Iyoas I

Iyoas I became Emperor of Ethiopia at age 15 following the death of his father, Iyasu II. His reign was dominated by the rivalry between his mother, Empress Mentewab, and the powerful noble Ras Mikael Sehul.

A power struggle erupted between Empress Mentewab and Ras Mikael Sehul over control of the young emperor. Mikael Sehul, who had married Iyoas's aunt, gained dominance and effectively ruled the empire, sidelining the empress.

Ras Mikael Sehul ordered the assassination of Emperor Iyoas I after a dispute. This regicide shattered the traditional authority of the Solomonic dynasty and plunged Ethiopia into the Zemene Mesafint (Era of the Princes), a period of decentralized rule and civil war lasting until 1855.