List of Kings of Burundi

This page contains two version of the list of Kings of Burundi, the traditional version and the modern genealogy.

The names of the Kings of Burundi 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 more 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 king (mwani) headed a princely aristocracy (gwana) 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 kings continued through the colonial period, but each of the last kings was deposed in a coup d'état.

Kings of Burundi

The traditional list of Kings of Burundi. The dates before 1900 are estimates.

• Ntare I Kivimira Savuyimba Semunganzashamba Rushatsi Kambarantama: c.1530–c.1550
• Mwezi I: c.1550–c.1580
• Mutaga I: c.1580–c.1600
• Mwambutsa I: c.1600–c.1620
• Ntare II: c.1620–c.1650
• Mwezi II: c.1650–c.1680
• Mutaga II: c.1680–c.1700
• Mwambutsa II: c.1700–c.1720
• Ntare III: c.1720–c.1750
• Mwezi III Ndagushimiye: c.1750–c.1780
• Mutaga III Senyamwiza Mutamo: c.1780–c.1800
• Mwambutsa III Mbariza: c.1800–c.1830
• Ntare IV Rutaganzwa Rugamba: c.1830–c.1850
• Mwezi IV Gisabo Bikata-Bijogu: c.1850–1908
• Mutaga IV Mbikije: c.1908–1915
• Mwambutsa IV Bangiricenge: 1915–1966
• Ntare V Ndizeye: 1966–[1972]

Kings of Burundi, c.1680-1966

This is the modern genealogy:

• Ntare III Rushatsi : c.1680–c.1709
• Mwezi III Ndagushimiye : c.1709–c.1739
• Mutaga III Senyamwiza Mutamo: c.1739–c.1767
• Mwambutsa III Syarushambo Butama: c.1767–c.1796 (also known as Mwambutsa III Mbariza)
• Ntare IV Rutaganzwa Rugamba: c.1796–c.1850
• Mwezi IV Gisabo: c.1850–21 August, 1908
• Mutaga IV Mbikije: 1908–30 November, 1915
• Mwambutsa IV Bangiriceng: 16 December, 1915–8 July, 1966
• Ntare V Ndizeye: 1 September–28 November, 1966

See also

• History of Burundi