The Solomonic dynasty, also known as the House of Solomon, was the ruling dynasty of the Ethiopian Empire from the thirteenth to twentieth centuries. The dynasty was founded by Yekuno Amlak, who overthrew the Zagwe dynasty in 1270. His successors claimed he was descended from the legendary king Menelik I, the supposed son of the biblical King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, in order to legitimize the dynasty's assumption of power. Although this claimed ancestry gave the dynasty its name, there is no credible evidence that the dynasty was descended from Solomon or the Davidic line. The Solomonic dynasty remained in power until 1974, when its last emperor Haile Selassie was overthrown by a coup d'état.
Coronation of Haile Selassie as Negus ("King") of the Ethiopian Empire in 1928. He would be crowned again in 1930 as Neguse Negest ("King of Kings").
Imperial sarcophagi of the Solomonic Dynasty Emperor Haile Selassie I and his wife at the Holy Trinity Cathedral
Prince Asfa-Wossen Asserate, a member of the Solomonic dynasty
The Ethiopian Empire, also formerly known by the exonym Abyssinia, or simply known as Ethiopia, was a sovereign state that historically encompasses the geographical area of present-day Ethiopia and Eritrea from the establishment of the Solomonic dynasty by Yekuno Amlak approximately in 1270 until the 1974 coup d'etat by the Derg, which dethroned Emperor Haile Selassie. By 1896, the empire incorporated other regions such as Hararghe, Gurage and Wolayita, and saw its largest expansion with the federation of Eritrea in 1952. Throughout much of its existence, it was surrounded by hostile forces in the African Horn; however, it managed to develop and preserve a kingdom based on its ancient form of Christianity.
Non-contemporary portrait painting of Emperor Yekuno Amlak from the 17th century
Emperor Dawit II (Lebna Dengel)
The Fasil Ghebbi in Gonder
Menelik II at the Battle of Adwa