal list recorded by Spanish missionary Pedro Páez in 1620.^[80] A manuscript from Debre Libanos of unknown age has a similar line of succession to this list.^[8]
• A regnal list recorded by German explorer Eduard Rüppell in his book Reise in Abyssinien (1840).^[81] Rüppell dated the time period of the kings from Abreha and Atsbeha to Gabra Maskal as 417–714 due to his belief that the Christianisation of Ethiopia had occuried much earlier than the reign of Abreha and Atsbeha.^[81]
• August Dillmann's List A (1853), which was compiled from multiple sources.^[82]
• A manuscript quoted by E. A. Wallis Budge, who did not specify the origin.^[83] He believed these monarchs were "kinglets" who ruled parts of Ethiopia separate from other lines of kings between 360 and 480.^[84]

No.	Common Name	List and Position	Name on List	Reign Length	Notes
1 and 2	[Ela–] Abreha and Atsbeha	Páez 2 (1 and 2)	Abraha e Azebehâ	27 years and 7 months	Known as the "Guides of Clarity" on this list.
		Rüppell (1 and 2)	Asfoha und Mahan Abreha	27 years	Rüppell noted these rulers were brothers and Abreha died in 430 AD/5930 AM according to the Lik Aktum's chronicle.[85]
		Dillmann A (1 and 2)	Ela–Abreha und Atzbeha	27 years and 6 months
		Budge (1 and 2)	'Ella 'Abrehā and 'Ella 'Aṣbehā	14 years	Joint co-ruler with Sahel I according to this list. According to Budge, the three kings divided each day into three parts, so that each king was absolute during a different time of day.[84]
—	?	Rüppell (3)	Tesmul Ukal Amed	27 years	Dillmann believed this name was an erroneous misreading by Rüppell.[86]
2	Abreha I or Atsbeha I (Sole rule)	Páez 2 (2)	Azbehâ	12 years
		Rüppell (4)	Abreha der Zweite	9 years	"Abreha the second". Rüppell believed this king was a separate individual from Abreha and Atsbeha and dated the end of his reign to 5980 AM/480 AD.[85]
		Dillmann A (2)	Atzbeha–ela–Abreha	12 years	Dillmann noted that some lists instead claim that "Ela–Abreha" ruled by himself after the joint reign for 14 years.[82]
3	[Ela–] Asfeh I	Páez 2 (3)	Azfahâ	7 years
		Rüppell (5)	Asfaha der Zweite	5 years	"Asfaha the second".
		Dillmann A (3)	Ela–Asfeha	7 years	Dillmann noted that some lists give 6 years of reign.[82]
4	[Ela–] Sahel I	Páez 2 (4)	Çahêl	14 years
		Rüppell (6)	Sahel
		Dillmann A (4)	Ela–Saḥl
		Budge (3)	'Ella Shāhel		Joint co-ruler with Abreha and Atsbeha according to this list. According to Budge, the three kings divided each day into three parts, so that each king was absolute during a different time of day.[84]
5	[Ela–] Adhana I	Páez 2 (5)	Adehena	14 years
		Rüppell (7)	Athana
		Dillmann A (5)	Ela–Adḥanầ
		Budge (4)	'Ella 'Adẖānā
6	[Ela–] Riti	Páez 2 (6)	Rête	1 year
		Rüppell (8)	Eretana
		Dillmann A (6)	Ela–Reté
		Budge (5)	'Ella Rete'a
7	[Ela–] Asfeh II	Páez 2 (7)	Azfehê	1 year
		Rüppell (9)	Asfaha der Dritte	5 years	"Asfaha the third". Possibly a mismatch with the reign length of the next king.
		Dillmann A (7)	A'sfeh	1 year
		Budge (6)	'Ella 'Asfeḥ
8	[Ela–] Atsbeha II	Páez 2 (8)	Azbahâ	5 years
		Rüppell (10)	Asfaha der Vierte	17 years	"Asfaha the fourth". Possibly a mismatch with the reign length of the next king.
		Dillmann A (8)	Ela–A'tzbeha	5 years
		Budge (7)	'Ella 'Abrehā
9	[Ela–] Ameda II	Páez 2 (9)	Amidâ	17 years
		Rüppell (10)	El Ameda	6 years	Rüppell believed this king was Aphilas and his reign ended in 542 AD/6042 AM.[87] He also believed this king was the one fought against the Himyarite Kingdom in the fifthteenth year of the reign of Justinian I according to some sources. Most historians believed this king was actually Kaleb, but Rüppell rejected this idea because of Kaleb's reign being placed much later on the regnal lists. Rüppell believed this ruler was the king named Hellesthaeus mentioned in the works of Procopius, though this was actually Kaleb.[88]
		Dillmann A (9)	Ela–Amêdâ	16 years	Dillmann noted that at least a couple of lists give 6 or 7 years of rule for this king.[82]
		Budge (8)	'Ella 'Amīdā
10	[Ela–] Abreha II	Páez 2 (10)	Abrahâ	7 months
		Rüppell (11)	Abreha der Dritte	2 months	"Abreha the fourth". Rüppell believed this king was a usurper who took the throne either during a war which Ameda was fighting in, or after Ameda's death. Rüppell believed this ruler was the king named Abramus mentioned in the works of Procopius, who stated this king was a contemporary of Hellesthaeus.[88]
		Dillmann A (10)	Ela–Abreha	6 months	Dillmann noted that at least a couple of lists give 2 months of rule for this king.[82]
		Budge (9)	'Ella 'Abrehā
11	[Ela–] Sahel II	Páez 2 (11)	Çahêl	2 months
		Rüppell (12)	Esahel		Rüppell believed this ruler was the king named Angane who, according to Procopius, succeeded his uncle Hellesthaenus on the throne of Axum.[88]
		Dillmann A (11)	Ela–Saḥl
		Budge (10)	'Ella Shāhel
12	[Ela–] Gabaz I	Páez 2 (12)	Gabêz	2 years
		Rüppell (13)	Egabes	12 years	Rüppell believed this ruler was the king named Abreha who, according to Procopius, was a slave who displaced Angane from the throne.[88]
		Dillmann A (12)	Ela–Gabaz	2 years	Dillmann noted that at least one list gives 14 years of rule for this king.[82]
