The Order of Solomon was an order of knighthood of the Ethiopian Empire.
The Solomonic dynasty, the ancient Imperial House of Ethiopia, claims descent from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, said to have given birth to King Menelik I after her visit to Solomon in Jerusalem.[1]
As the Empire's principal Order, it featured first in the long list of knightly titles of the last ruling Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie, described as –
Germawi Kedamawi Haile Selassie I, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of Judah, Light of this World, Elect of God, Emperor of Ethiopia, Defender of the Faith, Grand Cordon of the Order of Solomon, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Solomon, Knight of the Garter, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George...[2]
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Recipients include Queen Elizabeth II, Dwight D. Eisenhower, King Haakon VII and King Olav V of Norway, the Emperor Akihito of Japan, and the Emperor Amha Selassie, last titular Emperor of Ethiopia.
When the Emperor Yohannes IV awarded the Order to Admiral Sir William Hewett, c. 1884, it was described as "a gold triangular medal with six precious stones".[3]