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Haile Selassie of Ethiopia
Haile Selassie
Haile Selassie (The Holy Trinity or Power of Trinity) (July 23, 1892 - August 27, 1975) was the last Emperor (1930 - 1936; 1941 -
1974) of Ethiopia.
1974) of Ethiopia.
Selassie was born in the town-village of Ejersa Goro, Ethiopia, as Tafari Makonnen to father Ras Makonnen, the governor of Harar
and to mother Wezero (lady) Yeshimebet Ali. He didn't remember his mother, who died on March 14, 1894.
and to mother Wezero (lady) Yeshimebet Ali. He didn't remember his mother, who died on March 14, 1894.
In September 1916, an assembly of nobles with the agreement of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church deposed Emperor Lij Iyasu (Iyasu
V), the grandson and heir of Emperor Menelik II, for suspected conversion to Islam. In his place they crowned Menelik's daughter
Zauditu as Empress of Ethiopia and her cousin Ras (Duke) Tafari as Crown Prince and Regent. As Ras Tafari (Amharic Fearsome),
he ruled Ethiopia as regent and crown prince (1916 - 1928) for his cousin the empress Zauditu, and as king (negus) (1928 - 1930),
assuming the title of Emperor upon Zauditu's death (April 2, 1930). He was crowned emperor November 2, 1930. He was fully
titled, His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie I, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Elect of God, King of Kings of
Ethiopia.
V), the grandson and heir of Emperor Menelik II, for suspected conversion to Islam. In his place they crowned Menelik's daughter
Zauditu as Empress of Ethiopia and her cousin Ras (Duke) Tafari as Crown Prince and Regent. As Ras Tafari (Amharic Fearsome),
he ruled Ethiopia as regent and crown prince (1916 - 1928) for his cousin the empress Zauditu, and as king (negus) (1928 - 1930),
assuming the title of Emperor upon Zauditu's death (April 2, 1930). He was crowned emperor November 2, 1930. He was fully
titled, His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie I, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Elect of God, King of Kings of
Ethiopia.
In 1911 he married Wayzaro Menen Asfaw, daughter of the Jantirar Asfaw of Ambassel and maternal granddaughter of King
Mikael of Wolo. Emperor Haile Selassie and Empress Menen were the parents of six children, Princess Tenagnework, Crown
Prince Asfaw Wossen, Princess Tsehai, Princess Zenebework, Prince Makonnen Duke of Harar, and Prince Sahle Selassie.
Emperor Haile Selassie by a previous marriage, had a daughter, Princess Romanework.
Mikael of Wolo. Emperor Haile Selassie and Empress Menen were the parents of six children, Princess Tenagnework, Crown
Prince Asfaw Wossen, Princess Tsehai, Princess Zenebework, Prince Makonnen Duke of Harar, and Prince Sahle Selassie.
Emperor Haile Selassie by a previous marriage, had a daughter, Princess Romanework.
Emperor Haile Selassie developed the policy of careful modernisation initiated by the emperor Menelik II, securing Ethiopia's
admission to the League of Nations in 1923 and enacting the country's first constitution in 1931. He also abolished slavery in the
Empire in 1923. The League's failure to stop the Second Italo-Ethiopian War--Italy's invasion of Ethiopia in 1935--led to five years
in exile, during which he was based at Bath in England.
admission to the League of Nations in 1923 and enacting the country's first constitution in 1931. He also abolished slavery in the
Empire in 1923. The League's failure to stop the Second Italo-Ethiopian War--Italy's invasion of Ethiopia in 1935--led to five years
in exile, during which he was based at Bath in England.
Returning in 1941 after Italy's defeat in Ethiopia by British and Ethiopian patriot forces, he introduced a revised constitution
(November 1955) under which he retained effective power while extending political participation. In 1963 he presided over the
establishment of the Organization of African Unity and convinced the new organization to set up its headquarters in Addis Ababa.
(November 1955) under which he retained effective power while extending political participation. In 1963 he presided over the
establishment of the Organization of African Unity and convinced the new organization to set up its headquarters in Addis Ababa.
Following an abortive coup attempt (December 1960) he pursued more conservative policies, aligning Ethiopia with the West against
more radical African governments. His policies contributed to his deposition on September 12, 1974 following a military coup. The
media at the time reported that Selassie died in prison on August 27, 1975, officially following a prostate operation; however, it is
widely believed by historians that he was strangled and his remains buried beneath the president's personal office. (On November
5th, 2000, the late Emperor was granted a formal funeral.)
more radical African governments. His policies contributed to his deposition on September 12, 1974 following a military coup. The
media at the time reported that Selassie died in prison on August 27, 1975, officially following a prostate operation; however, it is
widely believed by historians that he was strangled and his remains buried beneath the president's personal office. (On November
5th, 2000, the late Emperor was granted a formal funeral.)
Amongst followers of Rastafarianism, a religion which developed in the 1930s in Jamaica under the influence of Marcus Mosiah
Garvey's "Back to Africa" movement, Haile Selassie is regarded as a Black messiah who will lead the peoples of Africa and the
African diaspora to freedom. Most Rastafarians believe that Selassie is still alive, and that his widely reported death was part of a
conspiracy to discredit their religion.
Garvey's "Back to Africa" movement, Haile Selassie is regarded as a Black messiah who will lead the peoples of Africa and the
African diaspora to freedom. Most Rastafarians believe that Selassie is still alive, and that his widely reported death was part of a
conspiracy to discredit their religion.
The Emperor himself, a devout Christian, was opposed to the Rastafarians' belief in him as messiah. A state visit to Jamaica in 1966,
during which Selassie was greeted by massive screaming crowds, was reportedly quite unsettling for the monarch. After the visit, the
Emperor is said to have told Ethiopian Orthodox Archbishop Abuna Yesehaq: "There is a problem in Jamaica.... Please, help these
people. They are misunderstanding, they do not understand our culture.... They need a church to be established and you are chosen
to go." The Ethiopian Orthodox Church was established in Jamaica to convert the Rastafarians to Christianity.
during which Selassie was greeted by massive screaming crowds, was reportedly quite unsettling for the monarch. After the visit, the
Emperor is said to have told Ethiopian Orthodox Archbishop Abuna Yesehaq: "There is a problem in Jamaica.... Please, help these
people. They are misunderstanding, they do not understand our culture.... They need a church to be established and you are chosen
to go." The Ethiopian Orthodox Church was established in Jamaica to convert the Rastafarians to Christianity.
The Emperor's seat as a Knight of the Garter in St. George's Chapel had the unusual feature of a double-sided banner, one side
representing the Emperor of Ethiopia, and the other for the Lion of Judah. He had originally asked for two seats.
representing the Emperor of Ethiopia, and the other for the Lion of Judah. He had originally asked for two seats.
External link
• Speech to the League of Nations, June 1936 (http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/selassie.htm) (full text)
eo:Hajle Selasie de:Haile Selassie I. (Äthiopien) fr:Hailé Sélassié Ier ja:ハイレ・セラシエ1世 nl:Haile Selassie pl:Haile Selassie pt:Haile
Selassie sl:Hajle Selasije I.
Selassie sl:Hajle Selasije I.
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