		Budge (11)	'Ella Gabōz or 'Ella Gōbāz	2 years	According to Budge, this king murdered his predecessor Sahel II, and then married the previous king's daughter 'Admās. He later fell in love with a pagan queen named Lāb, and married her. A brother of 'Admās rose up and killed both 'Ella Gōbāz and Lāb, and then became king as 'Ella Shāhel (III).[84] Budge dated this king's reign to c. 392.[84]
13	[Ela–] Sahel III	Páez 2 (13)	Zehûl	1 year
		Rüppell (14)	Esahel		Rüppell believed this king was possibly the same as the previous king of this name.[89]
		Dillmann A (13)	Ela–Sehúl		Known as "Sekul" on at least one list.[82]
		Budge (12)	'Ella Shāhel or Sēhal	Not specified	Budge dated this king's reign to c. 394.[84]
14	[Ela–] Atzbah	Páez 2 (14)	Izbah	3 years
		Rüppell (15)	Asfaha	2 years
		Dillmann A (14)	Ela–Atzbâḥ	3 years
15 and 16	[Ela–] Abreha III and [Ela–] Adhana II	Páez 2 (15 and 16)	Abrê e Adahanâ	16 years
		Dillmann A (15 and 16)	Ela–Abreh und Ela–Adhanâ
		Budge (13 and 14)	'Ella 'Arbeḥa and 'Ella 'Adẖānā
17	[Ela–] Saham II	Páez 2 (17)	Zahâm	28 years
		Dillmann A (17)	Ela–Tzaham
		Budge (15)	'Ella Ṣaḥam
18	[Ela–] Ameda III	Páez 2 (18)	Amidâ	12 years
		Dillmann A (18)	Ela–Amídá
		Budge (16)	'Ella 'Āmīdā
19	[Ela–] Sahel IV	Páez 2 (19)	Zahêl	2 years
		Dillmann A (19)	Ela–Saḥl
		Budge (17)	'Ella Shāhel
20	[Ela–] Sebah	Páez 2 (20)	Zebâh	2 years
		Dillmann A (20)	Ela–Tzebâh
		Budge (18)	'Ella Ṣebāḥ
21	[Ela–] Saham III	Páez 2 (21)	Zahâm	15 years
		Rüppell (16)	Sa Ghemo
		Dillmann A (21)	Ela–Tzaham
		Budge (19)	'Ella Ṣaḥam
22	[Ela–] Gabaz II	Páez 2 (22)	Gabêz	21 years
		Rüppell (17)	Gabes
		Dillmann A (22)	Ela–Gabaz
		Budge (20)	'Ella Gōbāz
23 and 24	Agabi and Lewi	Páez 2 (23 and 24)	Agabê e Levi	2 years
		Rüppell (18)	Gale Welewi		Rüppell listed this reign as belong to a single monarch instead of co-regents.[89]
		Dillmann A (23 and 24)	Agâbê und Levi	4 years
		Budge (21 and 22)	'Agābē and Lēwī	2 years	Budge dated this joint reign to c. 474–475.[84]
25	[Ela–] Ameda IV	Páez 2 (25)	Amidâ	11 years
		Rüppell (19)	Ameda
		Dillmann A (25)	Ela–Amídâ
		Budge (23)	'Ella 'Amīdā or 'Al-'Āmēdā	11 or 14 years	Budge believed this king was Alla Amidas, during whose reign the Nine Saints came to Axum.[84]
26 and 27	Yakob I and Dawit II	Páez 2 (26 and 27)	Iacob e David	3 years
		Rüppell (20)	Jakob Oeled Dauit	30 years	Rüppell listed this reign as belong to a single monarch instead of co-regents.[89] The 30-year reign length is likely a misreading or error.
		Dillmann A (26 and 27)	Jacob und David	3 years
		Budge (24 and 25)	Yā'ḳōb and Dāwīt		Budge dated this joint reign to 486–489.[90]
28	Armah	Páez 2 (28)	Armâ	14 years, 6 months and 8 days
		Rüppell (21)	Armah	14 years
		Dillmann A (28)	Armâh	14 years, 7 months and 8 days
		Budge (26)	'Armāh	14 years, 6 months and 10 days	Budge dated this king's reign to 489–503.[90]
29	Zitana	Páez 2 (29)	Zitanâ	2 years	Father of Kaleb according to some Ethiopian sources.[91][76] This could make him the same person as Tazena in variation 2.
		Rüppell (22)	Seza Sinka	12 years	Reign length could be an error.
		Dillmann A (29)	Zitânâ	2 years
		Budge (27)	Zītānā		Budge dated this king's reign to 504–505.[91]
30	Yakob II	Páez 2 (30)	Iacob	9 years
		Rüppell (23)	Jakob
		Dillmann A (30)	Jacob
		Budge (28)	Yā'ḳōb		According to Budge, this king was called "Arwe" due to his shocking cruelties and wickedness.[91] He was defeated by 'Ella 'Aṣbehā (IV?), likely the same person as Kaleb, otherwise known as "Elesbaan".[91]
31	Constantinos (Kaleb)	Páez 2 (31)	Constantinôs	28 years	Budge noted that Constantine was one of the alternate names of Kaleb.[91]
		Rüppell (24)	Kaleb oder Kustantinos	29 years	"Kaleb or Constantinos".
		Dillmann A (31)	Constantinos	28 years
32	Beta Israel	Rüppell (25)	Bed Israel	8 months	Rüppell dated the end of this king's reign to 6200 AM/700 AD.[89]
		Dillmann A (32)	Beta Israel		While the 8-month reign is certainly recorded on at least a couple of lists, Dillmann found that most lists he looked at were missing the number of months this king reigned.[82]
33	Gabra Maskal	Páez 2 (32)	Gabrâ Mazcâl	14 years
		Rüppell (26)	Gebra Masgal		Rüppell dated the end of this king's reign to 6214 AM/714 AD due to Lik Atkum's chronicle, which stated that 700 years passed between the birth of Christ and reign of Gabra Maskal.[89]
		Dillmann (33)	Gábra–Másqal
34 and 35	Nalke and Bazen II	Páez 2 (33 and 34)	Nacuê e Bacên	16 years	This list states that it was during this joint reign that the Church of Axum was founded.[80] It possible that these names are a repetition of the last two kings to reign before the Nativity of Jesus. Dillmann noted that one list he saw claimed that king "Nalek" reigned after Gabra Maskal for 11 years, but he personally doubted the accuracy of this list.[82]

Variation 2

This version of the line of succession after Abreha and Atsbeha includes many notable rulers such as Alla Amidas, Kaleb, Gebre Meskel and Dil Na'od, but does not include reign lengths for most rulers. The time span of these rulers should go from the early 4th century with Abreha and Atsbeha to the 10th century with the end of Dil Na'od's reign. However, only five kings are named between Abreha and Atsbeha and Alla Amidas (who ruled in the late 5th century), an approximate period of over 150 years. The 1922 regnal list resolved this by placing most kings of variation 1 between Abreha and Atsbeha and Amsi.

