Background

Ethnicity: Selassie's father was paternally Oromo but maternally Amhara. The Emperor's mother was maternally of Gurage descent.

Haile Selassie, originally Lij Tafari Makonnen, was born on July 23, 1892, in Ejersa Gora, Ethiopia (the Ethiopian Empire at the time). He was the only surviving son of all legitimate children of Ras Makonnen Wolde Mikael, the governor of Harar and chief adviser to Emperor Menelik II. Selassie's mother was Woizero (equivalent to "Lady") Yeshimebet Ali Abba Jifar, daughter of Dejazmach Ali Abba Jifar, a renowned ruler of Wollo province.

Haile Selassie was direct descent from Makeda, the Queen of Sheba, and King Solomon of ancient Israel, though his paternal grandmother, Woizero Tenagnework Sahle Selassie, was aunt of Emperor Menelik II and the daughter of Negus Sahle Selassie, Amhara King of Shewa.

Education

Haile Selassie, or Tafari, was four when the Italo-Ethiopian war broke out in 1895. Before his departure to the war, Makonnen Wolde Mikael entrusted his son to the care of a Catholic missionary in Harar, named Monseigneur Taurin. Selassie stayed with Taurin for about a year, until his father's return.

Then Haile Selassie and his nephew, Emiru (later Ras) were educated in the traditional Ethiopian way. Selassie's first teacher, Walde Kidane, had a great impact on him. Tafari had great respect and affection for his second teacher, Gebre Selassie, a monk from Gojam province. It was Gebre who fostered to the formation of Tafari's character.

After learning to read and write Ge'ez, Tafari was expected, according to custom, to be ordained as a deacon. The mission was completed by Abuna Yohannes, an Egyptian bishop of Gojam province, on his way back home through Harar in 1900.

Tafari's father was very interested in providing his son with European education but there wasn't any possibility of it in Ethiopia. Makonnen Wolde Mikael sought the assistance of Dr. Vitalien, a French medical doctor in a leprosy hospital in Harar, asking him to teach Tafari and Emiru how to speak French. Unfortunately, the doctor was too busy to carry out the task. An Ethiopian Coptic priest Abba Samuel Walda Kahen, then assigned to teach Tafari both Amharic and French, later died in a boating accident.

Career

The start of Haile Selassie's career can be counted from 1905 when he was named Dejazmach (which literally means commander of the gate, equivalent to "count") by his father, Makonnen Wolde Mikael. A separate household with own servants and soldiers was established for Selassie. After the Makonnen's death the following year, Haile Selassie, aka Tafari, was entrusted to the care of Emperor Menelik II.

Tafari favourably impressed the Emperor with his intellectual abilities and was promoted accordingly. As governor of Sidamo and then of Harer province, he followed progressive policies, seeking to break the feudal power of the local nobility by increasing the authority of the central government, for example, by developing a salaried civil service. He thereby came to represent politically progressive elements of the population.

Menelik II's grandson Lij Yasu who became Emperor after his grandfather's death in 1913 was unpopular among Ethiopia's Christian majority because of his pro-Muslim views. Tafari became an unspoken leader of opposition noblemen and high church officials who managed to overthrow Yasu three years after his ascension. Zewditu, Menelik II's daughter, became empress in 1917, and Tafari was named regent and heir apparent to the throne. Liberal-minded Tafari and conservative Zewditu, more concerned with religion than politics, maintained an uneasy alliance as various rival factions of nobles vied for power.

More progressive in his views, Tafari came to embody the aspirations of the modernist younger generation. Little by little, he managed to replace Zewditu's conservative followers of the Council of Ministers with his own pro-reform supporters. A centralized bureaucracy was created by 1919, and the first regular courts appeared two year later. The first printing press in the country which began operating in 1922 led to the establishment of the regularly published periodical. Motorcars, electric generators, telephone service, and a reformed prison and justice system followed.

Ras Tafari's policies weren't restricted to the domestic affairs of the country. In 1923, with his direct participation, Ethiopia was admitted to the League of Nations. His subsequent visits to France, Italy, Sweden, Greece, and United Kingdom gained much attention from the local and international press.

A tax on all imports was enacted upon Tafari's return to Ethiopia. He supported financially a new generation of future Ethiopian government ministers who studied abroad. In 1928, Tafari was named king (negus) by ruling empress Zauditu. He became the Emperor two years later, after her death, and took the name of Haile Selassie (translated as Mighty off the Trinity). Becoming the de Facto government of the country since then, Selassie reinforced the police forces, progressively banned feudal taxation, and founded provincial schools. At the time, he aspired both to strengthen the authority of the central government and to support his people.

