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Ras Mengesha Yohannes (Tigrinya: መንገሻ ዮሓንስ; 1868 – 1906) was governor of Tigray and a son of Emperor Yohannes IV (r. 1872-89). His mother was Welette Tekle Haymanot wife of dejazmach Gugsa Mercha. Ras Araya Selassie Yohannes was his younger half brother.
Ras Seyoum Mengesha was killed during the abortive coup by the Imperial Bodyguard in 1960 and was succeeded by his son Ras Mengesha Seyoum who served as Governor and hereditary Prince of Tigray until the 1974 Revolution toppled the Ethiopian monarchy.
Ras Mengesha Yohannes (Tigrinya: መንገሻ ዮሓንስ; 1868-1906) was governor of Tigray and a son of atse Yohannes IV (r. 1872-89).
The death of the Emperor caused a period of political turmoil in Ethiopia. Yohannes on his deathbed named his son Ras Mengesha as his heir, and begged Ras Alula and his other nobles to support him. However, Tigray was in disarray, famine had broken out and chiefs were fighting amongst themselves.
Ras Mengesha Yohannes ( Tigrinya: መንገሻ ዮሓንስ; 1868 – 1906) was governor of Tigray and a son of Emperor Yohannes IV (r. 1872-89). His mother was Welette Tekle Haymanot wife of dejazmach Gugsa Mercha.
The death of Yohannes sent a shock wave among Tigrayans. Yohannes' officials asked Ras Mengesha, the son of Yohannes IV, to claim the throne but the power struggle between the relatives of Emperor Yohannes intensified as they refused to recognise Ras Mengesha as Yohannes's heir.
The Chiefs (Ras) put aside personal animosities and fiefdoms to march in unison to Adwa. Amongst them were Ras Makonnen, Ras Tekle Haymonot, Ras Mengesha Yohannes, Ras Sibhat of Tigray, Ras Mikael of Wollo, Ras Wole of Yejju Oromo, and Ras Gebeyehu, who died fighting at Adwa.