The following lists are compared in this table:

• The regnal list recorded by English Egyptologist Henry Salt in his book A Voyage to Abyssinia (1814).^[92]
• A regnal list recorded by German explorer Eduard Rüppell in his book Reise in Abyssinien (1840).^[93] He treated the line of kings from Constantinos to Dil Na'od as a continuation of the line of kings from variation 1.
• August Dillmann's List B (1853).^[94] This list claimed that each king was the son of the previous king.
• A list published by René Basset in 1882.^[95] This list claimed that each king was the son of the previous king.
• A manuscript held in the British Museum published by British archaeologist E. A. Wallis Budge (filed under Oriental No. 821) in 1928.^[96] French Orientalist René Basset recorded a list of kings that was nearly identical to this manuscript, except that a king named "Geda Jan" reigned between Degna Djan and Anbase Wedem.^[95] This additional name is also found on the Paris Chronicle, which otherwise has a similar line of succession to Salt's list.^[8] Some historians believe that this king's name was an alternate name for Degna Jan.^[97]

The four kings Asfah, Arfad, Amosi and Seladoba reigned for a total of 32 years according to Salt's list,^[63] though he personally felt that it was more likely they reigned for a total of 70 years.^[98] Salt noted that the kings from Ameda to Dil Na'od did not have reign lengths assigned to them in the chronicles but may have reigned for a total of 354 years.^[99] Pedro Páez stated that the next three kings after Abreha and Atsbeha on his regnal list were brothers who reigned together and divided each day into three parts between themselves.^[100] A similar story is recorded elsewhere in reference to Abreha, Atsbeha and Shahel.^[84]

