Line of succession to the Ethiopian throne

The line of succession to the Ethiopian throne is described in the first section of the 1955 Revised Constitution of Ethiopia.

In brief, the title of Emperor may pass only through male descendants of HIM Haile Selassie I, through the oldest male line before the younger. Other qualifications are that they be born in lawful wedlock, be an Orthodox Christian, and not be married to a foreigner or against consent of the Imperial Family.

In the event that there were no qualifying male descendants of Haile Selassie, the nearest male relative who is descended from Sahle Selassie would then be heir.

In March 1975, the monarchy was abolished by the Derg, the military junta that had forcibly taken over during a Communist revolution. The current Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia makes no provisions for a monarchy. The Crown Council of Ethiopia considers Crown Prince Zera Yacob Amha Selassie to be Head of the Imperial House.

Line of succession

According to the 1955 rules, the current order of succession among the living male descendants of HM Haile Selassie I is as follows:

#HIH Crown Prince Zera Yacob b. 1953 (son of Amha Selassie, grandson of Haile Selassie)
#HIH Prince Paul Wossen Seged Makonnen, Duke of Harrar b. 1947 (grandson of Haile Selassie)
#HIH Prince Mikael Amde Yesus Makonnen b. 1950 (grandson of Haile Selassie)
#HIH Prince Yokshan Dawit Makonnen b. 1978 (great-grandson of Haile Selassie)
#HIH Prince Joel Dawit Makonnen b. 1982 (great-grandson of Haile Selassie)
#HIH Prince Philip Tafari Makonnen b. 1954 (grandson of Haile Selassie)
#? son of Prince Philip Makonnen (great-grandson of Haile Selassie)
#? son of Prince Philip Makonnen (great-grandson of Haile Selassie)
#HIH Prince Baeda Maryam Makonnen b. 1957 (grandson of Haile Selassie)
#HIH Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie b. 1960 (grandson of Haile Selassie)
#HIH Prince Christian Sahle Selassie Ermias b. 1992 (great-grandson of Haile Selassie)
#HIH Prince Rufael Fisseha Tsion Ermias b. 1992 (great-grandson of Haile Selassie)