Blattengeta

Blattengeta ( Ethiop . ብላቴንጌታ , abbreviated form Blatta , ብላታ ) was a title at the court of the Negus Negest ( Emperor ) of Ethiopia and basically means lord of the pages . The Blattengeta was the chief of the 30-person page corps , which was formed from prisoners and which already existed at the Ethiopian imperial court in the 15th century. During the reign of Emperor Zera Yaqob ( 1434 - 1468 ), the Blattengeta was one of the most important posts at the imperial court. In the 16th century the number of imperial pages increased to 150, and 2 Blattengeta were now used to guide them. While the Tiqaqin Blattengeta was responsible for the entire page corps and exercised the function of superintendent at the court, the Tallaq Blattengeta was judge and prefect of police at the imperial court. In the absence of Bitwoded and the other high dignitaries , the Blattengeta was the highest dignitary at court. In the 18th century the importance of the Blattengeta declined and in fact disappeared in the 19th century. Under Empress Zauditu ( 1916 - 1930 ) the Blattengeta was reintroduced as a high general honorary title. During the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie (1930 - 1974 ) of Blattengeta was a high state honor title for ministers and other high government officials.

Due to the complicated transcription from Amharic , the spelling of Ethiopian proper names can be different in different publications.