Order of Solomon

The Imperial Order of Solomon was an order of knighthood of the Ethiopian Empire founded in 1874. A special class Collar was created by Empress Zauditu in 1922. It was a split off from the Order of the Seal of Solomon and created as an independent order with a single grade of "Collar" by Emperor Haile Selassie I in 1930. Members are identified as a "Knight" of the Order of Solomon, with the use the post-nominal initials KS.

Imperial Order of Solomon
TypeOrder presented to heads of state
CountryEthiopian Empire
Royal houseHouse of Solomon
Religious affiliationEthiopian Orthodox
SovereignEmperor of Ethiopia
GradesKnight (Grand Collar)
Precedence
Next (lower)Imperial Order of the Seal of Solomon

Ribbon of the order

The Collar of the Order of Solomon is reserved for the Emperor and Empress, members of the Imperial Family, Foreign Sovereigns, and a maximum of three ordinary recipients who have rendered exceptionally meritorious services. Recipients were entitled to wear special ceremonial robes on "collar days".

The Solomonic dynasty, the ancient Imperial House of Ethiopia, claims descent from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, said to have given birth to King Menelik I after her visit to Solomon in Jerusalem.[1]

As the Empire's principal Order, it featured first in the long list of knightly titles of the last ruling Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie, described as –

The Lion of Judah Hath Prevailed (or "[by the] Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah"); His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, King of Kings of Ethiopia, Conquering Lion of Judah, Elect of God, Grand Cordon of the Order of Solomon, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Solomon, Knight of the Garter, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George...[2]

Notable Recipients

Knights include King Hussein bin Talal of Jordan, Emperor Mohammed Reza I of Iran, Juliana of the Netherlands, Queen Elizabeth II, Dwight D. Eisenhower, King Haakon VII and King Olav V of Norway, the Emperor Akihito of Japan, and the Emperor Amha Selassie, last titular Emperor of Ethiopia. Other Recipients:

Insignia

When the Emperor Yohannes IV awarded the Order to Admiral Sir William Hewett, c. 1884, it was described as "a gold triangular medal with six precious stones".[3]

References
  1. 1 Kings 10:1–10
  2. Ras Nathaniel, 50th Anniversary of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie (Trafford Publishing, 2004, ISBN 1-4120-3702-6) p. 5 at books.google.com
  3. Transafrican Journal of History (Makerere University Dept. of History, University of Nairobi Dept. of History, Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam Dept. of History East African Pub. House, 1986) p. 140


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