“Outside the kingdom of the Lord there is no nation which is greater than any other. God and history will remember your judgment” - Emperor Haile Selassie
(Emperor Haile Selassie)
Emperor Haile Selassie was born as Tafari Makonnen Woldemikael on July 23rd, 1892 in Ejersa Goro, Ethiopia. In 1906 his father died. In 1907 he was appointed governor over part of the province of Sidamo.
(Woldemikael as a child)
In 1916 he was appointed to the position of Balemulu Silt'an Enderase. In 1918 Woldemikael came down with the flu during a flu epidemic but survived. In 1924 he was given the title Ras. Also in 1924 Tafari toured Europe and the Middle East. During this time To guard against economic imperialism, Tafari required that all enterprises in Ethiopia have at least partial local ownership. Throughout his travels he and his entourage were greeted with enthusiasm and fascination. His entourage also included a pride of lions which some were given as gifts to world leaders.
(Woldemikael in 1924)
In 1928 he was promoted to the title of Negus. Also in 1928 Woldemikael was challenged when Dejazmatch Balcha Safo went to Addis Ababa with a sizeable armed force. Woldemikael then bought off Safo’s army and arranged to have him displaced. In 1930 he changed his name to “Haile Selassie”.
(Selassie in 1930)
Also in 1930 he was promoted to the title of emperor. Selassie then defeated a force that tried to take over Addis Ababa. In 1931 he introduced Ethiopia's 1st written constitution. In 1934 Italy tried to invade Ethiopia. In 1935 Selassie set up a headquarters so he could help lead the defense of his country from the Italians. The Italians would employ chemical weapons extensively throughout the conflict, even targeting Red Cross field hospitals in violation of the Geneva Conventions.
(Selassie in 1935)
In 1936 he launched a counteroffensive against the Italians. His army was defeated and retreated in disarray. Selassie and his family had to be exiled Jerusalem. Italy then declared Ethiopia an Italian provence. Selassie’s speech to the League of Nations about Italy’s war crimes made the emperor an icon for anti fascists around the world. The League agreed to only partial and ineffective sanctions on Italy. Selassie spent his exile in England. In 1937 Selassie was involved in a traffic accident, leaving him with a fractured knee.
(Selassie in 1937)
In 1941 with the help of South African and British troops, Selassie returned to Ethiopia to take it from Italian control. Selassie then took back control of the country. In 1942 Selassie abolished the legal basis of slavery throughout the empire.
(Selassie in 1942)
In 1947 he sent aid to the British government when Britain was affected by heavy flooding. In 1951 he reduced the flat tax of Ethiopia. In 1954 the emperor spoke of Ethiopian participation in the Korean War as a redemption of the principles of collective security. In 1955 Selassie introduced a revised constitution.
(Selassie in 1955)
In 1960 Selassie contributed Ethiopian troops to the United Nations Operation in the Congo peacekeeping force during the Congo crisis. Also in 1960 there was an unsuccessful coup to try to dispose Selassie. The coup spurred Selassie to accelerate reform. In 1962 Selassie declared Eritrea the fourteenth province of Ethiopia. Eritrea then started a war for their independence.
(Selassie in 1962)
In 1963 Selassie presided over the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). Selassie was elected as the OAU's first official chairperson. Also in 1963 Selassie attended President Kennedy’s funeral. In 1964 Selassie would initiate the concept of the United States of Africa, a proposition later taken up by Muammar Gaddafi.
(Selassie (Right) with Jomo Kenyatta (Left))
In 1966 Selassie attempted to create a modern, progressive tax that included registration of land, which would significantly weaken the nobility. This law led to a revolt in Gojjam. In 1967 he visited Montreal, Canada to open the Ethiopian Pavilion at the Expo '67 World's Fair. In 1970 he visited Italy.
(Selassie in 1970)
In 1971 he visited China and met Chairman Mao. In 1972 famine killed 40,000 Ethiopians. Reports show that Selassie was unaware of the extent of the famine. In 1973 there was an oil crisis in Ethiopia. In 1974 4 days of serious riots in Addis Ababa against a sudden economic inflation left five dead. Selassie was then deposed from power and imprisoned.
(Selassie in 1974)
On August 27th, 1975 Emperor Haile Selassie died of respiratory failure in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He was 83 years old.
(Selassie’s funeral)
Today is his 125th birthday and we would all like to say happy birthday and rest in peace Emperor Haile Selassie.
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