Iyoas II

Iyoas II (also known as Iyasu II) was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1755 to 1769. He was a member of the Solomonic dynasty. His reign was characterized by the increasing power of the regional warlords and the diminishing authority of the central government, a period often referred to as the Zemene Mesafint (Age of Princes). Iyoas II ascended to the throne at a young age and was heavily influenced by his mother, Wubit (also known as Walatta Israel), who was a powerful and politically active figure. Her Oromo background and favoritism towards her own people led to tensions and factionalism within the court. While Iyoas II attempted to assert his authority, he ultimately failed to stem the tide of decentralization and instability that plagued his reign. He was eventually assassinated, marking a further decline in the power of the Ethiopian monarchy.