Liqa Makwas
Liqa Makwas in imperial Ethiopia was the title for people with various functions at court and in the state.
The double of the reigning emperor had carried this title since the 15th century . The Liqa Makwas was dressed like the emperor and was intended to draw the attention of the enemy away from the emperor during war and to attract witchcraft, curses and evil spells in public appearances at the side of the emperor.
The title of Liqa Makwas was also borne by the imperial groom, to whose duties a. a. the riding in of the emperor's horses and mules were part of it. A Dejazmach in Gonder could also accept the title.
As a token of the appreciation of the good relations between Ethiopia and Great Britain , Emperor Tewodros II (1855–1868) awarded the title to the British John Bell during his stay in the Empire. During the reign of Emperor Yohannes IV (1872-1889) the Liqa Makwas was of particularly high importance. The emperor bestowed this dignity on the chief judge of Ethiopia, who exercised his office at the side of the emperor.
literature
- Andrzej Bartnicki, Joanna Mantel-Niecko: History of Ethiopia. From the beginning to the present. Edited by Renate Richter. 2 parts. Akademie-Verlag, Berlin 1978.