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.
| Mwami of Rwanda | |
|---|---|
Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Rwanda | |
Last to reign: Kigeli V Ndahindurwa 28 July 1959 – 28 January 1961 | |
| Details | |
| Style | His Majesty |
| First monarch | Gihanga I |
| Last monarch | Kigeli V Ndahindurwa |
| Formation | Unknown (ancient times) |
| Abolition | 28 January 1961 |
| Residence | Nyanza, Rwanda |
| Appointer | Royal Council of Abiru |
| Pretender | Prince Emmanuel Bushayija |
Its state and affairs before King Gihanga I are largely unconfirmed and highly shrouded in mythical tales.
Kings of Rwanda
Before 14th century
- Gihanga I
- Kanyarwanda I Gahima I
- Rukuge
- Rumeza I
- Yuhi I Musindi
- Rumeza II
- Nyarume
- Rubanda (Lugalbanda)
- Ndahiro I Bamara (Wamala)
14th–20th centuries
| 14th–19th centuries | ||||
| Portrait | Name (Lifespan) | Reign | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vansina (2004) | Stewart (2006) | |||
| 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 (1883–1944) | December 1896 – 12 November 1931 | |||
| Mutara III Rudahigwa (1911–1959) | 12 November 1931 – 25 July 1959 | |||
| Kigeli V Ndahindurwa (1936–2016) | 28 July 1959 – 28 January 1961 | |||
Timeline (1700–1961)
Pretenders since 1961
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 (retroactively approved by a Hutu led referendum held on 25 September of the same year). Afterwards, Kigeli V Ndahindurwa continued to maintain his claim to the throne until his death on 16 October 2016 in Washington, D.C. 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.
See also
- History of Rwanda
- Kingdom of Rwanda
- Ruanda-Urundi
- List of presidents of Rwanda
- Vice President of Rwanda
- Prime Minister of Rwanda
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