The constitution which Selassie enacted in 1931 strictly limited the authority of Parliament giving people the right to elect its lower house. All citizens were proclaimed equal and united under one law and one emperor who, in his turn, kept the right to overthrow any parliamentary decision according to the founding document.

Haile Selassie led the resistance since the invasion of Italy to Ethiopia in 1935. Before going into exile in the United Kingdom in May 1936, he unsuccessfully sought for support from the League of Nations. Ethiopia had lost its independence for the first time in recorded history. At the outbreak of World War II, the Emperor, supported by British soldiers, formed an army of Ethiopian exiles in the Sudan, which recaptured Addis Ababa in 1941 and restored the ruler to power.

Haile Selassie continued to strengthen his personal authority as it was seen through the new constitution elaborated in 1955. The beginning of the new decade was marked by the revival of overt opposition to his rule. When Selassie was on an official visit to Brazil in 1960, Addis Ababa was taken under control by dissident wing of the army. The coup was crushed only after a sharp collision with loyalist forces.

Selassie continued to rule until the middle of the 1970s when famine, worsening unemployment, and the political stagnation of his government prompted segments of the army to mutiny. The 82-year-old Emperor was deposed and a provisional military government that espoused Marxist ideologies was established.

Imprisoned in September of 1974, Selassie spent the remainder of his life in his own palace where he was kept under house arrest. He never appeared on the public again and was officially reported to have died of natural causes. Later, some suggestions stated that he had been suffocated on the orders of the military government.

Achievements

• Haile Selassie set about modernizing his native country, long-time ruled according to archaic laws and traditions, in 1916 when he came to power as regent. He made his best to abolish such ancient practices, promoted reforms and managed to establish a powerful centralized government.
  
  Selassie successfully brought Ethiopia into the international arena. After taking the Emperor's throne, he enacted the country's first constitution in 1931. Later, he also played an important role in the formation of the Organization of African Unity (present-day African Union).
  
  His absolute approach to ruling gradually lost its relevance within the course of time. Instead of establishing more political freedom and democracy demanded by the citizens, he grew more and more conservative that finally led to rising public indignation. The situation was aggravated by poverty and illiteracy. Selassie's downfall didn't withdraw his status of "Lion of Judah, King of Kings, Elect of God." He has been staying in the memory as a charismatic, almost mythic person in Ethiopian politics for more than half a century.

Works

More photos

• book

  • The Wise Mind of Emperor Haile Sellassie I

    (The book contains Haile Selassie's speeches which provide...)

    2004
  • My Life and Ethiopia's Progress: The Autobiography of Emperor Haile Sellassie I

    (The autobiography is detailed with information on the lit...)

    1973
  • Selected Speeches of Haile Selassie

    (These speeches portray the breadth of the Emperor's visio...)

    1967

Religion

Haile Selassie was an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian.

The followers of the Rastafari movement regarded Selassie as the messiah who would lead the African race to freedom. Some Rastafarians refer to him as God incarnate, believing in his filiation with Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah and King of Kings of Ethiopia and Elect of God are among his titles within the religion. Bob Marley became Rastafarian through his wife Rita. His Iron Lion Zion song, released after his death, was dedicated to Haile Selassie.

Politics

Haile Selassie held internationalist views and advocated multilateralism and collective security. So, during the decade after World War II, he improved health care system, enhanced transportation, increased foreign trade, expanded education, and founded the first college in the country. However, the feudal agricultural system with its class distinctions and limited land ownership remained untouched.

The dissatisfaction with Haile Selassie's rule grew after the unsuccessful coup attempt of 1960. Although crushed, the overthrow undermined his perception of security, and since then usually liberal-minded Selassie turned his attention to Ethiopia's conservative faction. He would be no longer an initiator of changes within the country.

In order to enhance his international status and partly to take his compatriots' minds off the lack of domestic reforms, Selassie concentrated on foreign affairs. He led the Pan-African movement, stressing African unity to resolve common problems. He advocated independence for former European colonies, opposed South Africa's foreign and internal policy of racial segregation (apartheid), and aspired to restrict French nuclear tests in the Sahara. He was a crucial figure in the establishment of the Organization of African Unity (present-day African Union).

Haile Selassie contributed to the dealing of the border dispute between Morocco and Algeria in 1963. The ruler also supported Nigeria in the civil war which out broke at the end of the decade when Christians in the South split up and formed a separate nation called Biafra.

Selassie was criticized by many contemporaries and historians for the repressions against the landed aristocracy (the mesafint) opposed to him, and for slow pace of modernization he led in Ethiopia.

Views

Quotations: "Apart from the Kingdom of the Lord there is not on this earth any nation that is superior to any other. Should it happen that a strong Government finds it may with impunity destroy a weak people, then the hour strikes for that weak people to appeal to the League of Nations to give its judgment in all freedom. God and history will remember your judgment."

