The military ranks of the Ethiopian Army originally came from the traditional organization of their forces.
The titles were granted by regional rulers until Emperor Haile Selassie ended the practice and they became the sole gift of the monarch.
Traditionally the governors of the provinces were at the head of their local Sefari (provincial or district armed force) and levy.
A Degiac was the commander of a unit equivalent to a regiment, composed of two to three thousand men.
[2] The traditional army units were organized on the decimal system and the titles of their commanders, the Basciai,[2] reflected this organization: These ranks have been retained in the modern army, the upper rank titles of the army follow the European model.