Haile Selassie
Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974, modernizer and key figure in African unity.
Haile Selassie I, born Lij Tafari Makonnen, was the Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 until his overthrow in 1974. He first gained power as Regent Plenipotentiary under Empress Zewditu from 1916 to 1930. A central figure in modern Ethiopian history, he is also considered divine by followers of Rastafari, a religion that emerged in the 1930s. Before becoming emperor, he defeated the army commander Ras Gugsa Welle Bitul at the Battle of Anchem. He was a member of the Solomonic dynasty, which traced its lineage to Emperor Yekuno Amlak in 1270. Selassie pursued modernization through political and social reforms, including a 1931 constitution and the abolition of slavery in 1942. He led Ethiopia during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, and after defeat, he was exiled to the United Kingdom. From Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, he coordinated resistance against the Italian occupation before returning home during World War II. He dissolved the UN-established Federation of Ethiopia and Eritrea, annexing Eritrea as a province and opposing its secession. An internationalist, he led Ethiopia into the United Nations and presided over the formation of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963, serving as its first chairman. He sought to moderate the anti-Western rhetoric of African socialists like Kwame Nkrumah. Overthrown by the Derg military junta in 1974 amid popular uprisings, he was assassinated at the Jubilee Palace in Addis Ababa on 27 August 1975, a fact revealed publicly in 1994. His remains were buried at Holy Trinity Cathedral in 2000. While an adherent of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Rastafari regard him as the returned Jesus. His reign faced criticism for suppressing aristocratic rebellions, slow modernization, persecution of the Harari people, and autocratic governance. Late in his rule, the Oromo language was reportedly banned from education and public administration, and his government relocated many Amhara people into southern Ethiopia.
- born
- 23 July 1892, Ejersa Goro, Hararghe province, Ethiopia
- died
- 27 August 1975, Jubilee Palace, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (assassinated by the Derg)
- field
- Monarch, statesman
- nationality
- Ethiopian
- known_for
- Emperor of Ethiopia, modernizer, central figure in Rastafari, founder of the Organisation of African Unity
Lore & Background
Widely considered a defining figure in modern Ethiopian history, he is accorded divine importance in Rastafari, an Abrahamic religion that emerged in the 1930s. He belonged to the Solomonic dynasty, founded by Emperor Yekuno Amlak in 1270. Selassie introduced political and social reforms including the 1931 constitution and the abolition of slavery in 1942. He led the empire during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, was exiled to the United Kingdom, and returned after the East African campaign of World War II. He dissolved the Federation of Ethiopia and Eritrea and annexed Eritrea as a province. He led Ethiopia's accession to the United Nations and presided over the formation of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963, serving as its first chairman. Amidst popular uprisings, he was overthrown by the Derg in the 1974 coup d'état. In 1994, it was revealed that the Derg had assassinated Selassie at the Jubilee Palace in Addis Ababa on 27 August 1975. On 5 November 2000, his excavated remains were buried at the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Addis Ababa.
Reader's Guide
Haile Selassie was known as a child as Lij Tafari Makonnen. His name Haile Selassie was given at his infant baptism and adopted as his regnal name in 1930. He was appointed Dejazmatch of Gara Mulatta on 1 November 1905. On 27 September 1916, he was proclaimed Crown Prince and appointed Regent Plenipotentiary. On 11 February 1917, he was crowned Le'ul-Ras. On 2 November 1930, after the death of Empress Zewditu, he was crowned Negusa Nagast, taking the regnal name Haile Selassie I. His full title was 'By the Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, King of Kings of Ethiopia, Lord of Lords, Elect of God.'
Did You Know?
- Haile Selassie was born on 23 July 1892 in the village of Ejersa Goro, in the Hararghe province of Ethiopia.
- He married Menen Asfaw of Ambassel on 3 August 1911.
- Selassie's remains were buried at Holy Trinity Cathedral of Addis Ababa on 5 November 2000.
- Among Rastafari, Selassie is called the returned Jesus, though he was an adherent of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)
"It is us today. It will be you tomorrow." — Haile Selassie "We have finished the job. What shall we do with the tools?" — Haile Selassie "Imagination, devotion, perseverance, together with divine grace, will assure your success." — Haile Selassie "Spiritual power is the eternal guide, in this life and the life after, for man ranks supreme among all creatures. Led forward by spiritual power, man can reach the summit destined for him by the Great Creator." — Haile Selassie
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