"A house built on granite and strong foundations, not even the onslaught of pouring rain, gushing torrents and strong winds will be able to pull down. Some people have written the story of my life representing as truth what in fact derives from ignorance, error or envy; but they cannot shake the truth from its place, even if they attempt to make others believe it."

"We have finished the job. What shall we do with the tools?"

"A qualified man with vision, unmoved by daily selfish interests, will be led to right decisions by his conscience. In general, a man who knows from whence he comes and where he is going will co-operate with his fellow human beings. He will not be satisfied with merely doing his ordinary duties but will inspire others by his good example. You are being watched by the nation and you should realize that you will satisfy it if you do good; but if, on the contrary, you do evil, it will lose its hope and its confidence in you."

"Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph."

Personality

Haile Selassie showed himself as intelligent, hardworking, and attentive to the smallest detail since early childhood. He applied these capacities and an excellent memory well throughout his life.

Physical Characteristics: Haile Selassie was a short man with light brown skin, a curly black beard and penetrating eyes.

Quotes from others about the person

• Bill McNeil: "There are millions of Christians throughout the world, your Imperial Majesty, who regard you as the reincarnation of Jesus Christ."

Connections

Haile Selassie's first daughter, Princess Romanework, was probably born from his relationship with Woizero Altayech.

On August 3, 1911, Selassie married Menen Asfaw, Lij Iyasu's niece and a great-granddaughter of Menelik. Asfaw gave birth to six children, three sons and three daughters.

Father:

Makonnen Wolde Mikael

(born May 8, 1852 – died March 21, 1906)

Ras Makonnen Wolde Mikael was the governor of Ethiopian Harar province. A general in the first Italo-Ethiopian war, he played an important part in the Battle of Adwa.

Mother:

Yeshimebet Ali

Having eight miscarriages before giving birth to Haile Selassie, Yeshimebet Ali died, when Selassie was 18 months old.

Son:

Amha Selassie

(born July 27, 1916 – died January 17, 1997)

Born Asfaw Wossen Tafari, he was proclaimed Emperor three times. Since sanctioning of the third proclamation on April 8, 1989, he was named His Imperial Majesty Emperor Amha Selassie I, Elect of God, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah and King of Kings of Ethiopia.

Daughter:

Princess Tenagnework

(born January 12, 1912 – April 6, 2003)

Princess Tenagnework, in full Princess Tenagnework Haile Selassiee, was the eldest child of Haile Selassie. She was Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire.

Son:

Prince Makonnen

(born October 16, 1924 – died May 13, 1957)

Prince Makonnen, in full Prince Makonnen Haile Selassie, Duke of Harar, was the second son of Haile Selassie. He was named Mesfin (or Duke) of Harar after the coronation of his parents in 1930.

Daughter:

Princess Tsehai

(born October 13, 1919 – died August 17, 1942)

Princess Tsehai, in full Princess Tsehai Haile Selassie, was the third daughter and fourth child of Haile Selassie. She was trained as nurse.

Son:

Prince Sahle Selassie

(born February 27, 1932 – died April 24, 1962)

Prince Sahle Selassie was the youngest child of Haile Selassie.

Daughter:

Princess Romanework

(died October 14, 1940)

In full Princess Romanework Haile Selassie, or Romane Work Haile Selassie

Daughter:

Princess Zenebework

(born July 25, 1917 – died March 24, 1934)

Princess Zenebework, or Zeneba Worq, was the second daughter of Haile Selassie.

Wife:

Menen Asfaw

(born April 3, 1891 – died February 15, 1962)

Cousin:

Imru Haile Selassie

(born November 23, 1892 – died August 15, 1980)

Imru Haile Selassie served as Prime Minister for three days, after a coup d'état and assassination of Prime Minister Abebe Aregai in 1960.

colleague:

Zewditu

(born April 29, 1876 – died April 2, 1930)

Zewditu, born Askala Maryam, was the first woman who headed an internationally recognized country in Africa in the 19th and 20th centuries, and the first empress regnant of the Ethiopian Empire.

References

• King of Kings: The Triumph and Tragedy of Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia The major biography of this final "king of kings" written by Asfa-Wossen Asserate, Haile Selassie's grandnephew.
  2015
• Haile Selassie The book looks at one of the most famous rulers of the 20th century.
  2019
• The Emperor: Downfall of an Autocrat The fascinating story of a forty-four-year reign, that ended with a coup d’état in 1974, is told by a Polish foreign correspondent Ryszard Kapuściński through the accounts on Selassie collected from the ruler's servants and his closest associates.
  1978