Ethiopia is an ancient African country,the Biblical land known as Kuwsh. Ityopiya houses the Royal House of David, and the Israelite throne until Shiloh returns. This Ethiopian Royal Monarchy stems from the union of the Israelite King, Solomon, & Queen Makeda of Sheba or Shoa. These two great rulers conceived a son named Menelik(Menyelek) I of Ethiopia.
Many of these offsprings came from Menelik, including Menelik II. Tafari(Teferi) Makonnen was born from this dynasty also on July 16th, 1884 (July 23rd 1892) in the town of Ejarsa Gore in Harar, Ethiopia. Tafari rose to many positions including Dejazmatch & Fetazmatch at the age of 14. In 1911, he married Woyzero Wolete Giorgis(Empress Menen's earlier name) & had a family with her.
At 25, he became Ras (Prince or Head) Teferi, the current heir to the Throne. When Empress Zawditu(Emperor Menelik II's daughter) died, Ras Tafari inherited the Throne in 1930. He took his baptismal name, Haile Selassie( Hayle Salasse: Instrument of the Might of the Trinity) & was crowned by different nations, the 225th Solomonic ruler of this 3,000 year old Dynasty!
The 1930s
Emperor Haile Selassie was a very progressive man in his country. In 1931, he established Ethiopia's first written constitution. His other accomplishments were Ethiopian churches & banks. His Majesty also constructed roads for transportation means in Ethiopia. He himself rebuilt Addis Ababa(New Flower) which was founded first by Emperor Menelik II.
The Ethiopian-Italian War
During the 1930's Italy's fascist dictator, Benito Mussolini & his Italian military forces attacked Ethiopia on October 3rd, 1935. Italy already colonized Eritrea & Somalia & wanted Ethiopia to also be a part of this colonisation. The war lasted for seven months & Italy became the victor only through cruel tactics. They used mustard gas which was outlawed by the League of Nations to kill the Ethiopians. The Ethiopians fought as much as they can until this deadly gas stopped them.
In May of 1936, Haile Selassie left Ethiopia to speak to the League of Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. He made a very powerful speech at the League by saying," Jah & History will remember your judgement." On June 30th 1936, Haile argued to the League that there were two choices -- "collective security or international lawlessness." However, all the nations refused to recognize the Italian government's control of Ethiopia. Haile Selassie lived in exile in England.
His Majesty's prophecy came through when Mussolini & Hitler attacked France & Britain in 1940! Because of this attack, Britain then decided to assist Haile Selassie in reclaiming Ethiopia. British forces in South Africa labored with the Ethiopian resistant forces. On May 5 1941, Haile Selassie returned to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He was in exile for five years but now the Lion of Judah reclaimed his throne & Ethiopia was glad again! On that very day His Majesty said," I owe thanks from the mouth of man to the loving Jah who has enabled me to be present among you."
The Restoration
The Monarchy was restored again by the Almighty Jah, through the Lion of Judah, Haile Selassie I. With the monarchy again in the hands of the Emperor, there were many demands from the Ethiopians. Some of these demands turned out to be ungrateful too.
Haile Selassie the Man
While much of the Ethiopians spoke highly of the Emperor, there were others who criticised him. He had both supporters & critics of him. The critics said that his Majesty would turn his governmental staff against each other. Students of the Haile Selassie University demonstrated against the Emperor by saying that many Ethiopians were living in poverty & he didn't do nothing about it. Infact in 1974, BBC documented a film on the Ethiopian starvation. These are the Emperor's critics & they tried to do anything to get rid of his Majesty.
The Supporters
The Emperor's supporters defended him as being an excellent diplomat. They said that Ethiopia is now the most well known African country thanks to his Majesty! Haile Selassie did put Ethiopia in the League of Nations & established the O.A.U(Organisation of African Unity) on May 25th, 1963. So we do have to thank him for this work!
We can't forget that he freed the slaves in 1940 & abolished all Ethiopian servitude! He even gave the people the right to vote & opened schools to all the citizens of Ethiopia, not just the wealthy. The Emperor surely made mistakes as being a human being, but we cannot ridicule him still.
His Majesty's Justice
In keeping with his Solomonic Israelite tradition, his Majesty would put on a black robe, as a judge & stand on a platform to listen to every court case. After hearing the case, he would make his decision to the verdict. Sometimes these verdicts were extremely harsh, but being Emperor he had no choice but to issue this kind of judgement. After all Jah gave him authority to judge Ethiopia!
The Rebellion
Those people who weren't satisfied with the Emperor's ways, developed a coup on Dec 13th, 1960. This coup consisted of the bodyguards's commander, the police chief & other officials. In this rally even those who said that they were loyal to the Emperor also joined in. At that time his Majesty was in Brazil & when he heard the news he returned to Ethiopia. The coup wanted Crown Prince Asfa Wossen to be Emperor instead but the plan failed! The officials involved with this dethronement were hanged afterwards.
Fourteen years later on Sept 12th. 1974, the military involved themselves again in overthrowing the Emperor, this plan didn't fail. The Dergue came to the Palace, arrested his Majesty & said that he was now being deposed by them. His Majesty said," If the revolution is good for the people, then I support the revolution" (Taken from The Emperor)
They placed him under house arrest in one of the palaces above Addis Ababa. He was guarded by the soldiers everyday and they bowed before the Emperor though he wasn't sitting on the Ethiopian throne anymore. His Imperial Majesty was confined for almost a year until he disappeared which the Dergue knows about. Though ones have tried to undermine His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor is the one who modernized Ethiopia into an Empire, and I know that He will be rewarded for these good works. Infact he wrote," 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." (His Majesty's words)
