Mentewab , was Empress of Ethiopia, consort of Emperor Bakaffa, mother ofIyasu II and grandmother of Iyoas I. She was also known officially by her baptismal name of Wälättä Giyorgis. Mentewab was a major political figure during the reigns of her son the Emperor Iyasu and grandson Iyoas. Empress Mentewab was also known by the honorific of Bərhan Mogäsa. This was to complement the honorific of her son Iyasu II, who was Berhan Seged or "He To Whom the Light Bows".
Life
Məntəwwab was born in Qwara province, and was rumored to have had a Portuguese grandparent; because of this, she was often suspected of harboring secret Roman Catholic sympathies. She was a daughter of Dejazmach Manbare of Dembiya by his wife, Woizero Yenkoy. Mentewab married Emperor Bakaffa in Qwara 6 September 1722, becoming his second wife. Following the death of her husband, Empress Mentewab took up a romantic liaison with her late husband's nephew. The Empress' much younger lover was derisively called "Melmal Iyasu" by members of the court. Melmal Iyasu on his part was the paternal grandson of Emperor Fasiledes by his father and the offspring of Emperor Iyasu by his mother, making him a Solomonic Prince to the highest degree. Mentewab would have three daughters by "Melmal Iyasu", Altash, Walata Israel and the famous Woizero Aster Iyasu, who would marry the powerfulTigrean warlord RasMikael Sehul. , Gondar, Ethiopia Empress Mentewab built several significant structures in Gondar, including her own castle in the Royal Enclosure, and a large banqueting hall as well. Most significantly she built a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary at Qusquam in the mountains outside of Gondar. Empress Mentewab also built a palace adjoining her church, which became her favored residence. Empress Mentewab was crowned co-ruler upon the succession of her son Iyasu II in 1730, and held unprecedented power over government during his reign. Her attempt to continue in this role following the death of her son 1755 led her into conflict with Wubit, Iyasu's widow, who believed that it was her turn to preside at the court of her own son Iyoas. The conflict between these two queens led to Mentewab summoning her Qwaran relatives and their forces to Gondar for support. Wubit responded by summoning her own Oromo relatives and their considerable forces from Yejju. Mentewab summoned the powerful Mikael Sehul to mediate the dispute and prevent a bloodbath. Upon arriving in Gondar, he was made Ras. Mentewab had hoped that he would land firmly on her side, but instead Ras Mikael seized power for himself, and eventually engineered the murder by strangulation of Emperor Iyoas I, at which time Mikael also married the aunt of his victim. Empress Mentewab was distraught at the murder of her grandson. She retreated to Qusquam and buried her grandson there next to her son, and refused to return to the city of Gondar. She lived at her palace there in seclusion till the end of her life.
Woizero Walatta Israel, married Dejazmach Yosadiq Wolde Habib, sometime Governor of Gojjam, son of Dejazmach Wolde Habib bin Ibido, sometime Governor of Gojjam; married Ras Goshu Wodago, sometime Governor of Amhara and Viceroy of the Empire, son of Ras Wodago, sometime Governor of Amhara, Walaqa, Begameder, and Gojjam, by his wife, Woizero Surantiya, of Ambassel, a descendant of Abeto Yitbarek, son of Emperor Na'od and brother of Emperor Lebna Dengel.
Woizero Aster, married c. 1755, Dejazmatch Natcho, of Chirkin, by whom she had one son; married 1760, Ras Ya Mariam Bariaw, Viceroy of the Empire, and Governor of Lasta and Begameder 1764-1768, son of Dejazmach Ayo, sometime Governor of Begemder; married 1769, Ras Mikael Sehul Hezqiyas, sometime Viceroy of the Empire.
