Anointing of the Ethiopian Emperor
The anointing of the Ethiopian emperor was a solemn rite performed by the metropolitan to legitimize enthronement, within an investiture comprising a prelude, anointment, and sequel.[^1]
Also known as: Ethiopian imperial coronation
Purpose and setting
The anointing of the Ethiopian emperor legitimized the enthronement of the prince who had succeeded to the throne after a sovereign’s death or removal. Performed by the metropolitan, it formed part of an investiture divided into three phases: the prelude, the anointment, and the sequel. The timing, location, and some ceremonial details varied throughout Ethiopian history, while the new sovereign decided whether the empress would be crowned alongside him. The traditional venue was the cathedral of Zion in Axum, although other churches increasingly hosted coronations from around 1500.1
Preparation and procession
The ceremony’s location and occasion were announced publicly at least a month beforehand, and attendance was encouraged. Preparations included an immense banquet and the placement of the royal articles at the altar for approximately fourteen days of prayers. The emperor participated in prayers throughout the night before the anointing. The next morning, he appointed officials, decorated grandees, and led them in procession toward the church.2
A group called the “virgins of Zion” stretched a silk thread across the emperor’s path and questioned his identity and intentions. His answer that he was the King of Kings of Ethiopia was rejected twice; when questioned a third time, he cut the thread with his sword and proceeded. This action symbolized the obstacles he might face during his reign and his determination to overcome them.3
Clergy then led him with singing accompanied by drum, sistrum, and sticks. At the closed church gate, an exchange of questions and answers between clergy inside and outside preceded its opening. The sovereign scattered gold pieces, symbolizing that the kingdom of heaven was attained not by force but through almsgiving.4
Oath, anointing, and regalia
Seated on his throne, the emperor took an oath administered by the metropolitan to remain faithful to the Orthodox faith, rule justly, and defend the state and religion. The metropolitan pronounced an anathema against opponents of his rule and called upon the people to support him. A special Mass followed, with extensive readings from Scripture and the fathers. During it, the abun dipped his thumb in ointment and anointed the emperor’s forehead, chest, and shoulders.5
The abun then blessed the regalia: a crown, robe, golden sword, two golden spears, orb, and diamond ring. These were presented individually to the emperor, with the significance of each proclaimed.6
Proclamation and celebrations
An official announced to the assembled crowd that the elect of God had been anointed King of Kings of Ethiopia. Rifle volleys, 101 gun salutes, ululations, songs, and dances marked the proclamation. The emperor subsequently sat enthroned with the abun at his right and the eccage at his left. Reading aloud from the Psalms, he declared himself the shepherd of his people, while a herald announced the basic principles of his rule. Feasting concluded the ceremony and continued for at least seven days.7
References
Sources
- 1.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 1 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 360)
The most powerful prince succeeded to the Ethiopian throne immediately upon the death or removal of a sovereign, but his enthronement had to be legitimized sooner or later by the solemn anointment at the hands of the metropolitan. The time, the place, and to some extent the manner of the coronation varied throughout Ethiopian history. The question whether the empress should be crowned at the same time was also left to the discretion of the new sovereign. Traditionally, the cathedral of Zion in Axum was the venue, although several other churches have increasingly played a role in the coronation
- 2.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 1 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 360)
The site and the occasion were announced at least a month earlier to the public, who were encouraged to attend. An immense banquet was prepared, and the royal articles were brought to the altar to be prayed upon for about fourteen days. Throughout the night preceding the anointment, prayers were held in the church in which the emperor also took part. He left in the morning for a particular place where he then nominated officials to key posts, decorated the grandees of the empire, and led them all in a procession that had to pass a few hurdles before entering the church.
- 3.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 1 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 360)
He was intercepted by a group of "virgins of Zion" who stretched a silk thread across his path and posed questions pertaining to his person and intentions. His response that he was the King of Kings of Ethiopia being twice rejected, the questions were reiterated for the third time, and he cut the thread with his sword and continued on his way, thereby symbolizing the obstacles he might encounter in his reign and his determination to surmount them.
- 4.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 1 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 360)
A group of clergymen then led him singing to the accompaniment of the drum, sistrum, and sticks. The procession again halted, as the church gate was shut and as the singing clergy from within posed questions. The singing clergy from outside replied, and the gate opened. The sovereign spread gold pieces, thereby symbolizing that the kingdom of heaven would not be gained by force but by the giving of alms.
- 5.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 1 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 361)
When the emperor sat on his throne, the metropolitan administered to him a solemn oath to remain loyal to the Orthodox faith, to rule with justice, and to defend the state and the religion. The metropolitan confirmed the oath by an anathema against all opponents to his rule and urged the people to rally behind their sovereign. A special mass was then celebrated with a great deal of readings from the Holy Scriptures and the works of the fathers, in the course of which the ABUN dipped his thumb in the ointment and anointed the emperor on the forehead, the chest, and the shoulders.
- 6.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 1 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 361)
Then he blessed the regal articles consisting of the crown, a robe, a golden sword, two golden spears, an orb, and a diamond ring, which were handed to the emperor one by one, pronouncing the idea each represented.
- 7.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 1 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 361)
An official announced to the huge crowd waiting outside that the elect of God was now anointed King of Kings of Ethiopia. The army responded with thundering rifle volleys and 101 gun salutes, the women with ululations, and the men with songs and dances. Finally, the emperor went to a specified place where he sat on his throne with the abun to his right and the ECCAGE to his left. He declared himself the shepherd of his people by reading aloud to his subjects from the Psalms and had the basic principles of his rule spelled out through a herald. The ceremony was concluded by a series of rich fea
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This article was drafted from the sources listed above with AI assistance and reviewed by an editor before publication.