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List of kings of Rwanda

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Mwami of Rwanda
Last to reign
Kigeli V Ndahindurwa

28 July 1959 – 28 January 1961
Details
StyleHis Majesty
First monarchGihanga I
Last monarchKigeli V Ndahindurwa
FormationUnknown (ancient times)
Abolition28 January 1961
ResidenceNyanza, Rwanda
AppointerRoyal Council of Abiru
Pretender(s)Prince Emmanuel Bushayija

This article contains a list of kings of Rwanda. The Kingdom of Rwanda was ruled by sovereigns titled mwami (plural abami), and was one of the oldest and the most centralized kingdoms in the history of Central and East Africa.

Its state and affairs before King Gihanga I are largely unconfirmed and highly shrouded in mythical tales.

Kings of Rwanda

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Before 14th century

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14th–20th centuries

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14th–19th centuries
Portrait Name
(Lifespan)
Reign Notes
Vansina (2004)[3] Stewart (2006)[4]
Ndahiro II Ruyange c. 1350–1386
Ndahiro III Ndoba c. 1386–1410
Ndahiro IV Samembe c. 1410–1434
Nsoro I Samukondo Omitted
Nsoro II Byinshi c. 1434–1458
Ruganzu I Bwimba c. 1458–1482
Cyilima I Rugwe c. 1482–1506
Kigeli I Mukobanya c. 1506–1528
Mibambwe I Sekarongoro I Mutabazi c. 1528–1552
Yuhi II Gahima II c. 1552–1576 Enumerated as Yuhi I by Stewart.
Ndahiro II Cyamatare c. 1576–1600
Ruganzu II Ndoli c. 1600–1624
Mutara I Nsoro III Semugeshi c. 1624–1648
Kigeli II Nyamuheshera c. 1648–1672
Mibambwe II Sekarongoro II Gisanura c. 1700–1735 c. 1672–1696
Yuhi III Mazimpaka 1735–1766 c. 1696–1720 Enumerated as Yuhi II by Stewart.
Kalemera Rwaka Ntagara 1766–1770 c. 1720–1744
Cyilima II Rujugira 1770–1786 c. 1744–1768
Kigeli III Ndabarasa 1786–1796 c. 1768–1792
Mibambwe III Mutabazi II Sentabyo 1796–1801 c. 1792–1797
Yuhi IV Gahindiro 1801–1845 c. 1797–1830 Enumerated as Yuhi III by Stewart.
Mutara II Rwogera
(1802–1867)
1845–1867 c. 1830–1853
Kigeli IV Rwabugiri
(1840?–1895)
1867 – September 1895 c. 1853–1895
Mibambwe IV Rutarindwa September 1895 – December 1896 c. 1895 – November 1896
20th century
Portrait Name
(Lifespan)
Reign Notes
Yuhi V Musinga[5]
(1883–1944)
December 1896 – 12 November 1931
Mutara III Rudahigwa
(1911–1959)
12 November 1931[6] – 25 July 1959[7]
Kigeli V Ndahindurwa
(1936–2016[8])
28 July 1959[9][10] – 28 January 1961[11]

Timeline (1700–1961)

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Kigeli V NdahindurwaMutara III RudahigwaYuhi V MusingaMibambwe IV RutarindwaKigeli IV RwabugiriMutara II RwogeraYuhi IV GahindiroMibambwe III Mutabazi II SentabyoKigeli III NdabarasaCyilima II RujugiraKalemera RwakaYuhi III MazimpakaMibamwe II Sekarongoro II Gisanura

Pretenders since 1961

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Prince Emmanuel Bushayija (Yuhi VI).

On 28 January 1961, in the coup of Gitarama during what was dubbed the Rwandan Revolution by the Belgian-favored Hutu extremist party Parmehutu, the Belgian colonial overseers abolished the monarchy and Rwanda became a republic[11] (retroactively approved by a Hutu led referendum held on 25 September of the same year).[12] Afterwards, Kigeli V Ndahindurwa continued to maintain his claim to the throne until his death on 16 October 2016 in Washington, D.C.[8] On 9 January 2017, the Royal Council of Abiru announced Prince Emmanuel Bushayija as the new heir to the throne. Prince Emmanuel adopted the regnal name Yuhi VI.[13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Kagame, Alex. 2015. Inganji Kalinga. New York Publications.
  2. ^ a b c Leon Delmas
  3. ^ Vansina, Jan (2004). Antecedents to Modern Rwanda: The Nyiginya Kingdom. University of Wisconsin Press.
  4. ^ Stewert, John (2006). African States and Rulers (Third ed.). McFarland & Co. p. 190. ISBN 0-7864-2562-8.
  5. ^ "Olny.nl".
  6. ^ Frank K. Rusagara (2009). Resilience of a Nation: A History of the Military in Rwanda. Fountain Publishers. p. 99. ISBN 9789970190010.
  7. ^ Tharcisse Gatwa (2005). The Churches and Ethnic Ideology in the Rwandan Crises, 1900-1994. Regnum Books International. p. 55. ISBN 9781870345248.
  8. ^ a b "Kigeli V Ndahindurwa, Rwandan king without a crown, dies at 80". The Washington Post. 18 October 2016.
  9. ^ "A King With No Country". Washingtonian. 27 March 2013.
  10. ^ Aimable Twagilimana (2007). Historical Dictionary of Rwanda. Scarecrow Press. p. xxix. ISBN 9780810864269.
  11. ^ a b Leonhard Praeg (2007). The Geometry of Violence. AFRICAN SUN MeDIA. p. 39. ISBN 9781920109752.
  12. ^ "Kigeli V: Rwandan king with no throne". 9 January 2021.
  13. ^ Adrian Blomfield (12 January 2017). "Rwanda's new king is former Pepsi salesman residing in Cheshire". the Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 April 2017.