Emperor Haile Selassie I

BIRTH & ANCESTRY

Emperor Haile Selassie I was born on July 23, 1892 as Lij Taffari Makonnen at Enjersa Goro, which is just outside the city of Harrar. His parents were Ras Makonnen Wolde Michael, the governor of Harrar, and his wife, Woizero Yeshimebet Ali AbaJiffar. Ras Makonnen was the son of Dejazmatch Wolde Michael Wolde Melekot, a noble of Doba in northern Shewa. Ras Makonnen’s paternal grandfather was Ato Wolde Melekot Yemane Kristos, a Tigrean noble from Tembien who had moved to Shewa. Ras Makonnen’s mother, however, was Woizero Tenagnework Sahle Selassie, daughter of King Sahle Selassie of Shewa, sister of King Haile Melekot of Shewa, and aunt to Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia . Read the rest of this entry »

This site is dedicated to the Emperor Haile Selassie for his 118th birthday.

Source: Wikipedia

Happy 118th Birthday Emperor Haile Selassie I

Personal Information

Born Tafari Makonnen, July 23, 1892, in Ejarsa Goro, Harer province, Abyssinian Empire (later Ethiopia); died August 27, 1975, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; son of Ras Makonnen (governor of Harer province and chief adviser to Emperor Menelik II) and Yishimabet Ali; married Wayzaro Menen (name sometimes spelled Waizero Menin; great-granddaughter of Menelik II) in 1911; children: seven (six with his wife, one before his marriage).
Education: Private European tutors.
Religion: Coptic Christianity.

Emperor Haile Selassie I PATH TO THE THRONE

Source: Wikipedia

At the age of thirteen, Lij Taffari Makonnen was created a Dejazmatch by his father and given the district of Garra Muleta to rule. Ras Makonnen also summoned all his officers and informed them that it was his wish that his son Dejazmatch Taffari succeed him as governor of Harrar and asked them all to swear their loyalty to Taffari. However, when Ras Makonnen died suddenly in 1908, the situation in Ethiopia was not what most had anticipated. The Ras died (possibly of typhus) at Kulibi on his way to Addis Ababa from Harrar. He was taken back to Harrar and buried at St. Michael’s Church. Emperor Menelik was beside himself with grief upon hearing that Ras Makonnen was dead. He had a huge funeral tent set up on the grounds of the Imperial Palace and proclaimed that he would be the chief mourner for Ras Makonnen. He summoned Dejazmatch Taffari and Ras Makonnen’s entourage from Harrar to Addis Ababa. They arrived in Addis Ababa and walked into the Emperor’s presence weeping and carrying a large portrait of the dead prince.

Traditionaly, royalty in Ethiopia did not show emotion in public, so it stunned and moved the assembled courtiers when suddenly Emperor Menelik rose up from his throne, embraced the portrait of his dead cousin, and wept. He cried, “Makonnen my son, Makonnen my brother! I have lost my right hand!” — Menelik did not expect the younger Ras Makonnen to predecease him. To the contrary, it was often speculated that because Menelik had no sons of his own, he might name Makonnen his heir. Of course, this was no longer possible. Read the rest of this entry »

Ras Taffari Makonnen began to institute widespread reforms in order to bring Ethiopia into the modern age. In order to qualify for membership in the League of Nations, the Regent proclaimed the end of slavery in 1923. In addition, a school was established in Addis Ababa for former slaves. The first newspapers were established to disseminate the progressive views of the Crown Prince and his supporters to the people in order to win support. He also went on a tour of the Holy Land and the European capitals and was the highest-ranking member of the Imperial family (to that point in time) to ever travel abroad. He visited Rome and was greeted by the new Prime Minister, Benito Mussolini, as well as by King Vittorio Emanuelle. Read the rest of this entry »

Upon his return, the Crown Prince was able to please the Empress with the news that the British government would be returning one of the crowns of Emperor Tewodros II that the Napier expedition had siezed and carried off from Magdala in 1867. However, he did have to face the deepening hostility to his modernizing zeal on the part of the conservative camp, led by Fitarwrari Hapte Giorgis (who had not accompanied him abroad) and the Archbishop Abune Mattiwos, who was displeased with the delegations call on the Pope in Rome. They rigorously opposed his every move towards modernizing the administration of the Empire, raising objections that the things the Prince wanted to do were “un-Ethiopian”. Read the rest of this entry »

The day after the death of Empress Zewditu, Nigus Taffari Makonnen was proclaimed Emperor Haile Selassie I, Elect of God, Conquering Lion of Judah, and King of Kings of Ethiopia. His wife became Empress Menen of Ethiopia, and his children all assumed the titles of Prince and Princess.

On November 1, 1930, the new Emperor of Ethiopia paid his respects to his illustrous predecessor by erecting a equestrian statue of Emperor Menelik II in front of the Cathedral of St. George. Addis Ababa’s streets were newly repaved, electrical lights were put up, and unsightly slums cleaned up for the spectacle that would follow the next day. On November 2, 1930, Haile Sellasie I was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia by the Coptic Archbishop, Abune Kyrillos, at the Cathedral of St. George. His wife was also crowned as Empress and Crown Prince Asfa Wossen anointed as Heir to the Throne. The coronation was the most splendid yet — the Emperor and Empress were driven to the Cathedral in an open car as footmen riding behind them held red velvet umbrellas, heavily embroidered in gold, over their heads on November 1st. After an all-night vigil at the Cathedral, the foreign guests arrived to witness the anointing and crowning of the Imperial couple and the anointing of the crown prince. Read the rest of this entry »