Order of the Seal of Solomon

Order of the Seal of Solomon
Breast star of the Grand Cordon grade.
TypeHouse Order
CountryEthiopian Empire
Royal houseHouse of Solomon
Religious affiliationEthiopian Orthodox
SovereignEmperor of Ethiopia
Grand MasterPresident of the Crown Council of Ethiopia
GradesGrand Cordon
Grand Officer
Commander
Officer
Chevalier (Knight)
Former gradesCollar
Precedence
Next (higher)Imperial Order of Solomon
Next (lower)Imperial Order of the Queen of Sheba

Ribbon of the order

The Order of the Seal of Solomon is an order of knighthood of the Ethiopian Empire, founded by Emperor Yohannes IV in 1874 as the highest imperial honour, containing five grades. In 1930, an even higher Order was established, i.e. the Order of Solomon, which was a split off from the Order of the Seal of Solomon. The Order was conferred on members of imperial house and upon persons who had rendered meritorious services.

After the deposition of Haile Selassie and dissolution of the Ethiopian Empire, the order continued as a house order to be awarded by the House of Solomon. Today, its current Grand Master is the President of the Crown Council, Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie, the grandson of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia.

The Solomonic dynasty, the ancient Imperial House of Ethiopia, claims descent from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, said to have given birth to King Menelik I after her visit to Solomon in Jerusalem.[1]