Historically, the Kingdom of Wolaita was ruled by more than fifty kings.q The rulers used the title Kawo. Legendarily, ~1251 is the year of Welayta's founding. (In traditional oral sources, where the state of Wolayta also existed during the Aksumite empire, or even earlier, with more than 42 dynasties. The Mala and Tigre dynasty are the most recent ones).
The exact number of kings in each dynasty varies depending on the source.
The following were the rulers of the Wolayta kingdom and province in present-day southern Ethiopia. + Rulers of Welayta until 1900TenureIncumbentNotesFirst Wolaita Malla dynastyUnknown Dates BitoUnknown Dates BidintoUnknown Dates HaniseUnknown Dates HadiyoUnknown Dates YateUnknown Dates WordeUnknown Dates WodeUnknown Dates SagadaUnknown Dates BureUnknown Dates HaruroUnknown Dates HalalaArujia dynastyThese kings are portrayed in oral tradition as harsh, rude and killers. Some sources state 12 kings made up this dynasty.Unknown Dates Bada'aUnknown Dates BadilaUnknown Dates GadilaUnknown Dates GodiraUnknown Dates BayuwaUnknown Dates BuranaUnknown Dates BadeUnknown Dates GongaUnknown Dates Dangula IUnknown Dates Dangula IILast king defeated in battle by the Malla dynasty.Second Wolaita Malla dynasty (restored)Some sources state that 15 kings ruled in this dynasty.Unknown Dates Sana or SeneUnknown Dates SaboraUnknown Dates SagulaUnknown Dates SamoraUnknown Dates Sassa or SasoUnknown Dates SaammUnknown Dates Sata13th centuryMotolam or MotolomiSon of Saso. (Likely legendary)Unknown Dates MotaUnknown Dates OchaUnknown Dates Lacha or LecheDynasty ended with the Oromo migrationsTigre dynastyc. 1560 Mikael or Shume, Kawo16th centuryGirma Ketema, Kawo17th centuryGazenja, Kawa(Gazenya)17th centuryAddaye Gazayna, Kawa18th centuryKote Adaye, Kawo18th centuryLibana Kote, Kawo1707 to 1748Sana Tube, Kawo? to 1761Tube Libana, KawoDied in office1761 to 1800Ogato Sana, Kawo1800 to 1835Amado Ogato, Kawo1835 to 1845Damote Amado, Kawo1845 to 1886Gobe Damote, Kawo1886 to c.1890Gaga Gobe, Kawo1890 to 1896Tona Gaga, KawoWarlike, the last and greatest king.Waylata conquered by Menelik II and incorporated into Ethiopia 1894October 1894 to 1900Tekle Haymanot, Negus
Notes
Bibliography
See also Monarchies of Ethiopia Rulers and heads of state of Ethiopia