History

This Order was established by Ras Tafari Makonnen in 1922 acting as regent, although it had been proposed some 9 years earlier by the British Minister to Ethiopia. It was created as a special class of the Order of the Seal of Solomon, but by the time it was awarded by Makonnen as Emperor Haile Selassie I in 1930, it had become an entirely separate award. The Order was discontinued as a state award following the collapse of the Empire in 1974. It is currently awarded as a dynastic order by the Crown Council of Ethiopia.

It is conferred upon the Emperor and Empress of Ethiopia, other members of the Imperial Family, and foreign monarchs.

The Collar is composed of square, gold links with the Star of David. The total number of links is known to vary between examples, but 11 of the links feature a Ge’ez inscription that translates to “Our God, Our Strength, Our Protector.” The medal of the Order is suspended from a central Star of David link as badge appendant and features a Ge’ez inscription that can be translated to “The Queen of Sheba Came to Hear Solomon’s Wisdom.”

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