He was born in 1831 to Mercha, Shum (or "governor") of Tembien, and his wife Woizero (or "Dame") Silass Dimtsu (Amata Selassie), who was the daughter of Dejazmach (roughly equivalent to "Duke") Dimtsu Debbab of Enderta the nephew of the powerful Ras Wolde Selassie of Enderta.
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Enderta is bordered on the west by Tembien, on the southeast by Wag, the south by Raya and Azebo, on the east by Aseb awraja of Afar (Ethiopia's former port), and on the north by Kilete Awla'elo, Agame and Adwa.
Through the old aristocratic families of Tembien and Enderta districts of Tigray, Empress Dinginesh could trace her lineage to the Solomonic dynasty through at least two female links.