Institution

Ras

Ras, meaning head, was one of the highest noble and military titles in the Ethiopian Empire, below that of the negus. It was held by powerful regional lords and governors. Holders of the title commanded armies and administered provinces, and Haile Selassie was known as Ras Tafari before his coronation.

Mentioned in 4 profiles

Ethiopian EmpireGovernanceKingdom of UgaritFoundation, SummarySheikhdom of SharjahFoundation, Military, Governance, DeclineUnited Arab EmiratesFoundation, Military, Summary

Mentioned in 5 state histories

Kingdom of UgaritPrincipality of Serbia (early medieval)Grand Principality of SerbiaSheikhdom of SharjahTigray

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Ras. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/ras
MLA
“Ras.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/ras. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Ras.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/ras.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Ras’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/ras (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