List of kings of Burundi

This article contains two versions of the list of kings of Burundi, the traditional version before 1680 and the modern genealogy. The Kingdom of Burundi was ruled by sovereigns, titled mwami (plural abami), whose regnal names followed a cycle: Ntare (meaning 'lion'), Mwezi (meaning 'moon'), Mutaga, and Mwambutsa. Traditionally, it was thought that there had been four complete cycles but the modern genealogy indicates that there were only two complete cycles, starting with Ntare III Rushatsi.

In the 16th century, Burundi was a kingdom characterized by a hierarchical political authority and tributary economic exchange. A mwami headed a princely aristocracy (ganwa) which owned most of the land governing its subjects with superiority and required a tribute, or tax, from local farmers and herders who lived in forests. The Tutsi monarchy ruled the nation for centuries, but became largely ceremonial with the colonization of the nation by the German Empire in 1899. The kings continued to nominally rule through German and Belgian colonial periods, and the monarchy continued after the nation gained independence from Belgium in 1962. Burundi ceased to be a monarchy when King Ntare V Ndizeye was deposed by Prime Minister and Chief of Staff, Colonel Michel Micombero, who abolished the monarchy and declared a republic following the November 1966 coup d'état.

Kings of Burundi

Traditional list

The dates before 1900 are estimates.

• Ntare I Rushatsi Cambarantama: Template:Circa 1530–Template:Circa 1550
• Mwezi I Baridamunka: Template:Circa 1550–Template:Circa 1580
• Mutaga I Mutabazi: Template:Circa 1580–Template:Circa 1600
• Mwambutsa I Nkomati: Template:Circa 1600–Template:Circa 1620
• Ntare II Kibogora: Template:Circa 1620–Template:Circa 1650
• Mwezi II Nyaburunga: Template:Circa 1650–Template:Circa 1680
• Mutaga II Senyamwiza Mutamo: Template:Circa 1680–Template:Circa 1700
• Mwambutsa II Nyarushamba: Template:Circa 1700–Template:Circa 1720
• Ntare III Kivimira Semuganzashamba: Template:Circa 1720–Template:Circa 1750
• Mwezi III Kavuyimbo (Ndagushimiye): Template:Circa 1750–Template:Circa 1780
• Mutaga III Sebitungwa: Template:Circa 1780–Template:Circa 1800
• Mwambutsa III Mbonyuburundi (Mbariza): Template:Circa 1800–Template:Circa 1830
• Ntare IV Runzi (Rutaganzwa Rugamba): Template:Circa 1830–Template:Circa 1850
• Mwezi IV Gisabo Bikata-Bijoga: Template:Circa 1850–1908
• Mutaga IV Mbikije: Template:Circa 1908–1915
• Mwambutsa IV Bangiricenge Rubangishamiheto: 1915–1966
• Ntare V Ndizeye: 1966

Modern list

• Ntare III Rushatsi: Template:Circa 1680–Template:Circa 1709
• Mwezi III Ndagushimiye: Template:Circa 1709–Template:Circa 1739
• Mutaga III Senyamwiza Mutamo: Template:Circa 1739–Template:Circa 1767
• Mwambutsa III Serushambo Butama: Template:Circa 1767–Template:Circa 1796 (also known as Mwambutsa III Mbariza)
• Ntare IV Rutaganzwa Rugamba: Template:Circa 1796–Template:Circa 1850

Timeline

(Based on the modern list)

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DateFormat = yyyy Period = from:1680 till:1966 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:20 start:1680 ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:5 start:1680

Colors =

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 id:m      value:blue
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Backgroundcolors = canvas:canvas

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 barset:Rulers
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PlotData =

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 from: 1680 till: 1709 color:m text:"Ntare III Rushatsi"
 from: 1709 till: 1739 color:m text:"Mwezi III Ndagushimiye"
 from: 1739 till: 1767 color:m text:"Mutaga III Senyamwiza Mutamo"
 from: 1767 till: 1796 color:m text:"Mwambutsa III Serushambo Butama (Mwambutsa III Mbariza)"
 from: 1796 till: 1850 color:m text:"Ntare IV Rutaganzwa Rugamba"
 from: 1850 till: 1908 color:m text:"Mwezi IV Gisabo"
 from: 1908 till: 1915 color:m text:"Mutaga IV Mbikije"
 from: 1915 till: 1966 color:m text:"Mwambutsa IV Bangiriceng"
 from: 1966 till: 1966 color:m text:"Ntare V Ndizeye"

</timeline>

Royal Standard

• Royal Standard of Burundi (1962–1966).
  Royal Standard of Burundi (1962–1966).

See also

• History of Burundi
• Kingdom of Burundi
• Ruanda-Urundi
  • List of colonial residents of Burundi
• President of Burundi
  • List of presidents of Burundi
• Vice-President of Burundi
• Prime Minister of Burundi