This article contains a list of kings of Rwanda. The

Kingdom of Rwanda The Kingdom of Rwanda was a kingdom in East Africa which grew to be ruled by a Tutsi monarchy. It was later annexed under German and Belgian colonial rule while retaining some of its autonomy. The Tutsi monarchy was abolished in 1961 after et ...

was ruled by sovereigns titled '' mwami'' (plural ''abami''), and was one of the oldest and the most centralized kingdoms in the history of

Central Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...

and

East Africa East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territories make up Eastern Africa: Due to the historical ...

. Its state and affairs before King

Gihanga Gihanga I ("Creator", "Founder") is a Rwandan cultural hero described in oral histories as an ancient king popularly credited with establishing the ancient Kingdom of Rwanda. Oral legends relate that Gihanga descended from a line of 12 gods heade ...

is largely unconfirmed and highly shrouded in mythical tales.

Kings of Rwanda

;Abami b'imishumi (descendants of Ibimanuka gods) – B.C.E *

Gihanga I Gihanga I ("Creator", "Founder") is a Rwandan cultural hero described in oral histories as an ancient king popularly credited with establishing the ancient Kingdom of Rwanda. Oral legends relate that Gihanga descended from a line of 12 gods heade ...

Kanyarwanda I Gahima I Gahima I (also known as Kanyarwanda I, Kayima I, Ghem, Khem, Kakama, Khm among East Africans is recited by the Rwandan "Abiru" (cultural historians and griots) as one of the primal Mwami, or King of Rwanda supposedly after Gihanga's long reign arou ...

Ndahiro I Bamara Ndahiro is a Rwandan name. Notable people by that name include: * Emmanuel Ndahiro, chief of the intelligence agency of Rwanda until 2011. * Ndahiro II Cyamatare Ndahiro II Cyamatare was Mwami, or king, of the Kingdom of Rwanda at the end of the ...

(Wamala) * Ruganzu I * Nyarume * Ntarama * Rubanda (Lugalbanda) * Rumeza I *

Yuhi I Musindi Yuhi may refer to: People Japan *, Japanese long-distance runner * Yuhi Sano (born 1965), Japanese professional wrestler * Yuhi Sekiguchi (born 1987), Japanese racing driver * Yuhi (wrestler) (born 1995), Japanese professional wrestler Rwanda ...

* Rumeza IILeon Delmas *

Ndahiro II Ruyange Ndahiro is a Rwandan name. Notable people by that name include: * Emmanuel Ndahiro Emmanuel Ndahiro is a Rwandan soldier. He was the chief of the intelligence agency An intelligence agency is a government agency responsible for the collecti ...

Ndahiro III Ndoba Ndahiro is a Rwandan name. Notable people by that name include: * Emmanuel Ndahiro, chief of the intelligence agency of Rwanda until 2011. * Ndahiro II Cyamatare Ndahiro II Cyamatare was Mwami, or king, of the Kingdom of Rwanda at the end of the ...

Ndahiro IV Samembe Ndahiro is a Rwandan name. Notable people by that name include: * Emmanuel Ndahiro Emmanuel Ndahiro is a Rwandan soldier. He was the chief of the intelligence agency An intelligence agency is a government agency responsible for the collecti ...

* Nsoro I Samukondo * Nsoro II Byinshi * Ruganzu II Bwimba * Cyilima I Rugwe ;1st Abami Bibitekerezo (1st Common Era Kings) * Kigeli I Mukobanya * Mibambwe I Sekarongoro I Mutabazi *

Yuhi II Gahima II Yuhi wa II Gahima II was Mwami of the Kingdom of Rwanda The Kingdom of Rwanda was a kingdom in East Africa which grew to be ruled by a Tutsi monarchy. It was later annexed under German and Belgian colonial rule while retaining some of its aut ...

Ndahiro V Cyamatare Ndahiro is a Rwandan name. Notable people by that name include: * Emmanuel Ndahiro, chief of the intelligence agency of Rwanda until 2011. * Ndahiro II Cyamatare Ndahiro II Cyamatare was Mwami, or king, of the Kingdom of Rwanda at the end of the ...

