Although the Emperor of Ethiopia had theoretically unlimited power over his subjects, his councillors came to play an increasing role in governing Ethiopia, because many Emperors were succeeded either by a child, or one of the incarcerated princes, who could only successfully leave their prisons with help from the outside.
Malia que o emperador de Etiopía teoricamente tiña poder ilimitado sobre os seus asuntos, os seus concelleiros chegaron a xogar un papel crecente no goberno, pois moitos emperadores foron sucedidos por nenos ou por un dos príncipes encarcerados, que só podían deixar con éxito as súa prisión con axuda do exterior.