| Orders of
Knighthood The Ethiopian Crown has traditionally
bestowed honors in several orders of chivalry. Awarded for merit,
most were established in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries on
the model of the honors conferred by European monarchies. An
exception is the older Order of Saint Anthony, distinctly religious
in character.
Today, the Imperial Crown Council bestows decorations upon those
who have made worthy contributions to Ethiopia, its people and
culture, or, in certain instances, upon individuals who have
contributed to the cause of African culture and unity. In keeping
with Ethiopia's multicultural heritage, most of these decorations
 are
bestowed without respect to the conferee's religion or nationality.
There are both male ranks (knights) and female ones (dames) in most
of the orders.
Most of the orders are active (extant), though some are only
rarely bestowed today. The ranks of some (but not all) Ethiopian
orders conform to European norms, being: knight of the collar,
knight grand cross, knight grand officer, knight commander, knight
officer, knight, dame, companion.
Order of King Solomon. Founded in 1874 as part of the
Order of Solomon's Seal (see below) and bestowed in one rank (knight
or dame), the Order of King Solomon is usually reserved to monarchs
and heads of state. It is a rather ornate decoration suspended from
a collar chain.
Order of King Solomon's Seal. Established by Emperor John
IV in 1874, the Order of Solomon's Seal was at first bestowed in
several ranks, though today it is usually conferred in the rank of
knight grand cross. In 1922, it was divided to form the Order of
King Solomon (see above) and the present Order of King Solomon's
Seal. The insignia, a cross within the Seal of King Solomon ('Star
of David'), is suspended from a deep green ribbon.
Order of the Queen of Sheba. Empress Zawditu founded this
order for ladies in 1922, but it was soon extended to gentlemen in
several ranks. The insignia is a green and purple star of Solomon
bearing, in the centre, the cipher of Queen Makeda suspended from a
purple and pale green ribbon.
Order of the Holy Trinity. Established in 1930 on the
occasion of the coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie, this order was
initially bestowed in several ranks but today is awarded almost
exclusively in the grade of knight grand cross. The decoration is a
gold medallion displaying the Holy Trinity on a sky blue enameled
background, suspended from a red and gold ribbon.
Order of Menelik II. Founded in 1924 to honour the Emperor
of the same name, this order was often referred to as the "Order of
the Lion" for the noble beast depicted in the centre of its green
and red cross. The insignia is suspended from a deep gold ribbon
lined at its edges in red and green, thus representing the Ethiopian
flag. The order is bestowed in several ranks.
Order of the Star of Ethiopia. This order was founded by
Emperor Menelik II in 1885 based on an older decoration. Bestowed in
several ranks, the Order of the Star is a multi-pointed gold
filigree star set with jewels, suspended from a ribbon of red, gold
and green.
Order of the Ethiopian Lion. This is actually a newer
order, founded in 1996 in the tradition of the Order of Menelik II,
which was often referred to as the "Order of the Lion." The
decoration of the Order of the Ethiopian Lion is a circular
medallion bearing, in its centre, the lion of Ethiopia. The ribbon
is red, yellow and green. As it is not based on a cross, this
order's design is not considered offensive to Muslims. It is
bestowed in several ranks.
Order of Haile Selassie I. Founded by Emperor Amha
Selassie I in 1992, to commemorate the centenary of the birth of his
august predecessor, this order is bestowed upon Africanists and
others in several ranks. The decoration is a cross enameled white
bearing in its centre a likeness of Haile Selassie, suspended from a
blue ribbon edged in the Ethiopian colours.
Order of Saint Anthony. This is the oldest Ethiopian order
of chivalry, bestowed exclusively on clerics, usually in the ranks
of knight grand cross or companion. The decoration is a deep
purplish blue Latin cross formy suspended by a striped ribbon of
similar colours. The Order of Saint Anthony was bestowed in the
latter Middle Ages by Ethiopia's kings and archbishops, and implied
membership in an elite confraternity.
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