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His Majesty the King of Rwanda
(See Additional Articles below)
His lawful rights as a legal, non-territorial sovereign gives him the full entitlements and distinctions of an intact royal with all the sovereign powers in international law for a deposed monarch and continuing royal House.
As one of the oldest and the most centralized kingdoms in the history of Central and East Africa, the Kingdom of Rwanda starts in the 11th century AD. History prior to this time is a little unclear, but, as can be seen, there is a long history of kings, who have ruled and reigned for hundreds of years.
1st Dynasty
Gihanga (1081–1114)
Kanyarwanda I Gahima I (1114–1147)
Yuhi I Musindi (1147–1180)
Ndahiro I Ruyange (1180–1213)
Ndahiro Ndoba (1213–1246)
Ndahiro Samembe (1246–1279)
Nsoro I Samukondo (1279–1312)
Ruganzu I Bwimba (1312–1345)
Cyilima Rugwe (1345–1378)
2nd Dynasty
Kigeli I Mukobanya (1378–1418)
Mibambwe I Sekarongoro I Mutabazi (1418–1444)
Yuhi wa II Gahima II (1444–1477)
Ndahiro wa II Cyamatare (1477–1510)
3rd Dynasty
Ruganzu II Ndoli (1510–1543)
Mutara I Nsoro II Semugeshi (1543–1576)
Kigeli II Nyamuheshera (1576–1609)
Mibamwe II Sekarongoro II Gisanura (1609–1642)
Yuhi III Mazimpaka (1642–1675)
Cyilima II Rujugira (1675–1708)
Kigeli wa III Ndabarasa (1708–1741)
Mibambwe III Mutabazi II Sentabyo (1741–1746)
Yuhi IV Gahindiro (1746–1802)
Mutara II Rwogera (1802–1853)
Kigeli IV Rwabugiri (1853–1895)
Mibambwe IV Rutarindwa (1895 – November 1896)
Yuhi wa V Musinga (November 1896 – November 12, 1931)
Mutara III Rudahigwa (November 12, 1931 – July 25, 1959)
Kigeli V Ndahindurwa (July 25, 1959 – January 28, 1961)
On January 28, 1961, Rwanda became a republic, although the native Rwandans were not allowed to vote on whether to retain the monarchy. His Majesty never abdicated, and he was forced into exile. Currently, the King lives in the United States and was granted political asylum under the protection of the government. However, even though he has been dispossessed, he is still the rightful ruler of his land because he maintained his claim to the throne in full accord with the laws that preserve these important rights. (See the article "Deposed Sovereignty and Royalty: How to Preserve it and How it can be Lost" to understand how international prescriptive law governs the rights of deposed monarchies.)
. . . Prescription . . . [is the law that] justifies the power of [reigning] monarchs [as well as] . . . the claims . . . of dethroned monarchs against the subversive claims of revolutionaries. (Norberto Bobbio, Democracy and Dictatorship: The Nature and Limits of State Power, 1989, p. 85)
In other words:
. . . The king does not forfeit the character of royalty merely by the loss of his kingdom. If he is unjustly despoiled of it by an usurper, or by rebels, he still preserves his rights. . . . (Emerich de Vattel, The Law of Nations, Book II, chapter XII, no. 196)
Because of the preserving power of prescription law:
There are in all more than forty sovereign houses of Europe, but all do not reign over independent lands or principalities. Although many of these houses possess only the title of sovereignty and the right of royal privileges, they are equal in rank to all reigning houses, and their members intermarry freely without loss of title or rank. (George H. Merritt, "The Royal Relatives of Europe," Europe at War: a "Red Book" of the Greatest War of History, 1914, p. 132)
His Majesty Yuhi VI is just as much of a valid and authentic king as any deposed European royal House. As such, he has the supreme authority of a sovereign to be a fountain of honor and give out awards as he sees fit. As Dr. Stephen P. Kerr has made clear, "the validity or legitimacy of an order of chivalry depends upon its possession of a sovereign fons honorum. . . ." (See: "Dynastic Law") Tradition is not what is important. Sovereignty, the highest and most important secular right on earth, is sufficient authority to establish any honors and distinctions the sovereign chooses. That is, as stated by Dr. Noel Cox, the high honors of noble titles and knighthood ". . . can only be conferred by a Sovereign" and "Only de jure sovereigns . . . may create Orders of Chivalry." (Noel Cox, The sovereign authority for the creation of Orders of Chivalry; 2015: http://www.geocities.ws/noelcox/Creation.htm)
With this great entitlement, HM King Yuhi VI may grant noble titles and chivalric honors. There are four Orders within the de jure Kingdom of Rwanda with various titles. Passage fees help support displaced Rwandan people.
Succession in the Kingdom of Rwanda is explained in the following definition of Abiru from the Historical Dictionary of Rwanda:
Abiru. At the royal court, the abiru (singular: unwiru) were the guardians of esoteric codes and were the court ritualists. They constituted the College or Council of Abiru. They advised the mwami [the king] and were known to manipulate him as part of the usual court intrigues seen in the history of other countries in the past of the usual court intrigues seen in the history of other countries in the past. Their religious role was performed at rituals (known as inzira or ways) of importance to the kingdom. They were also involved with protocol. Their most important role came at the time of succession. The mwami was supposed to have told them which of his sons (or brothers if the mwami had no son) would be his successor, and in turn they would reveal the name after the mwami’s death. There are instances in which they chose the mwami if the previous mesmi died unexpectedly, as was indeed the case after the death of Mutara III Rudahigwa in Bujumbura, Burundi, in obscure circumstances. (Aimable Twagilimana, Historical Dictionary of Rwanda, 2007, p. 1)
Being a proprietary monarchy, His Majesty's choice of his successor will not be revealed until after his death. King Kireli V chose his nephew Emmanuel Bushayija before his death. He reigns on a de jure level as Yuhi VI
King Yuhi VI is a full "de jure" sovereign with all the rights, privileges, and full honors of this dignity. He continues to obey the international requirements to preserve these rights in perpetuity.
For any persons interested in learning more about His Majesty, including information on the honors system, please contact Secretary General Guye Pennington at the following email address:
The official website address is www.king-kigeli.org
Other articles in this section:
We encourage you to read and enjoy the articles that follow, which are informative and can deepen one's understanding of the whys and wherefores as well as the true and permanent rights of royalty, nobility and chivalry. The following articles are considered to be especially important and valuable:
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