Ras (title)
{{short description|Royal title in the Ethiopian Empire}}
Ras ({{Langx|am|ራስ|translit={{transl|sem|ras}}|lit=head}} compare with Arabic Rais or Hebrew Rosh), is a royal title in the Ethiopian Semitic languages.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YbtcTwtUWrwC&q=Haile+Selassie,+western+education,+and+political|title=Haile Selassie, Western Education, and Political Revolution in Ethiopia|publisher=Cambria Press|isbn=9781621969143|language=en}} It is one of the powerful non-imperial titles.
Historian Harold G. Marcus equates the Ras title to a duke;{{citation needed|date = June 2019}} others have compared it to "prince".E.g., Don Jaide, "[https://www.africaresource.com/rasta/sesostris-the-great-the-egyptian-hercules/an-etymology-of-the-word-ras-tafari-by-ras-naftali/ An Etymology of the word Ras-Tafari – By Ras Naftali]", Rasta Liveware, June 2, 2014; accessed 2019.06.24.
The combined title of Leul Ras (Amharic: ልዑል ራስ) was given to the heads of the cadet branches of the Imperial dynasty, such as the Princes of Gojjam, Tigray, Ras Tafari Makonnen and the Selalle sub-branch of the last reigning Shewan Branch, and meaning "Lord of Lords", the highest title of lord.
Historic Ras
- Ras Hamalmal of Kambata
- Ras Fasil
- Ras Wolde Selassie (1736–1816)
- Ras Sabagadis Woldu (1780–1831)
- Ras Alula (1827–1897)
- Ras Gobana Dacche (1821–1889)
- Ras Mekonnen Wolde Mikael (1852–1906)
- Ras Mengesha Yohannes (1868–1906)
- Ras Araya Selassie Yohannes (1869/70-10 June 1888)
- Ras Sebhat Aregawi (1892–1914)
- Ras Gugsa Welle
- Ras Gugsa Araya Selassie
- Ras Kassa Haile Darge (1881–1956)
- Ras Tafari (the latter emperor Haile Selassie, 1892–1975)
- Ras Darge Sahle Selassie (1830 – 23 March 1900)
- Ras Abebe Aregai (1903–1960)
- Ras Wubneh Tessema (1943–1974)