Tekle Giyorgis II of Ethiopia
| Tekle Giyorgis II | |
|---|---|
| Emperor of Ethiopia | |
| Reign | 11 June 1868 – 11 July 1871 |
| Proclamation | August 1868 (Debre Zebit) |
| Predecessor | Tewodros II |
| Successor | Yohannes IV |
| Died | c. 1873 Abba Garima Monastery, Adwa, Ethiopian Empire |
| Spouse | Dinqinesh Mercha |
| House | House of Zagwe |
| Father | Wagshum Gebre Medhin |
| Mother | Woizero Aitchesh |
| Religion | Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo |
Tekle Giyorgis II (Ge'ez ተክለ ጊዮርጊስ, "Plant of Saint George" born Wagshum Gobeze ዋግሹም ጎበዜ lit. "Governor of Wag, my courageous one"; died 1873) was nəgusä nägäst (Emperor) of Ethiopia from 1868 to 1871.
Gobeze based his claim to the Imperial throne on a dual heritage: through his father Wagshum Gebre Medhin, he was the heir to the old Zagwe dynasty and the rulers of Lasta, and his mother was a descendant of the Solomonic dynasty. His principal rivals for sole rule were Menelik II (who was at the time king of Shewa), and Dejazmach Kassai (the future Emperor Yohannes IV). Gobeze married the sister of the latter, Dinqinesh Mercha.
Because Tekle Giyorgis's rule was so ephemeral, some lists of the Emperors of Ethiopia omit his name. In Ethiopia today, he is virtually unknown, in contrast to his celebrated predecessor and successor, respectively Tewodros II and Yohannes IV.
Gobeze enters the historical record when he raised the banner of rebellion in Lasta in 1864, six years after his father Wagshum Gebre Medhin had been executed by Emperor Tewodros II for supporting the rebel Agew Niguse.
Gobeze made his opening move even before the suicide of Emperor Tewodros II at the end of the British Expedition to Ethiopia. Towards the end of 1867, he began to march on Tewodros' fortress at Maqdala, but stopped about 50 kilometres (30 miles) away then turned to fight Tiso Gobeze, who had revolted against Tewodros and had control of Begemder. Tiso was killed in battle at Qwila. In August 1868, Wagshum Gobeze proclaimed himself Emperor Tekle Giyorgis II of Ethiopia at Soqota in his district of Wag. However, because Abuna Salama, head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church died in October 1867, there was no one to properly crown him.
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