Gebre Krestos (Ge'ez: ገብረ ክሪስቶስ) was Emperor of Ethiopia from 24 March 1832 to his death on 8 June 1832. He was the son of Gebre Mesay, allegedly a descendant of a younger son of Emperor Fasilides.

Gebre Krestos
Emperor of Ethiopia
Reign24 March 1832 – 1832
PredecessorIyasu IV
SuccessorSahle Dengel
Reign1832 – 8 June 1832
PredecessorSahle Dengel
SuccessorSahle Dengel
DynastyHouse of Solomon
FatherGebre Mesay
ReligionEthiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Reign

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He was a figurehead, set on the throne by the Enderase or Regent, Ras Ali II an Oromo princeling of the district of Yejju; but shortly afterwards Ali II deposed Gebre Krestos in favor of his brother Sahle Dengel. The clergy of Azazo disapproved of Sahle Dengel for his religious beliefs, and they convinced Ras Ali to recall Gebre Krestos from exile on Mitraha,[1] an island in Lake Tana, and restore him as Emperor. Gebre Krestos then reigned three months until his death; he was buried at the convent of Tekle Haymanot in Adababay.[2] E.A. Wallis Budge reports that some authorities believe he was poisoned.[3]

After an interregnum of a few months, the throne was once again held by his brother Sahle Dengel.

Bibliography

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  1. ^ For some reason, E.A. Wallis Budge calls this island "Meshralia".
  2. ^ H. Weld Blundell, The Royal chronicle of Abyssinia, 1769-1840 (Cambridge: University Press, 1922), p. 489
  3. ^ Wallis Budge, E. A. (1970) [1928]. A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia. Oosterhout, the Netherlands: Anthropological Publications. p. 481.
Regnal titles
Preceded by Emperor of Ethiopia
18 March 1832 – 1832
Succeeded by
Preceded by Emperor of Ethiopia
1832 – 8 June 1832
Succeeded by