Tewoflos of Ethiopia

Tewoflos or Theophilus (Ge'ez ቴዎፍሎስ, throne name Walda Ambasa, Ge'ez ወልደ አምበሳ, "son of the lion") was "IPA|nəgusä nägäst" (1 July 1708 – 14 October 1711) of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty. He was the brother of Iyasu I.

Following the murder of his nephew Tekle Haymanot I, Tewoflos was brought out of captivity at Mount Wehni and made Emperor. According to James Bruce, at first he behaved as if he would not seek vengeance on those thought responsible for the death of his brother Iyasu; but this was a deception, and once this party relaxed their guard he acted. He accused his late nephew Emperor Tekle Haymanot of regicide and patricide, and Tekle Haymanot has been known as "Irgum" ("Cursed") ever since. Empress Malakotawit was publicly hanged, while her two brothers were speared to death; Bruce states that in one afternoon a total of 37 persons were executed. [Bruce, "Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile" (1805 edition), vol. 4 pp. 16. Another source claims only one of Malakotawit's brothers was speared to death, while the other was hanged.] Not long afterwards he decided to move against all regicides, and ordered that all who had taken part in the plot that led to the death of his brother Iyasu I be found and executed. [Bruce, "Travels", vol. 4 p. 17]

Tewoflos also initiated the canonization of his brother Iyasu I.Fact|date=May 2007

His reign was an unquiet one. In 1709, Nebahne Yohannes was proclaimed "IPA|nəgusä nägäst" in a revolt that lasted until July of 1710. Tewoflos also found himself compelled to support the doctrine known as "Wold Qib"; when the monks of Debre Libanos asked the Emperor why he embraced the belief they opposed, he reportedly told them, "It is not because I hate you, but so that Gojjam will be subject to me." [Donald Crummey, "Priests and Politicians", 1972 (Hollywood: Tsehai, 2007), p. 22]

Tewflos died under suspicious circumstances. He was buried at Teda.

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