Girma Yohannes Iyasu

[citation needed] Iyasu was the son of Negus Mikael of Sion, and matrilineal grandson of Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia.

Lij Girma Yohannes grew up in the monasteries of Asebot, Dega Estifanos (Lake Tana) and Debre Damo.

As such, as a grandson of Lij Iyasu, he claims to be the leading core member of the Solomonic dynasty from the house of David and rightful monarch of Ethiopia.

[3] This however is not based or supported by any constitutional or traditional procedure, since Ethiopia did not receive its first modern constitution addressing order of succession until 1931, and the old traditional male line succession would have gone to Dejazmach Taye Gulilat after Menelik II and not to Lij Iyasu; Lij Iyasu, Ras Kassa and Emperor Haile Selassie were all descended from the royal house through female lines, and had roughly equivalent claims to each other.

His pretentions are however undermined due to the very large number of descendants of Lij Iyasu that exist with an equal or arguably superior claim.

Abeto-Hoy Lij Girma Yohannes Iyassu Menelik II ("Crown Prince of Ethiopia") as his title of pretence.

Emperor Haile Selassie I when a newspaper article suggested in an interview with him that he felt the late monarch deserved his fate.

The article was used by the EPRDF government as one of its many attempts to shed a negative light on the period of mourning for Emperor Haile Selassie and show that there were rifts within the monarchist movement.

Lij Girma was widely condemned at the time for his lack of traditional Ethiopian etiquette and for the very coarse language he used in the article.