;2nd Abami Bibitekerezo (2nd Common Era Kings) Tutsi king Mutara

* Ruganzu III Ndoli *

Kalemera Rwaka Kalemera Rwaka Ntagara was Mwami of the Kingdom of Rwanda The Kingdom of Rwanda was a kingdom in East Africa which grew to be ruled by a Tutsi monarchy. It was later annexed under German and Belgian colonial rule while retaining some of its ...

Mutara I Nsoro III Semugeshi Mutara I Nsoro II Semugeshi was Mwami of the Kingdom of Rwanda The Kingdom of Rwanda was a kingdom in East Africa which grew to be ruled by a Tutsi monarchy. It was later annexed under German and Belgian colonial rule while retaining some o ...

Kigeli II Nyamuheshera Kigeli II Nyamuheshera was a possible Mwami (King) of the Kingdom of Rwanda in the late 17th century. Jan Vansina proposed that he was fictional, and added to the royal genealogy later to complete a cycle of dynastic names. The traditions argue th ...

(1576–1609) *

Mibamwe II Sekarongoro II Gisanura Mibamwe II Sekarongoro II Gisanura was Mwami (King) of the Kingdom of Rwanda The Kingdom of Rwanda was a kingdom in East Africa which grew to be ruled by a Tutsi monarchy. It was later annexed under German and Belgian colonial rule while re ...

(1609–1642) *

Yuhi III Mazimpaka Yuhi III Mazimpaka (scientific orthography: ''Yuhi wa Gatatu Mazimpakâ'') was the Mwami (King) of kingdom of Rwanda The Kingdom of Rwanda was a kingdom in East Africa which grew to be ruled by a Tutsi monarchy. It was later annexed under Ger ...

(1642–1675) *

Cyilima II Rujugira Cyilima II Rujugira was Mwami (King) of Kingdom of Rwanda from 1675 to 1708. Cyilima II Rujugira is famous for coining the phrase "''Urwanda ruratera ntiruterwa''" (''No nation invades Rwanda, instead Rwanda defends and attacks nations''). His re ...

(1675–1708) *

Kigeli III Ndabarasa Kigeli wa III Ndabarasa, also known as Gitakwandira, (reigned 1708 – 1741) was a Mwami of the Kingdom of Rwanda during the eighteenth century. The end of his reign and the accession of his successor Mibambwe III Mutabazi II Sentabyo was marked by ...

(1708–1741) *

Mibambwe III Mutabazi II Sentabyo Mibambwe III Mutabazi II Sentabyo, also known as Mhwerazikamwa, (reigned 1741 – 1746) was a Mwami; Umwami wimye Ingoma Habaye Ubwirakabiri of the Kingdom of Rwanda The Kingdom of Rwanda was a kingdom in East Africa which grew to be ruled by ...

(1741–1746) *

Yuhi IV Gahindiro Yuhi IV Gahindiro was the King of Rwanda from 1792 to 1802. He was the head of Bahindiro clan and father of Mutara II Rwogera Mutara II Rwogera was the King of Rwanda from 1830 to his death in June 1853. Under his rule and that of his successor ...

(1746–1802) * Mutara II Rwogera (1802–1853) * Kigeli IV Rwabugiri (1853 – November 1895) * Mibambwe IV Rutarindwa (November 1895 – December 1896) * Yuhi V Musinga (1883 – 13 January 1944; ) *

Mutara III Rudahigwa Mutara III Rudahigwa (March 1911 – 25 July 1959) was King ('' umwami'') of Rwanda between 1931 and 1959. He was the first Rwandan king to be baptised, and Roman Catholicism took hold in Rwanda during his reign. His Christian names were Cha ...

(March 1911 – 25 July 1959; ) * Kigeli V Ndahindurwa (29 June 1936 – 16 October 2016; )

Reigning in exile since 1961

On 28 January 1961, during the Rwandan Revolution, the country abolished its monarchy and became a republic (retroactively approved by a 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.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Kings Of Rwanda

Rwanda Rwanda (; rw, u Rwanda ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator ...

Rwandan monarchy

Kings Kings or King's may refer to: *Monarchs: The sovereign heads of states and/or nations, with the male being kings *One of several works known as the "Book of Kings": **The Books of Kings part of the Bible, divided into two parts **The ''Shahnameh'' ...

Kings of Rwanda

Reigning in exile since 1961

See also

References