Portrait
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Name
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Dates
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Notes
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Ezana / Ezanas
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mid 340s–380
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First Christian king of Axum. Converted by Frumentius. The exact date for the conversion is unknown and the circumstances around it have been obscured by hagiographical writings which have been "embellished by novelistic elements". The latest possible year for Ezana's conversion would be 360, which was calculated by Ethiopians as the beginning of an era in their medieval calendar (Amata Mehrat). His name does not appear on traditional regnal lists.
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[Za] Ela–Abreha and Atsbeha (Joint rule)
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Early 4th century
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In Ethiopian tradition, these brothers were the first to convert to Christianity. Likely based on Ezana and his brother Saizana.[49] No. 31 on Dillmann's list A, no. 10 on list B and no. 14 on list C. Reigned for 27 years and 6 months.
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[Ela] Abreha I (Sole rule)
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No. 1 on Dillmann's list A. Reigned for 12 years.
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[Ela] Atsbeha I (Sole rule)
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No. 1 on Dillmann's list B.
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[Ela] Asfeha II
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No. 2 on Dillmann's list A and no. 1 on list C. Reigned for 6 or 7 years.
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[Ela] Sahel I
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No. 3 on Dillmann's list A. Reigned for 14 years.
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Ouazebas
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late 4th century
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Only known from coins minted during his reign.
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[Ela] Adhana I
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No. 4 on Dillmann's list A. Reigned for 14 years. A female monarch according to the 1922 regnal list.
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[Ela] Rete
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No. 5 on Dillmann's list A. Reigned for 1 year.
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[Ela] Asfeha III
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No. 6 on Dillmann's list A. Reigned for 1 year.
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[Ela] Atsbeha II
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No. 7 on Dillmann's list A. Reigned for 5 years.
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Eon/Noe
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first third of 5th century
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Primarily known from coins minted during his reign. Name written as Eon Bisi Anaaph on his coins. His coins were the first to use the title of "King of the land of the Abyssinians" instead of "King of the Axumites". Possibly the "Huina" from the Book of the Himyarites.
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MHDYS (vocalized as Mehadeyis)
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c. 430
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Primarily known from coins minted during his reign. May have been mentioned in Dionysiaca by Nonnus.[54]
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[Ela] Ameda II
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No. 8 on Dillmann's list A. Reigned for 16 years.
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[Ela] Abreha II
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No. 9 on Dillmann's list A. Reigned for 6 months.
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[Ela] Sahel II
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No. 10 on Dillmann's list A. Reigned for 2 months.
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[Ela] Gabaz I
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No. 11 on Dillmann's list A. Reigned for 2 years.
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[Ela] Sahel III
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No. 12 on Dillmann's list A. Reigned for 1 year.
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[Ela] Atzbah
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No. 13 on Dillmann's list A. Reigned for 3 years.
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Ebana
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middle third of 5th century
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Only known from coins minted during his reign.
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[Ela] Abreha III and [Ela] Adhana II (Joint rule)
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No. 14 on Dillmann's list A. Reigned for 16 years. Adhana II was a female monarch according to the 1922 regnal list.
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[Ela] Saham II
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No. 15 on Dillmann's list A. Reigned for 28 years.
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Nezool / Nezana
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later 5th century
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Only known from coins minted during his reign. The name Nezool is the king's native name transcribed into Greek. The title "King of the land of the Abyssinians" was replaced by the formula "God's beneficence" beginning with coins of this king.
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[Ela] Ameda III
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No. 16 on Dillmann's list A. Reigned for 12 years.
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[Ela] Sahel IV
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No. 17 on Dillmann's list A. Reigned for 2 years.
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[Ela] Sebah
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No. 18 on Dillmann's list A. Reigned for 2 years.
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[Ela] Saham III
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No. 19 on Dillmann's list A. Reigned for 15 years.
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[Ela] Gabaz II
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No. 20 on Dillmann's list A. Reigned for 21 years.
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Agabe and Lewi (Joint rule)
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No. 21 on Dillmann's list A. Reigned for 4 years.
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Arfed
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No. 2 on both Dillmann's lists B and C. Brother of and co-ruler with Amsi according to list C.
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Amsi
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No. 3 on both Dillmann's lists B and C. Brother of and co-ruler with Arfed according to list C.
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Arad
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No. 4 on Dillmann's list C.
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Saladoba
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No. 4 on Dillmann's list B and no. 5 on list C.
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[Ela] Ameda IV Alamida
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late 530s–550s
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The Nine Saints came to Ethiopia during his reign. No. 22 on Dillmann's list A, no. 5 on list B and no. 6 on list C. Reigned for 11 years.
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Yaqob I and Dawit (Joint rule)
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No. 23 on Dillmann's list A. Reigned jointly for 3 years.
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Armah I
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No. 24 on Dillmann's list A and no. 13 on list C. Reigned for 14 years and 7 months.
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Ousas / Ousanas II Zitana / Tazena
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early 6th century
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No. 25 on Dillmann's list A, no. 6 on list B and no. 7 on list C. Reigned for 2 years. The name Ousanas was abbreviated to Ousana or Ousas on some coins.
