Ras (title)

Ras ( compare with Arabic Rais or Hebrew Rosh), is a royal title in the Ethiopian Semitic languages. It is one of the powerful non-imperial titles.

Historian Harold G. Marcus equates the Ras title to a duke; others have compared it to "prince".

The combined title of Leul Ras (Amharic: ልዑል ራስ) was given to the heads of the cadet branches of the Imperial dynasty, such as the Princes of Gojjam, Tigray, Ras Tafari Makonnen and the Selalle sub-branch of the last reigning Shewan Branch, and meaning "Lord of Lords", the highest title of lord.

Historic Ras

 * Ras Hamalmal of Kambata
 * Ras Fasil
 * Ras Wolde Selassie (1736–1816)
 * Ras Sabagadis Woldu (1780–1831)
 * Ras Alula (1827–1897)
 * Ras Gobana Dacche (1821–1889)
 * Ras Mekonnen Wolde Mikael (1852–1906)
 * Ras Mengesha Yohannes (1868–1906)
 * Ras Araya Selassie Yohannes (1869/70-10 June 1888)
 * Ras Sebhat Aregawi (1892–1914)
 * Ras Gugsa Welle
 * Ras Gugsa Araya Selassie
 * Ras Kassa Haile Darge (1881–1956)
 * Ras Tafari (the latter emperor Haile Selassie, 1892–1975)
 * Ras Darge Sahle Selassie (1830 – 23 March 1900)
 * Ras Abebe Aregai (1903–1960)
 * Ras Wubneh Tessema (1943–1974)