No.	Common Name	List and Position	Name on List	Notes
1 and 2	Abreha and Atsbeha	Salt (1 and 2)	El-Abreha and El-Aizbeha	Salt listed "Aizana and Saizana" as alternate names for these kings.[59]
		Dillmann B (1 and 2)	A'breha und A'tzbeha
		Basset (1 and 2)	Abrëhâ et Aṣbēḥâ
		B.M. Manuscript (1 and 2)	'Abrehā and 'Aṣbeḥa
2	Abreha (sole rule)	B.M. Manuscript (2)	'Abrehā
		Dillmann B (2)	Abreha
		Basset (2)	Abrëhâ
3	Asfeh I	Salt (3)	Asfah	Salt noted that this king, Arfad, Amosi and Seladoba reigned for a total of 32 years.[92]
		Dillmann B (3)	Asfeha
		Basset (3)	Asfēḥ
		B.M. Manuscript (3)	'Aṣfeḥ
4	Arfed	Salt (4)	Arfad	Salt noted that this king, Asfah, Amosi and Seladoba reigned for a total of 32 years.[92]
		Dillmann B (4)	'Arfed
		Basset (4)	Arfâd
		B.M. Manuscript (4)	'Arfed
5	Amsi	Salt (5)	Amosi	Salt noted that this Asfah, Arfad and Seladoba reigned for a total of 32 years.[92]
		Dillmann B (5)	Amsî
		Basset (5)	Amsi
		B.M. Manuscript (5)	'Amsē
6	Saladoba	Salt (6)	Seladoba	Salt noted that this king, Asfah, Arfad and Amosi reigned for a total of 32 years.[92]
		Dillmann B (6)	Salâdôbâ	Dillmann noted that one list claimed the Nine Saints came to Ethiopia during this king's reign instead of Al-Ameda's reign.[94]
		Basset (6)	Saladobâ
		B.M. Manuscript (6)	Saladōbā
7	[Al–] Amida	Salt (7)	Ameda
		Dillmann B (7)	Al–Amêdâ	Dillmann noted that one list he saw stated that the Nine Saints came during this king's reign.[94]
		Basset (7)	Al–Amédà	This list noted that the Nine Saints came to Ethiopia during this king's reign. René Basset believed this king was Alla Amidas, during whose reign the Nine Saints came to Axum.
		B.M. Manuscript (7)	'Al–'Āmēdā
8	Tazena	Salt (8)	Tazena
		Dillmann B (8)	Tazênâ
		Basset (8)	Tàzénâ
		B.M. Manuscript (8)	Tāzēnā
9	Kaleb	Salt (9)	Caleb
		Dillmann B (9)	Kaleb	This list called this king the one "who tore (divided) the land".[94]
		Basset (9)	Kâlèb
		B.M. Manuscript (9)	Kālēb	E. A. Wallis Budge dated this king's reign to 514–542. Budge listed "Ella Asbeha" as an alternate name for this king.[91]
10	Gabra Maskal	Salt (10)	Guebra Mascal
		Dillmann B (10)	Gábra–Másqal	This list adds the note "in whose day Jared wrote the hymn book".[94]
		Basset (10)	Gabra Masqal
		B.M. Manuscript (10)	Gabra Maskal
11	Constantinos	Salt (11)	Constantinus
		Rüppell (27)	Kustantinos
		Dillmann B (11)	Constantinos
		Basset (11)	Quasṭanṭinos
		B.M. Manuscript (11)	Kuostantīnōs
12	Wasan Sagad	Salt (12)	Wusen Segued
		Rüppell (28)	Wasan Saged
		Dillmann B (12)	Wasan–Asgad	Dillmann noted that one list stated this king was a son of Gebre Meskel.[94]
		Basset (12)	Ouasan–Sagad
		B.M. Manuscript (12)	Wasan Sagad
13	Fere Sanay	Salt (13)	Fré Sennai
		Rüppell (29)	Fare Sanai
		Dillmann B (13)	Ferê–Sanâi
		Basset (13)	Fëré–Chanâï
		B.M. Manuscript (13)	Ferē Shanāy
14	Aderaz	Salt (14)	Adieraz	According to Alaqa Taye, this king was Najashi, the Axumite king who reigned at the time of the Muslim Migration to Abyssinia.[101]
		Rüppell (30)	Deras
		Dillmann B (14)	Ader'âzar	Dillmann suggested that this is alternate version of the name "Andreas".[94]
		Basset (14)	Adrëaz
		B.M. Manuscript (14)	'Ader'az
15	Akala Wedem	Salt (15)	Akul Woodem
		Rüppell (31)	Ekele Wedem
		Dillmann B (15)	Ekla–Udem
		Basset (15)	Akala–Ouëdëm
		B.M. Manuscript (15)	Akla Ẇedem
16	Germa Asfare II	Salt (16)	Grim Sofer
		Rüppell (32)	Gherma Safer
		Dillmann B (16)	Germâ–Safar
		Basset (16)	Garmâ–Safar
		B.M. Manuscript (16)	Germā Safar
17	Zergaz	Salt (17)	Zer gāz
		Rüppell (33)	Sergas
		Dillmann B (17)	Gergâz	Dillmann suggested that this king's name was alternate version of "Cyriacus".[94]
		Basset (17)	Zërgâz
		B.M. Manuscript (17)	Zergāz
18	Degna Mikael	Salt (18)	Degna Michael
		Rüppell (34)	Degena Mikael
		Dillmann B (18)	Degnâ–Michael
		Basset (18)	Dëgnâ–Mikâël
		B.M. Manuscript (18)	Degnā Mīkāēl
19	Bahr Ekla	Salt (19)	Bakr-Akla
		Rüppell (35)	Baher Ikela
		Dillmann B (19)	Bâhr–Ikla
		Basset (19)	Bâḥr–Iklâ
		B.M. Manuscript (19)	Bāḥer Īklā
20	Gum	Salt (20)	Gouma
		Rüppell (36)	Gum
		Dillmann B (20)
		Basset (20)	Goum
		B.M. Manuscript (20)	Gūm
21	Asguagum	Salt (21)	Asgoungūm
		Rüppell (37)	Asegum
		Dillmann B (21)	Aguamgûm
		Basset (21)	Asguamgoum
		B.M. Manuscript (21)	'Asguōmgūm
22	Letem	Salt (22)	Let-um
		Rüppell (38)	Letim
		Dillmann B (22)	Létem
		Basset (22)	Lëtëm
		B.M. Manuscript (22)	Letem
23	Talatem	Salt (23)	Thala-tum
		Rüppell (39)	Talatim
		Dillmann B (23)	Talâtem
		Basset (23)	Talâtëm
		B.M. Manuscript (23)	Talātem
24	Oda Gosh or Oda Sasa	Salt (24)	Woddo Gúsh
		Rüppell (40)	Ode Gosch
		Dillmann B (24)	Ôda–Gôsh
		Basset (24)	'Odâ–Sâsa
		B.M. Manuscript (24)	'Odā Sāsa
25	Ayzur	Salt (25)	I zoor
		Rüppell (41)	Aiser	Reigned for one day and was overwhelmed by a large crowd of people who gathered around him on the day of his coronation.
		Dillmann B (25)	Aizúr	This list stated he reigned for half a day.[94] Dillmann noted that one list explained that the king was crushed by a crowd of people who gathered around him and since then a barrier has been erected in front of kings to prevent this from happening again.[94]
		Basset (25)	Aïzour	This list noted the king reigned for half a day and was suffocated by a crowd of people in the capital, with many men dying of suffocation also. Since then, a barrier has been placed in front the king.
		B.M. Manuscript (25)	'Ayzūr
26	Dedem	Salt (25)	Didum
		Rüppell (42)	Dedem
		Dillmann B (26)	Dédem
		Basset (26)	Dëdëm
		B.M. Manuscript (26)	Dedem
27	Wededem	Rüppell (43)	Wededem
		Dillmann B (27)	Udédem
		Basset (27)	Ouëdëdëm
		B.M. Manuscript (27)	Wededem
28	Wedem Asfare	Salt (26)	Woodm asfar
		Rüppell (44)	Wedem Asfare
		Dillmann B (28)	Udem–Asfaré
		Basset (28)	Ouëdëm–Asfaré	This list claimed this king lived for 150 years.
		B.M. Manuscript (28)	Wedem 'Asfarē
29	Armah	Salt (27)	Armah
		Rüppell (45)
		Dillmann B (29)	Armáh
		Basset (29)	Armâkh
		B.M. Manuscript (29)	Armāẖ
30	Degna Djan	Salt (28)	Degna Jan
		Rüppell (46)	Degena Schan
		Dillmann B (30)	Degnâ–Djân
		Basset (30)	Dëgnâ–Jân
		B.M. Manuscript (30)	Degnā Jān
31	Geda Djan	Rüppell (47)	Degea Schan
		Dillmann B (31)	Ged'â–Djân
		Basset (31)	Gëd'â–Jân
32	Anbase Wedem	Salt (29)	Ambasa Woodim
		Rüppell (48)	Anbasa Wedem
		Dillmann B (32)	Anbasâ–Udem
		Basset (32)	Anbase–Ouëdëm
		B.M. Manuscript (31)	'Anbasa Wedem
33	Dil Na'od	Salt (30)	Dilnaad
		Rüppell (49)	Delnad	Rüppell noted this king was driven out by a Jewish woman named "Sague" (probably Gudit) and took refuge in Shewa. The name "Sague" refers to the Zagwe dynasty, who Rüppell believed were related to this queen.[102]
		Dillmann B (33)	Delnoâd	This list noted that after this king the throne passed the Zagwe dynasty, who were "not Israelites".[94]
		Basset (33)	Dël–Na'àd	This list noted that after this king the throne passed the Zagwe dynasty, who were "not Israelites".
		B.M. Manuscript (32)	Delna'ad
34	Gudit	Salt (31)	Gudit or Assaat ("Fire")	Not included in Salt's list, but mentioned afterwards as a queen who overthrew the Axumite dynasty and moved the capital to Lasta in c. 925. The alternate name "Assaat" is probably meant to reference Esato.

