Tigray Region
Tigray Region (, "kilil Tigrāy;" Official name: , "Bəh̩erawi Kəllelawi Mängəśti Təgray", "Tigray National Regional State") is the northernmost of the nine regions ("kililat") of Ethiopia. Tigray is the homeland of the Tigrayan, Irob and Kunama peoples. Tigray is also known as Region 1 according to the federal constitution. Its capital and largest city is Mekelle. Tigray is the 6th largest by area, the 5th most populous, and the 5th most densely populated of the 9 Regional States.
Tigray Province
Temporarily, the northern provinces were unified under one to two rulers, since at least the 14th century, mainly the "təgre mäkännən", usually seated in the Hawzen or Adwa area (i.e. Tigray proper), and, further north, the bahər nägash, who controlled the trade routes to the Red Sea. Only rarely all territories were unified in one hand; examples being "dejazmach" Kəflä Wahəd in the late 16th century, the 17th century ruler "dejazmach" Gäbrä Krəstos of Hamasen, in the 18th century "dejazmach" Amdä Haymanot, succeeded by the much more powerful "ras" Mikael Səhul, and, finally, in the 19th century "atse" Yohannes IV and his family members.