Until the end of the Ethiopian monarchy in 1974, there were two categories of nobility in Ethiopia, the Mesafint (Ge'ez መሳፍንት masāfint, modern mesāfint, singular መስፍን masfin, modern mesfin, "prince") and the Mekwanint (makʷanin, modern mekʷenin or መኮንን mekonnen, "governor").
The Mesafint or princes, hereditary nobles, formed the upper echelon of the ruling class. The Mekwanint were the appointed nobles, often of humble birth, who formed the bulk of the nobility. Until the 20th century, the most powerful people at court were generally Mekwanint appointed by the monarch, while regionally, the Mesafint enjoyed greater influence and power. Emperor Haile Selassie greatly curtailed the power of the Mesafint to the benefit of the Mekwanint.
Famous quotes containing the words ethiopian, aristocratic, court and/or titles:
“Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.”
—Bible: Hebrew Jeremiah, 13:23.
“The old idea that the joke was not good enough for the company has been superseded by the new aristocratic idea that the company was not worthy of the joke. They have introduced an almost insane individualism into that one form of intercourse which is specially and uproariously communal. They have made even levities into secrets. They have made laughter lonelier than tears.”
—Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874–1936)
“At court I met it, in clothes brave enough
To be a courtier, and looks grave enough
To seem a statesman.”
—Ben Jonson (1572–1637)
“I have known a German Prince with more titles than subjects, and a Spanish nobleman with more names than shirts.”
—Oliver Goldsmith (1728–1774)