Variation 3

These lists continue the line of kings after Dil Na'od. The kings from Anbase Wedem to Armah are usually placed before Dil Na'od on other lists, but are placed chronologically after him on these lists. Degna Djan is completely omitted from this variation. Bruce believed the short reign of Ayzur followed by the accession of Dil Na'od as an infant, as well as an epidemic disease spreading around Axum, all aided Judith (Gudit) in her conquest and usurption of the throne.^[103]

Three regnal lists are compared below:

• The first and third regnal lists quoted by Pedro Páez in 1620.^[100][16]
• The regnal list recorded by Scottish traveller James Bruce in his book Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile (1790).^[74] His list of kings came from a manuscript held in the Debre Libanos in Shewa.^[74] His list ends with Dil Na'od.
• August Dillmann's List C (1853).^[104]

These lists are similar in most parts, but have notable differences:

• Asfeh I is co-ruler with Arfed and Amsi on Páez's first list, but the other three lists do not state that all three ruled together.
• Páez's third list includes an additional king named "Amiamid" between Alameda and Tazena, whose name could be a duplication of Alameda.
• Armah I and Jan Asfeh are missing from Páez's third list, but appear on the other three lists in this table.
• The queens named Esato and Gudit are considered to be separate individuals on Páez's third list who ruled different areas of Ethiopia, but Dillmann's list C instead considers both of these names to refer to the same queen.
• No women are mentioned on Páez's first list.
• On Páez's first list, Anbase Wedem and Dil Na'od are moved to the end of the list and are placed after Degna Djan and Hezba Nan, neither of whom are found on the other lists in this table. Páez's first list essentially keeps the order of the succession the same as his third list, but alters the order of a few names to match with the order found in the variation two lists mentioned above.
• Dillmann's list mentions a woman named Terdai Gabaz, through whom the Zagwe dynasty was able to rise to power.

No.	Common Name	List and Position	Name on List	Notes
1 and 2	Abreha and Atsbeha	Páez 1 (1 and 2)	Abrâ e Azbâ
		Páez 3 (1 and 2)	Abrahâ e Azbahã
		Bruce (1 and 2)	Abreha and Atzbeha	Bruce dated the conversion of Axum to Christianity to the year 333.[74] Bruce suspected that Abreha and Atsbeha were in fact a single person known, with "Atsbeha" simply meaning "the blessed", an alternate name for the same king as was common with other Axumite king.[105]
		Dillmann C (1 and 2)	Abreha und Atzbeha
3	Asfeh I	Páez 1 (3)	Azfâ	Co-ruler with Arfed and Amsi according to this list. They were brothers and divided each day into three parts to rule.[106] Manuel de Almeida also reported a similar tradition regarding kings called Azfa, Azfed and Amey.[24]
		Páez 3 (3)	Azfehê
		Bruce (3)	Asfeha
		Dillmann C (3)	Asfeḥ
4 and 5	Arfed and Amsi	Páez 1 (4 and 5)	Arfêd e Amçî	Co-rulers with Asfeh according to this list. They were brothers and divided each day into three parts to rule.[106]
		Páez 3 (4 and 5)	Arfêd e Amci	Brothers according to this list.[73]
		Bruce (4 and 5)	Arphad and Amzi
		Dillmann C (4 and 5)	Arfed und Amsî	Brothers according to this list.[104]
6	Arad	Páez 1 (6)	Aradô
		Páez 3 (6)	Arâd
		Bruce (6)	Araad
		Dillmann C (5)	Ar'ad
7	Saladoba	Páez 1 (7)	Aladobâ
		Páez 3 (7)	Cel Adobâ
		Bruce (7)	Saladoba
		Dillmann C (7)	Sal'adôbâ
8	Alamida	Páez 1 (8)	Amiamid	During this king's reign the Nine Saints came to Axum.
		Páez 3 (8)	Alamidâ
		Bruce (8)	Alameda
		Dillmann C (8)	Alamîdâ
—	—	Páez 3 (9)	Amiamid	Possibly a duplicate of the previous king.
9	Tazena	Páez 1 (9)	Tacenâ
		Páez 3 (10)	Tacenâ
		Bruce (9)	Tezhana
		Dillmann C (9)	Tazênâ
10	Kaleb	Páez 1 (10)	Calêb
		Páez 3 (11)	Calêb
		Bruce (10)	Caleb	Bruce dated this king's reign to 522.[74]
		Dillmann C (10)	Caleb
11	Gebre Meskel	Páez 1 (11)	Grabrâ Mazcâl
		Páez 3 (12)	Gabra Mazcâl
		Bruce (11)	Guebra Mascal
		Dillmann C (11)	Gábra–Másqal
12	Constantinos	Páez 1 (12)	Constantinôs
		Páez 3 (13)	Constantinôs
		Bruce (12)	Constantine
		Dillmann C (12)	Constantinos
13	Bazgar	Páez 1 (13)	Bazgâr	Budge suggested this king was the same person as Wasan Sagad.[107]
		Páez 3 (14)	Bezgâr
		Bruce (13)	Bazzer
		Dillmann C (13)	Bazgar
14	Asfeh II	Páez 1 (14)	Azfê
		Páez 3 (15)	Azfêh
		Bruce (14)	Azbeha
		Dillmann C (14)	Asfeḥ
15	Armah I	Páez 3 (16)	Armâh	Omitted from Páez's first list.
		Bruce (15)	Armaha
		Dillmann C (15)	Armâḥ
16	Jan Asfeh	Páez 3 (17)	Jan Azfêh	Omitted from Páez's first list.
		Bruce (16)	Jan Asfeha
		Dillmann C (16)	Djân–Asfeh
17	Jan Asgad	Páez 1 (15)	Jan Azguêd
		Páez 3 (18)	Jan Azguêd
		Bruce (17)	Jan Segued
		Dillmann C (17)	Djân–Asgad
18	Fere Sanai	Páez 1 (16)	Freçanâi
		Páez 3 (19)	Freçanâi
		Bruce (18)	Fere Sanai
		Dillmann C (18)	Ferê–Sanâi
19	Aderaz	Páez 1 (17)	Adoraâz
		Páez 3 (20)	Aderaz
		Bruce (19)	Aderaaz
		Dillmann C (19)	Adarâz
20	Ayzur	Páez 1 (18)	Oaiçâr
		Páez 3 (21)	Aiçôr
		Bruce (20)	Aizor
		Dillmann C (20)	Aizôr
21	Dil Na'od	Páez 1 (29)	Delnaôd	According to this list, the throne passed to the Zagwe dynasty after the end of this king's reign.[108]
		Páez 3 (22)	Delnaôd
		Bruce (21)	Del Naad	Bruce dated this king's reign to 960.[74]
		Dillmann C (21)	Delnaod
22	Maiday	Páez 1 (19)	Madâi
		Páez 3 (23)	Maadâi
		Dillmann C (22)	Madâi
23	Esato	Páez 3 (24)	Eçabô ("Fire")	A Jewish queen who reigned in Amhara.[109]
		Dillmann C (23)	Esâtô	This list described this queen as a "vile and godless woman" and an "unbelieving brood" who lived in Amhara and destroyed churches.[104] This list also claimed that she was known as Gudit in Tigray, unlike Páez's third list when named Esato and Gudit as separate rulers. Dillmann's list C specifies that this queen reigned for 40 years.
24	Gudit	Páez 3 (25)	Gudit ("Monstrous")	A queen who reigned for 40 years in Tigray and destroyed all the churches.[109]
		Bruce (22)	Judith	Not named on the list, but mentioned in his book as the ruler who came after Dil Na'od.[103]
		Dillmann C (23)	Guedîth	This list claimed Esato and Gudit were the same woman and that she was known as Esato in Amhara and Gudit in Tigray.[110]
25	Anbase Wedem	Páez 1 (28)	Ambaçâ Udm
		Páez 3 (26)	Ambaçâ Udm
		Dillmann C (24)	Anbasâ–Udem
26	Akala Wedem	Páez 1 (20)	Calaudên
		Páez 3 (27)	Hualâ Udêm
		Dillmann C (25)	Kualâ–Udem
27	Germa Asfare II	Páez 1 (21)	Guermâ Azfarê
		Páez 3 (28)	Guerma Azfarê
		Dillmann C (26)	Germâ–Asfarê
28	Zergaz	Páez 1 (22)	Zargâz
		Páez 3 (29)	Zergâz
		Dillmann C (27)	Zergaz
29	Degna Mikael	Páez 1 (23)	Degnâ Michael
		Páez 3 (30)	Degnâ Michael
		Dillmann C (28)	Degnâ–Michael
30	Badagaz (Gadagosh?)	Páez 1 (24)	Badagâz
		Páez 3 (31)	Badgâz
		Dillmann C (29)	Badagaz
31	Armah II	Páez 1 (25)	Armâ
		Páez 3 (32)	Armâh	The Zagwe dynasty reigned after this king according to this list.
		Dillmann C (30)	Armâḥ
–	Hezba Nan	Páez 1 (26)	Ezbinani	The Debre Libanos manuscript, which otherwise follows the third list recorded by Paez, names this king as the successor of Armah and the last king before the Zagwe dynasty.[111]
		Dillmann C (31)	Shinahanni	While Dillmann placed this king after Armah II, he noted that he only found this king on one list.[104]
–	Degna Djan	Páez 1 (27)	Degnaxân
–	Terdai Gabaz	Dillmann C (32)	Terdâe'–Gabaz	Some sources claim this was an alternate name for Gudit.[112] However Gudit is already named earlier in this list. This list states that the throne was taken by a family who were not "of the family of David" and mentions after naming Terdai Gabaz.[104] This suggests that she can be equated with Masoba Warq, a daughter of Dil Na'od, who, according to tradition was the wife of Mara Takla Haymanot, the founder of the Zagwe dynasty.

