Mutara III of Rwanda

Mutara III
Mwami of Rwanda

Mwami Charles Mutara III - Rudahigwa
Reign 1931–1959
Predecessor Yuhi V of Rwanda
Successor Kigeli V of Rwanda
Born 1912
Died 25 July 1959
Bujumbura, Burundi
Consort Rosalie Gicanda
Kinyarwanda Rudahigwa
House Ndahindurwa
Father Yuhi V of Rwanda
Mother Nyiramavugo

Mutara III (also known as Rudahigwa; 1912? July 25, 1959) was the Mwami, or King of Rwanda between 1931 and 1959. As a member of the Tutsi people in Rwanda, stereotyped as tall, he stood at 6'8" tall. His Christian name was Charles Léon Pierre, and he is sometimes referred to as Charles Rudahigwa Mutara III or Rukabu.

Mutara was known for being the first Mwami to convert to Catholicism, spearheading a wave of baptisms in the protectorate.[1]

As published Mutara died on 25 July 1959, after being treated for a headache by a Belgian physician in Bujumbura on the way back from a consultation with Belgian officials. Those present however explained that Mutara was murderd (poisoned by food in Bujumbura where he had a meeting with the Belgian Officer) in what Rwandan conspiracy theorists consider to have been an assassination. Mutara was succeeded by his younger brother Jean-Baptiste Ndahindurwa as Kigeli V. After Mutara's death, his wife, Queen dowager Rosalie Gicanda, remained in Rwanda. She was murdered on April 20, 1994 during the Rwandan Genocide, under the orders of Captain Idelphonse Nizeyimana by Lieutenant Pierre Bizimana.[2]

Ancestry


Regnal titles
Preceded by
Yuhi V of Rwanda
King of Rwanda
1931–1959
Succeeded by
Kigeli V of Rwanda

External Links

References

  1. Kalibwami, Justin. Le catholicisme et la société rwandaise: 1900-1962
  2. Genealogy


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