Born: 1706, Ethiopia
Died: 27 June 1773
Country most active: Ethiopia
Also known as: ምንትዋብ, Wälättä Giyorgis, ወለተ ጊዮርጊስ, Berhan Mogassa, ብርሃን ሞገሳ
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
In 1730, Wälättä Giyorgis, later known as Empress Mentewab, married Ethiopia’s Emperor Bakaffa after nursing him back to health.
Following Bakaffa’s death in 1730, Mentewab became the regent for their son, Iyasu II, and rose to power as the ruler of Ethiopia.