Variation 4

This variation does not include reign lengths for most names.

The following list is included in this table:

• A regnal list included in a book titled History of the Kings of Dabra Yahanes (1903), edited by Italian orientalist Carlo Conti Rossini and quoted by E. A. Wallis Budge.^[96] The list is similar to the lists in variation 2 until the reign of Constantinos (Yeshak), after whom the order slightly varies. The kings named Aderaz, Dedem and Geda Jan are not included in this list.

No.	Common Name	List and Position	Name on List	Notes
1 and 2	Abreha and Atsbeha	Rossini (1 and 2)	'Abrehā and 'Aṣbeḥa
2	Atsbeha (sole rule)	Rossini (2)	'Aṣbeḥa
3	Asfeh	Rossini (3)	'Aṣfeḥ
4	Arfed	Rossini (4)	'Arfăsked
5	Amsi	Rossini (5)	'Amsē
6	Saladoba	Rossini (6)	'Alādeb
7	Alameda	Rossini (7)	'Almēdā
8	Tazena	Rossini (8)	Tāzēnā
9	Kaleb	Rossini (9)	Kālēb	Reigned for 40 years.[96]
10	Gabra Maskal	Rossini (10)	Gabra Maskal	Reigned for 40 years.[96]
11	Yeshak (Constantinos)	Rossini (11)	Yeṣhaḳ	"Constantine" is listed as an alternate name for this king by Rossini.[96]
12	Fere Sanay	Rossini (12)	Ferē Shanāya
13	Wasan Sagad	Rossini (13)	Wasan Sagad
14	Dagena Mikael	Rossini (14)	Degnā Mīkāēl
15	Zergaz	Rossini (15)	Derāz
16	Degjan	Rossini (16)	Degzān	Unique to this variation. Possibly a duplicate of Degna Djan.
17	Germa Asfare	Rossini (17)	Germā Sōr
18	Akala Wedem	Rossini (18)	'Akāla Wedem
19	Bahr Ekla	Rossini (19)	Bāḥra 'Ēkālā
20	Gum	Rossini (20)	Gūm
21	Asguagum	Rossini (21)	'Ashāgūm
22	Latem	Rossini (22)	Latem
23	Talatem	Rossini (23)	Talātem
24	Oda Gosh	Rossini (24)	'Adẖsha
25	Ayzur	Rossini (25)	'Ayzūr	Reigned for half a day.[113]
26	Wededem	Rossini (26)	'Awdamdem
27	Wedem Asfare	Rossini (27)	Wedem Masferē	This list claimed this king lived for 150 years.[94]
28	Armah	Rossini (28)	'Armāh
29	Degna Djan	Rossini (29)	Degjān
30	Anbasa Wedem	Rossini (30)	'Anbasā Wedem
31	Dil Na'od	Rossini (31)	Delnā'ād	Reigned for 40 years.[113]

Variation 5

This variation does not include reign lengths and has only been attested on one known list dated to the 16th century.^[13]

The table includes names from Carlo Conti Rossini's "List F".^[114]

This list is a condensed version of variation 2, with some additional names and changes in regnal order. Notably, Kaleb is missing from this variation.

