Ethiopia's Gonder state consists of the northern and central highlands and the lower elevations immediately adjacent to them at the beginning of the nineteenth century.

This area is only nominally a monarchy, as rival nobles fight for the military title of ras (roughly, marshal; literally, head in Amharic) or the highest of all nonroyal titles, ras-bitwoded, that combines supreme military command with the duties of first minister at court.

These nobles often are able to enthrone and depose princes who carry the empty title of nəgusä nägäst, "King of Kings."