Ras (Amharic: ራስ, romanizedras, lit.'head' compare with Arabic Rais or Hebrew Rosh), is a royal title in the Ethiopian Semitic languages.[1] It is one of the powerful non-imperial titles.

Historian Harold G. Marcus equates the Ras title to a duke;[citation needed] others have compared it to "prince".[2]

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

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Haile Selassie, Western Education, and Political Revolution in Ethiopia. Cambria Press. ISBN 9781621969143.
  2. ^ E.g., Don Jaide, "An Etymology of the word Ras-Tafari – By Ras Naftali", Rasta Liveware, June 2, 2014; accessed 2019.06.24.