Rossini's "List G" includes these kings before Gebre Meskel instead: Asfā Sāhel, Asged, Mesēr, Ar'adu, Elā Adobā, Alāmēd, Tāzēnā and Kālēb.^[57] The kings from Asfa Sahel to Gabra Maskal are numbered 47 to 55 on list G.^[57]

No.	Common Name	List and Position	Name on List	Notes
1 and 2	Abreha and Atsbeha	Rossini List F (13 and 14)	Abrehā et Aṣbeḥa
3	Dalez	Rossini List F (15)	Dālēz	Unique to this variation. No. 11 on list G.[115]
4	Sahel Ekla	Rossini List F (16)	Sǎhel Iyekal'a	Unique to this variation.
5	Gabra Maskal	Rossini List F (17)	Gabra Masqal
6	Baher Ekla	Rossini List F (18)	Bāḥra Iyekal'a
7	Gum	Rossini List F (19)	Gwem	No. 12 on list G.[115]
8	Asguagum	Rossini List F (20)	Asgwamgwem	No. 13 on list G.[115]
9	Letem	Rossini List F (21)	Letem	No. 14 on list G.[115]
10	Talatem	Rossini List F (22)	Telātem	No. 15 on list G.[115]
11	Zergaz	Rossini List F (23)	Zergāz
12	Badagaz	Rossini List F (24)	Badāgoš
13	Ayzur	Rossini List F (25)	Ayzur
14	Maiday Kala	Rossini List F (26)	Māeda Kalā
15	Medemdem	Rossini List F (27)	Medemdem	Probably the same king as Wededem from variation 2.
16	Wedem	Rossini List F (28)	Wedem	Probably the same king as Dedem from variation 2.
17	Germa Asfare	Rossini List F (29)	Germā Asfarē
18 and 19	Leb Dahare and Engede Kare	Rossini List F (30)	Lebb Dahāri et Engedē Qarē	Unique to this variation.
20	Dil Na'od	Rossini List F (32)	Delna'ad

Summary

Páez List 1 (Birth Names) (1620)	Páez List 2 (Regnal Names) (1620)	Páez List 3 (Regnal Names) (1620)	Bruce (1790)	Salt (1814)	Rüppell (1840)	Dillmann A (1853)	Dillmann B (1853)	Dillmann C (1853)	Rossini (1903)	British Museum manuscript Oriental No. 821	Unknown chronicle (Budge)
29 Kings	34 Kings 280 years and 8 days	32 Kings	21 Kings	32 Kings	49 Kings	33 Kings 265 years, 5 months and 8 days	33 Kings	32 Kings	31 Kings	32 Kings	29 Kings 219 or 222 years, 2 months and 10 days

Zagwe dynasty lists

See also: Zagwe dynasty

Ethiopian traditions are in agreement that the Zagwe dynasty ruled at some point after the fall of Axum and directly preceded the Solomonic dynasty, but differ regarding when this dynasty first came to power, how long it remained in power and even the number of kings who ruled.

Ethiopian historian Sergew Hable Selassie noted that there are three main lists of Zagwe kings, known as the short, long and longer lists.^[116] He felt that the longer list was probably the most accurate.^[116]

Short List

Recorded in Carlo Conti Rossini's work Storia d'Etiopia (p. 305).^[116] Pedro Páez recorded a version with reign lengths and noted this list was likely incomplete.^[117] Manuel de Almeida also quoted a list that claimed this dynasty only had 5 kings who ruled for 143 years.^[118] A manuscript held in Paris (no. 64) claimed the Zagwe dynasty had 5 kings whose rule began in either 1145 or 1147 and ended in either 1268 or 1270.^[119]

#	Name[116]	Reign Lengths[117]	Notes
1	Mera	15 years	Also known as Mara Takla Haymanot.
2	Yimreha	40 years	Also known as Yemrehana Krestos.
3	Lalibela	40 years	–
4	Na'akueto La'ab	40 years	–
5	Harbe	8 years	–
Total		143 years

Long list

Variation 1

Recorded in Carlo Conti Rossini's work Storia d'Etiopia,^[116] Eduard Rüppell's Reise in Abyssinien^[120] and René Basset's Études sur l'histoire d'Éthiopie.^[121] Also recorded in the Paris Chronicle and a manuscript held in the British Museum (Or. 821, fol. 28b).^[118][122] The 1922 regnal list of Ethiopia uses a similar list of kings for the Zagwe dynasty, but with some differences in reign length, giving the dynasty a total of 333 years of rule.^[123]

James Bruce used this version of this list in his book Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, though considered Tatadim, Jan Seyum, Germa Seyum, Harbai and Mairari to be descendants of Gudit who ruled at Lasta, while the other six kings were theorised to be Christian according to Bruce.^[124]

#	Name[116]	Reign Length[116]	Notes
1	Mara Takla Haymanot	3 years	The 1922 regnal list records 13 years of rule.[123] Both Rüppell's list and the 1922 regnal list give the name "Zagwe" as the name of this king.[120]
2	Tetewudem	40 years	–
3	Jan Seyum	40 years	–
4	Germa Seyum	40 years	–
5	Yemrehana Krestos	40 years	–
6	Kedus Harbe	40 years	Named "Kedus Arbe (Samt)" on the 1922 regnal list.[123]
7	Lalibela	40 years	–
8	Na'akueto La'ab	48 years	The 1922 regnal list records 40 years of rule.[123]
9	Yetbarak	40 years	–
10	Mairari	15 years	Rüppell noted that a chronicle from Kiratza stated this king reigned for 18 years.[120]
11	Harbai	8 years	Rüppell noted that a chronicle from Kiratza stated this king reigned for 23 years.[120]
Total		354 years

Variation 2

Recorded in Eduard Rüppell's Reise in Abyssinien^[120] and Carlo Conti Rossini's "La caduta della dinastia Zague" (p. 295).^[116] Rüppell's list originated from the Chronicle of Berhan Sagad and stated these kings reigned for a total of 333 years.^[120]

#	Monarch	Name variation		Notes
–	Zagwe	Rüppell (1)	Sague	The name of this dynasty is mistakenly listed by Rüppell as the founding monarch of this line. He believed that "Sague" was a queen who founded this dynasty after overthrowing the Axumite line.[102] This queen however was Gudit it is unconfirmed if she had any link to the Zagwe kings, though some traditions claims she did.
1	Mara Takla Haymanot	Rüppell (2)	Panetau
		Rossini (1)	Pentew
2	Tatadim	Rüppell (3)	Panetadim
		Rossini (2)	Pentedim
3	Jan Seyum	Rüppell (4)	Schan Sejum
		Rossini (3)	Jan Seyoum
4	Germa Seyum	Rüppell (5)	Schan Görema
		Rossini (4)	Jan Grima
5	Kedus Harbe	Rüppell (6)	Schan Arbe
		Rossini (5)	Harbé
6	Lalibela	Rüppell (7)	Lalibela
		Rossini (6)	Lalibela
7	Na'akueto La'ab	Rüppell (8)	Naqueto Labu
		Rossini (7)	Ne'akuto Le'ab
8	Yemrehana Krestos	Rüppell (9)	Jemorahn Kristos
		Rossini (8)	Yimrehane Kristos
9	Yetbarak	Rüppell (10)	Jetbarak Oegsiaböhör
		Rossini (9)	Yitbarek

