Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does Ethiopia have a heraldic tradition?
A: Historical Ethiopia does not have a traditional heraldic tradition, especially as it is the only African country to have withstood European colonization attempts (with the exception of the brief conquest by the Italians in World War II). However, many historical Ethiopian Emperors, nobles, clerics, and other persons of high social standing had their own seal. This personal seal contained wording in Amharic or the Ge'ez languages as well as visual images of iconic or related symbols (the Imperial Crown, the Lion of Judah, etc.). These seals were personal property and did not pass to a descendent in a traditional heraldic sense. Instead, a descendant would have his own seal that was differenced (even in a small way) from the original. Furthermore, though Ethiopian warriors carried a round shield that was often highly decorated with Ethiopian symbols, the shield decoration was not a means of personal identification as it was in medieval Europe.
But there is historical precedent for European-style heraldry in Ethiopia. His Highness Asfa-Wossen Asserate and his father Le'ul Ras Asserate Kassa both obtained grants of arms from the College of Arms in London, and Eritrea had significant heraldic influence from Italy while still a part of the Empire. In addition, Imperial Ethiopia interacted heavily with British and French civilization -- both cultures which had significant heraldic traditions. Thus, the Crown Prince Zere Yacob Asfa Wossen, as the fons honorum of Imperial Ethiopia, chose in 2001 to expand the ancient tradition of personal seals and adopt it to a European-style of heraldry more readily recognizable to non-Ethiopians. Through a fusion of cultures, European-style shields, supporters, coronets, blazons, and heraldic symbols are used in conjunction with Imperial Ethiopian symbols and iconography. However, while the standard grant of arms through the Imperial Ethiopian College of Heraldry is a European/Ethiopian fusion, the College also greatly respects and embraces the traditional Ethiopian practices. Therefore, upon the request of the petitioner, the College will prepare and grant a historical Ethiopian personal seal consisting of a circular shield with Amharic writing and strictly Ethiopian symbols instead of a traditional grant of arms. However, this personal seal will not be allowed to pass to subsequent generations barring a differentiation of either symbols or Amharic wording. Below please find an example of a personal seal -- in this case, the Crown Prince Zere Yakobe's seal (please click seal to enlarge):
Q: Didn't Amha Selassie I, Emperor-in-Exile transfer Imperial authority to the Crown Council? Wouldn't this remove the fons honorum from the Crown Prince?
A: This is a question that sadly has caused much confusion. Under the Ethiopian Revised Constitution of 1955, established by a seated monarch (Emperor Haile Selassie I), Imperial power is passed solely through the male issue of Haile Selassie, with elder males receiving precedence before younger males and closer family lines before more distant lines (Article Five of the Constitution). Some parties rightfully assert that primogeniture was not the traditional form of transfer of sovereignty, but this is irrelevant. As a seated monarch, Haile Selassie was well within his power to redefine the method of sovereignty transfer, especially as this well-constructed method eliminated the historical intrigue associated with crown transfer -- intrigue that often resulted in bloodshed and chaos as rival factions battled for supremacy. His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie was the last seated monarch (as Imperial Ethiopia was overthrown by communist-supported forces in 1974), so the Constitution of 1955 continues to be the governing document for Imperial Ethiopia. Later Emperors-in-exile or other de jure rulers may expand upon laws established by the last seated monarch, but they cannot legally contradict standing law. In this area, note that while Haile Selassie I was in the process of revising the 1955 Constitution at the time of the coup, it was not finished and therefore, again, the 1955 Constitution stands.
Amha Selassie I, who was an Emperor-in-Exile and son of the Emperor Haile Selassie I, may have transferred Imperial power to a Crown Council before his death, although no conclusive written documentation of this event has surfaced. Some believe that this act also transferred the fons honorum to the Crown Council. However, as Emperor-in-Exile Amha Selassie I was never a seated monarch, he did not have the authority to transfer power to anyone other than the Crown Prince Zere Yacob, as the Crown Prince was his only male offspring -- any other action would have violated the 1955 Constitution. In addition, the seated monarch, Haile Selassie, once made Zere Yacob "Acting Crown Prince" when it was thought that the future Emperor-in-Exile Amha Selassie (the Crown Prince at the time) was on the verge of death, so this action clearly demonstrates that Haile Selassie specifically intended Zere Yacob to be the eventual successor with full Imperial Prerogative after Amha Selassie. Thus, Crown Prince Zere Yacob is the only fons honorum of Imperial Ethiopia.
However, even if one subscribes to the theory that Amha Selassie I, as an Emperor-in-Exile, could have transferred power to another party in violation of Article Five of the 1955 Constitution, the Crown Prince and Crown Council recognized each other in the summer of 2004 and rendered the authority question moot. Subsequent to 2004, the Crown Prince recognizes the actions of the Crown Council and the Crown Council likewise recognizes the actions of the Crown Prince. But, to this day, the Crown Prince solely retains the fons honorum of Imperial Ethiopia.
Q: I notice some people who have obtained a grant of arms from the College have a Baronet's coronet, but I did not think Imperial Ethiopia had a title that translated as Baronet. What is going on?
A: Imperial Ethiopia had titles which loosely translated to the standardized European nobility ranks -- that is, Duke, Marquess/Marquis, Earl/Count, Viscount, and Baron (of course, there were additional ranks in some countries, e.g. Russia). However, history has not always had these titles. For example, the titles of Baron and Earl were the only titles in existence in England at the time of the Norman Conquest. Later titles were added at the prerogative of the monarch. In 1611, it is generally regarded that James I of England invented the title of Baronet -- a lesser noble and not a peer of the realm. In more recent times, the Ethiopian Crown Prince Zere Yacob, as fons honorum of Imperial Ethiopia, has chosen to expand the ranks of nobility to also include a rank of Baronet. Similar to any seated or de jure monarch of any empire, kingdom, or principality, the Crown Prince may additionally expand upon or create more new noble ranks in the future.
Q: Why are you headquartered in the state of Maryland within the United States?
A: Many members of the Imperial Solomonic Crown now reside in various Western countries after the illegal overthrow of the Emperor by communist-supported forces in 1974. As such, it was prudent to both re-establish and create new organizations in the Western countries, as this allowed a more liquid flow of capital and efficient tax treatment. Thus, various Imperial organizations were created under the protection of the laws of the United States, including registering the non-profit Imperial Solomonic Foundation as a 501(c)(3) organization. As the Solomonic King of Arms currently resides in Maryland, the Imperial Ethiopian College of Heraldry was established there. However, should the Imperial monarchy in Ethiopia be restored to power in the future, the Imperial Ethiopian College of Heraldry and all records will likely be moved to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the previous capital of Imperial Ethiopia. Upon such future restoration, any grants of arms made to petitioners during the interregnum period will be almost certainly re-affirmed by the new Emperor as Crown Prince Zere Yacob is the current recognized fons honorum of the Solomonic Crown.