Talk:Solomonic dynasty

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[edit] Name

I really think this should be at Solomonic dynasty and not Solomonid dynasty. Neither one is a significantly more used (987 vs. 892 ic vs. id, respectively - but the latter has a lot of wikipedia mirrors), but -id isn't correct in that it means "like," rather than "of." It's a dynasty derived from (putatively) King Solomon, rather than one like that of King Solomon, so the former should be used. For what it's worthy, a search for "Solomonid dynasty" on Google prompts the correction "Solomonic dynasty." ዮም (Yom) | contribs • Talk 01:28, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Article is currently misleading

The article says: "The Solomonics continued to rule Ethiopia with few interruptions until 1974, when the last emperor, Haile Selassie, was deposed". This gives the impression that there was a single ruler of all Ethiopia for 800 years. It also gives the impression that the Solomonics ruled over the area currently known as Ethiopia for that time. This is clearly incorrect, as: 1. the name "Ethiopia" was not applied to the region until 1855 by Theodore II. Before this it was the Greek name for sub-saharan africa. 2. until the late 19th century the Solomonics ruled over (at their maximum extent) 25% of today's Ethiopia, an area which would be more correctly referred to as Abyssinia. 3. the area ruled over by the Emperors changed significantly over time, and during the Zemene Mesafint when the Emperor "was reduced to little more than a figurehead confined to the capital city of Gondar" 82.133.110.226 04:46, 29 December 2006 (UTC)

There are definitely sources that dispute some of your points above, and so would I... I guess it comes down to what views can be verifiably cited to whom, as usual... ፈቃደ (ውይይት) 04:58, 29 December 2006 (UTC)

Ethiopia was the name for the country from the 4th century onwards, as adopted by Ezana (see Munro Hay 1991), and was used throughout the medieval period. As for 2, that's only for the post-Gragn period. Ethiopia's control was roughly the same area during the period 1270-1527, though much of the Ogaden, extreme SW & W, and extreme south weren't part of the Solomonic realm (see the well-cited article on Amde Tsiyon); the variation of borders doesn't mean that the Solomonic dynasty wasn't in control of a country called Ethiopia (though its true that during the Zemene Mesafint it was largely Ras Mikael Sehul and then the Yejju Oromo dynasty begining with Ras Ali that were the rulers of the country as regents to the largely figurehead emperor). Besides, there was little interruption in Solomonic rule during this period. The line from Yekuno Amlak to Haile Selassie is unbroken, as is Solomonic rule, even if at times limited geographically (e.g. during the invasion of Gragn only 1/4 of former territory was controlled at weakest point) or in power (e.g. during the Zemene Mesafint, when the Emperor relied on the regents for his rule) — ዮም | (Yom) | Talk • contribs • Ethiopia 05:08, 29 December 2006 (UTC)

As stated by Yom above, the name Ethiopia has been used by Ethiopians at least since the reign of Ezana. The term Abyssinia was used mostly by non-Ethiopians until the modern age when Ethiopians insisted it be dropped as it was not a correct term since it excluded Ethiopians of non-Semetic ancestry.

[edit] Good source material

I have come across an interesting feature article entitled "LIKE ADDING WATER TO MILK": MARRIAGE AND POLITICS IN NINETEENTH-CENTURY ETHIOPIA" by Heran Sereke-Brhan published in The International Journal of African Historical Studies. New York: 2005. Vol. 38, Iss. 1; pg. 49, 30 pgs. It covers the post Tewodros era.

Abstract (Summary): Although not studied extensively, marriage among notable families has often been acknowledged as an important diplomatic and political tool of the Ehiopian state. Here, Sereke-Brhan documents the almost century-old presence of certain families in proximity to power, establishing their essential role in the forging of empire. The origins of national elite, intricately connected across geographical regions and over several generations, found its genesis in these marriage network that often provided critical continuity in the face of changing politics.

If you have acess to ProQuest, its ProQuest document ID: 868760511. Consuelo D'Guiche 18:32, 30 October 2007 (UTC)