Variation 3

Recorded by Carlo Conti Rossini from a text from Dabra Libanos.^[125]

#	Name	Reign Length	Notes
1	Takla Haymanot	40 years	–
2	Jan Seyum	40 years	–
3	Germa Seyum	40 years	–
4	Gempawedamo	40 years	Third son of Mara Takla Haymanot.[125] Possibly Tatadim.
5	Yemreha	40 years	–
6	Gabra Maryam	40 years	Also known as Kedus Harbe.
7	Lalibala	40 years	–
8	Na'akueto La'ab	40 years	–
9	Yetbarak	9 years	–
Total		329 years

Longer list

#	Name[116]	Reign Length[116]	Dates[116]	Notes
1	Mara Takla Haymanot	13 years	920–933	Son-in-law of Dil Na'od.[126]
2	Sibuhay (Dil Ne'ad II)	10 years	933–943	Not to be confused with Dil Na'od.
3	Meyrary	15 years	943–958	–
4	Harbey (Hareyene Egzi)	8 years	958–966	–
5	Mengisine Yitbarek	7 years	966–973	–
6	Yi'kebke Egzi	10 years	973–983	–
7	Zena Petros	6 years	983–989	Murdered.[126]
8	Bahr Saf	14 years	989–1003	–
9	Tetewudem (Ser Assegid)	10 years	1003–1013	Descendant of Mara Takla Haymanot.[126]
10	Akotet (Jan Seyoum)	20 years	1013–1033	Brother of Tatadim.[126]
11	Be'mnet (Girma Seyoum)	20 years	1033–1053	Brother of Jan Seyum.[126]
12	Yimrehane Kristos	40 years	1053–1093	Son of Germa Seyum.[126] Capital was Adefa during his reign.[126]
13	Gebre Mariam	40 years	1093–1133	Also known as Kedus Harbe. Son of Jan Seyum.[126] Previously governor of Lasta.[126] Abdicated.[126]
14	Lalibela	40 years	1133–1173	Son of Jan Seyum.[126] Previously governor of Lasta.[126] Abdicated.[126] Alternate dates: 1160–1211, 1180–1220 or 1205–1255[126]
15	Ne'akuto Le'ab	40 years	1173–1213	Son of Kedus Harbe.[126] Abdicated.[126] Alternate dates: c. 1145–1215, 1211–1251/1259 or 1220–1268[126]
16	Yitbarek	40 years	1213–1253	Son of Lalibela.[126] "Pretender" to the throne from 1173 to 1213.[126] Died in battle at Daga Qirqos.[126]
Total		333 years

Alternate variations of the Solomonic line

See also: List of emperors of Ethiopia

Beginning with the reign of Yekuno Amlak, the line of rulers becomes more consistently noted and dated across various regnal lists. However, some emperors have been excluded from certain lists:

• The first regnal list quoted by Pedro Páez omitted two of the sons of Yagbe'u Seyon.
• The second regnal list quoted by Pedro Páez omitted Andreyas, who reigned for 6 months in 1429 and 1430.^[127] The same regnal list did not name directly the ephemeral sons of Yagbe'u Seyon, but simply stated that two of his sons ruled for three years followed by three grandsons who reigned for two years.^[127]
• The 1922 regnal list of Ethiopia omitted Susenyos II, perhaps due to doubts over his legitimacy.^[128]

A manuscript from the Debre Damo church provided a slightly altered line of succession from Yekuno Amlak to Lebna Dengel:^[129]

Debre Damo List	Conventional List (with common numbering and reign lengths)
Yekuno-Amlak (40 years)	Yekuno Amlak (1) (15 years)
Wedema-Ar'ed (15 years)	Wedem Arad (8) (15 years)
Qedema-Asgad, Hezba-Asgad, Senfa-Ar'ed (who all reigned for a total of 4 years)	Qedma Asgad (5) (1 year) Hezba Asgad (4) (1 year) Senfa Ared (3) (1 year)
Bahara-Asgad (5 years)	Saba Asgad (6) (1 year) (?)
Yagba-Asgad (9 years)	Yagbe'u Seyon (2) (9 years)
Amda-Seyon (30 years)	Amda Seyon I (9) (30 years)
Sayfa-Ar'ed (28 years)	Newaya Krestos (10) (28 years)
Germa Asfare (10 years)	Newaya Maryam (11) (10 years)
Dawit (33 years)	Dawit I (12) (31 years)
Tewodros (1 year)	Tewodros I (13) (9 months)
Yeshaq (15 years)	Yeshaq I (14) (15 years)
Endreyas (7 years)	Andreyas (15) (4 or 6 months)
Hezba-Nan, Amda Iyasus, Badel-Nan (who all reigned for a total of 5 years)	Takla Maryam (16) (3 years) Amda Iyasus (18) (8 months) Sarwe Iyasus (17) (4 or 8 months)
Zar'a Ya'qob (34 years)	Zara Yaqob (19) (34 years)
Ba'eda Mariam (10 years)	Baeda Maryam I (20) (10 years)
Eskender (17 years)	Eskender (21) (16 years)
Na'od (16 years)	Na'od (23) (14 years)
Amda Seyon	Amda Seyon II (22) (5 months)
Lebna Dengel	Lebna Dengel (24) (32 years)

The above list omits at least one of the sons of Yagbe'u Seyon. The second Amda Seyon is credited with having "fought ten kings and killed all of them", but this is likely a confusion with Amda Seyon I.^[129]

1922 regnal list

Further information: 1922 regnal list of Ethiopia

The longest regnal list of Ethiopian rulers was written in 1922 and contained 321 names from 4530 BC to 1779 AD. This list combines names from the majority of other regnal lists along with many additional names of rulers of ancient Nubia (which was often called Aethiopia historically) and ancient Egypt, as well as names that originate from the Biblical, ancient Greek, Coptic and Arabic literature. This regnal list first received attention in the Western world when it was published in Charles Fernand Rey's 1927 book In the Country of the Blue Nile after he had been given a copy by the Prince regent Tafari Makannon.^[130]

See also

• 1922 regnal list of Ethiopia
• List of kings of Axum
• List of emperors of Ethiopia
• List of royal consorts of Ethiopia
• Index of Ethiopia-related articles

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2. Kropp 2006, pp. 304–305.
3. Budge 1928a, p. 204.
4. Kropp 2006, p. 312.
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