List of kings of Burundi

*Mwami* of Burundi
Mwami of Burundi
	Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Burundi,; with the royal karyenda drum surmounted on the top
	Last to reign; Ntare V Ndizeye; 8 July – 28 November 1966
Details
Style	His Majesty
First monarch	Ntare III Rushatsi
Last monarch	Ntare V Ndizeye
Formation	c. 1680
Abolition	28 November 1966
Residence	Gitega and Bujumbura, Burundi
Appointer	Hereditary
Pretender(s)	Princess Rosa Paula Iribagiza

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.^[1]^[2]

Kings of Burundi

Traditional list

The dates before 1900 are estimates.

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

Modern list

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

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family
Mwezi IV Gisabo	c. 1840 – 21 August 1908 (aged c. 67–68)	c. 1850	21 August 1908	Son of Ntare IV Rutaganzwa Rugamba	Abaganwa
Mutaga IV Mbikije	c. 1892 – 30 November 1915 (aged c. 22–23)	21 August 1908	30 November 1915	Son of Mwezi IV Gisabo	Abaganwa
Mwambutsa IV Bangiriceng	(1912-05-06)6 May 1912 – 26 March 1977(1977-03-26) (aged 64)^[3]	16 December 1915	8 July 1966^[4]	Son of Mutaga IV Mbikije	Ntwero
Ntare V Ndizeye	(1947-12-02)2 December 1947 – 29 April 1972(1972-04-29) (aged 24)^[5]	8 July 1966^[4]	28 November 1966^[1]	Son of Mwambutsa IV Bangiriceng	Ntwero

Timeline

(Based on the modern list)

Royal Standard

Royal Standard of Burundi (1962–1966).

References

^ ^a ^b "BURUNDI PREMIER SETS UP REPUBLIC; Micombero Asserts He Has Overthrown the King". The New York Times. 29 November 1966. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
^ "MICHEL MICOMBERO, 43, DIES; FORMER PRESIDENT OF BURUNDI". The New York Times. 18 July 1983. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
^ "Ex-King of Burundi Dies". The New York Times. 1 May 1977. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
^ ^a ^b "Power in Burundi Seized By Absent King's Son, 21". The New York Times. 9 July 1966. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
^ "Burundi Says Ex-King Is Dead as Coup Fails". The New York Times. 1 May 1972. Retrieved 28 February 2024.

[29Nov-1] "BURUNDI PREMIER SETS UP REPUBLIC; Micombero Asserts He Has Overthrown the King". The New York Times. 29 November 1966. Retrieved 18 January 2021.

[2] "MICHEL MICOMBERO, 43, DIES; FORMER PRESIDENT OF BURUNDI". The New York Times. 18 July 1983. Retrieved 24 April 2020.

[1May77-3] "Ex-King of Burundi Dies". The New York Times. 1 May 1977. Retrieved 28 February 2024.

[9Jul-4] "Power in Burundi Seized By Absent King's Son, 21". The New York Times. 9 July 1966. Retrieved 18 January 2021.

[1May72-5] "Burundi Says Ex-King Is Dead as Coup Fails". The New York Times. 1 May 1972. Retrieved 28 February 2024.

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