This article contains two versions of the list of kings of Burundi, the traditional version before 1680 and the modern genealogy. The

Kingdom of Burundi The Kingdom of Burundi (french: Royaume du Burundi) or Kingdom of Urundi (''Royaume d'Urundi'') was a Bantu kingdom in the modern-day Republic of Burundi. The Ganwa monarchs (with the title of ''mwami'') ruled over both Hutus and Tutsis. Created ...

was ruled by sovereigns, titled ''

mwami ''Mwami'' () is an honorific title common in parts of Central and East Africa. The title means ''chief'' or ''tribal chief'' in several Bantu languages. It was historically used by kings in several African nations, and is still used for traditi ...

'' (plural ''abami''), whose

regnal name A regnal name, or regnant name or reign name, is the name used by monarchs and popes during their reigns and, subsequently, historically. Since ancient times, some monarchs have chosen to use a different name from their original name when they ac ...

s followed a cycle: Ntare (meaning 'lion'), Mwezi (meaning 'moon'), Mutaga, and Mwambutsa. Traditionally, it was thought that there had been four complete cycles but the modern genealogy indicates that there were only two complete cycles, starting with Ntare III Rushatsi. In the 16th century, Burundi was a kingdom characterized by a hierarchical political authority and tributary economic exchange. A ''mwami'' headed a princely aristocracy (''

ganwa Ganwa is the name for the princely group that traditionally ruled Burundi. They formed a distinct social class that was neither Hutu nor Tutsi The Tutsi (), or Abatutsi (), are an ethnic group of the African Great Lakes region. They are a Bant ...

'') which owned most of the land governing its subjects with superiority and required a tribute, or tax, from local farmers and herders who lived in forests. The

Tutsi The Tutsi (), or Abatutsi (), are an ethnic group of the African Great Lakes region. They are a Bantu-speaking ethnic group and the second largest of three main ethnic groups in Rwanda and Burundi (the other two being the largest Bantu ethnic grou ...

monarchy ruled the nation for centuries, but became largely ceremonial with the colonization of the nation by the

German Empire The German Empire (),Herbert Tuttle wrote in September 1881 that the term "Reich" does not literally connote an empire as has been commonly assumed by English-speaking people. The term literally denotes an empire – particularly a hereditary ...

in 1899. The kings continued to nominally rule through

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

and

Belgian Belgian may refer to: * Something of, or related to, Belgium * Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent * Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German *Ancient Belgian language, an extinct languag ...

colonial periods, and the monarchy continued after the nation gained independence from

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

in 1962. Burundi ceased to be a monarchy when king Ntare V Ndizeye was deposed by his

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...

and Chief of Staff, Colonel

Michel Micombero Michel Micombero (26 August 194016 July 1983) was a Burundian politician and army officer who ruled the country as ''de facto'' military dictator for the decade between 1966 and 1976. He was the last Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Burundi fro ...

, who abolished the monarchy and declared a republic following the November 1966 coup d'état.

Kings of Burundi

Traditional list

The dates before 1900 are estimates. * Ntare I Rushatsi Cambarantama: 1530– 1550 * Mwezi I Baridamunka: 1550– 1580 * Mutaga I Mutabazi: 1580– 1600 * Mwambutsa I Nkomati: 1600– 1620 * Ntare II Kibogora: 1620– 1650 * Mwezi II Nyaburunga: 1650– 1680 * Mutaga II Senyamwiza Mutamo: 1680– 1700 * Mwambutsa II Nyarushamba: 1700– 1720 * Ntare III Kivimira Semuganzashamba: 1720– 1750 * Mwezi III Kavuyimbo (Ndagushimiye): 1750– 1780 * Mutaga III Sebitungwa: 1780– 1800 * Mwambutsa III Mbonyuburundi (Mbariza): 1800– 1830 * Ntare IV Runzi (Rutaganzwa Rugamba): 1830– 1850 * Mwezi IV Gisabo Bikata-Bijoga: 1850–1908 * Mutaga IV Mbikije: 1908–1915 * Mwambutsa IV Bangiricenge Rubangishamiheto: 1915–1966 * Ntare V Ndizeye: 1966

Modern list

* Ntare III Rushatsi: 1680– 1709 *

Mwezi III Ndagushimiye Mwami Mwezi III Ndagushimiye was the king of Burundi from 1709 to 1739. Mwami Mwezi III Ndagushimiye 18th-century monarchs in Africa {{Burundi-bio-stub ...

: 1709– 1739 * Mutaga III Senyamwiza Mutamo: 1739– 1767 * Mwambutsa III Serushambo Butama: 1767– 1796 (also known as Mwambutsa III Mbariza) * Ntare IV Rutaganzwa Rugamba: 1796– 1850 * Mwezi IV Gisabo: 1840–1908; * Mutaga IV Mbikije: 1892 – 30 November 1915; * Mwambutsa IV Bangiriceng: 6 May 1912 – 26 March 1977; * Ntare V Ndizeye: 2 December 1947 – 29 April 1972;

Royal Standard

File:Royal Standard of Burundi (1962–1966).svg, Royal Standard of Burundi (1962–1966).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Kings Of Burundi

Burundi Burundi (, ), officially the Republic of Burundi ( rn, Repuburika y’Uburundi ; Swahili language, Swahili: ''Jamuhuri ya Burundi''; French language, French: ''République du Burundi'' ), is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley at the ...

Burundian monarchy Kings Kings

Kings of Burundi

Traditional list

Modern list

Royal Standard

See also

References