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Yaqob II
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No. 26 on Dillmann's list A. Reigned for 9 years. Known for his shocking cruelties and wickedness and was defeated by Ella Atsbeha (Kaleb).
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Kaleb / K(h)aleb Constantinos I Atsbeha III
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510s–late 530s
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No. 27 on Dillmann's list A, no. 7 on list B and no. 8 on list C. Reigned for 28 years. Some of his coins record the filiation "son of Thezana", which is unique among Axumite kings. This suggests he wanted to legitimise his descent from a former king. Wolfgang Kahn and Vincent West suggested this king was Nezana.
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Beta Israel
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c. 550[60] or 570s
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Son of Kaleb. No. 28 on Dillmann's list A. Reigned for 8 months according to the traditional lists.
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Gabra Masqal
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534–548
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Son of Kaleb. The composer Yared lived during this king's reign. No. 29 on Dillmann's list A, no. 8 on list B and no. 9 on list C. Reigned for 14 years.
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Constantinos II
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Son of Gabra Masqal. No. 9 on Dillmann's list B and no. 10 on list C.
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Wazena
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550s and 560s
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Only known from coins minted during his reign.
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WʽZB (vocalized as Waʽzeb)
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6th century
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Only known from coins minted during his reign.
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Wasan Sagad
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No. 10 on Dillmann's list B. Son of Gabra Masqal according to one list. Theorised by E. A. Wallis Budge to be the same person as Bazgar.
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Bazgar
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No. 11 on Dillmann's list C.
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Asfeha IV
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No. 12 on Dillmann's list C.
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Djan Asfeh
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No. 14 on Dillmann's list C.
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Djan Asgad
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No. 15 on Dillmann's list C.
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Saifu
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c. 577
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A possible Axumite king mentioned in a Chinese biography of the prophet Muhammad, as the grandfather of the king who ruled during the Muslime Migration to Abyssinia. Stuart Munro-Hay thought it was plausible Saifu was a historical Axumite king. Wolfgang Hahn instead believes Saifu was Saif ibn Dhi Yazan and had no connection at all with the Axumite monarchy.[66]
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Fere Sanai
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No. 11 on Dillmann's list B and no. 16 on list C.
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Gersem
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c. 580[60]
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Only known from coins minted during his reign. E. A. Wallis Budge theorised this king used the Biblical name Gershom.
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Ioel / Joel
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590s–after 600 or c. 600[60]
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Only known from coins minted during his reign.
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Hataz / Hethasas
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c. 590[60] or c. 620
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Only known from coins minted during his reign. Known as Iathlia on some coins.
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Armah
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late 6th century/early 7th century
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Primarily known from coins minted during his reign. Two kings named Armah appear on traditional regnal lists, but their chronological placement is at odds with numistic evidence.
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Aderaz
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No. 12 on Dillmann's list B and no. 17 on list C.
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Najashi
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614–630[67]
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Reigned at the time of the Muslim Migration to Abyssinia in 613 or 615. Name likely based on the title Negus.
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Akala Udem
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No. 13 on Dillmann's list B and no. 23 on list C.
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Germa Asfare II
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No. 14 on Dillmann's list B and no. 24 on list C.
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Zergaz
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No. 15 on Dillmann's list B and no. 25 on list C.
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Degna Mikael
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No. 16 on Dillmann's list B and no. 26 on list C.
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Bahr Ikla
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No. 17 on Dillmann's list B.
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Gum
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No. 18 on Dillmann's list B.
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Asguamgum
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No. 19 on Dillmann's list B.
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Letem
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No. 20 on Dillmann's list B.
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Talatem
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No. 21 on Dillmann's list B.
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Oda Gosh / Badagaz
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No. 22 on Dillmann's list B and no. 27 on list C.
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Ayzur
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No. 23 on Dillmann's list B and no. 18 on list C. Reigned for half a day.
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Dedem
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No. 24 on Dillmann's list B.
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Udedem
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No. 25 on Dillmann's list B.
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Wedem Asfare
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c. 792–822
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No. 26 on Dillmann's list B. Lived for 150 years according to the traditional lists.
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Armah II
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No. 27 on Dillmann's list B and no. 28 on list C. Last ruler before the Zagwe dynasty according to list C.
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Degna Djan
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No. 28 on Dillmann's list B.
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Geda Djan
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No. 29 on Dillmann's list B.
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Anabasa Udem
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No. 30 on Dillmann's list B and no. 22 on list C.
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Dil Na'od
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10th century
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Most sources consider this king to be last to rule the Axumite kingdom. He was the younger of son of Degna Djan and brother of Anbasa Wedem. Had a short reign of around 10 years. One tradition recorded by James Bruce states he was an infant when Gudit killed the princes imprisoned at Debre Damo and had to be taken out of the kingdom by nobles to save his life. No. 31 on Dillmann's list B and no. 19 on list C. Last ruler before the Zagwe dynasty according to list B.
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Madai
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No. 20 on Dillmann's list C.
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Gudit / Esato
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No. 21 on Dillmann's list C. Ruled after Dil Na'od on list B and after Madai on list C.
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