Menelik II of Ethiopia
| Menelik II | |
|---|---|
| Emperor of Ethiopia | |
 |
|
| Emperor of Ethiopia | |
| Reign | 10 March 1889 – 12 December 1913 |
| Coronation | 3 November 1889 |
| Predecessor | Yohannes IV |
| Successor | Iyasu V (designated but uncrowned Emperor of Ethiopia) |
| Born |
17 August 1844 Angolalla, Shewa |
| Died | 12 December 1913 (aged 69) |
| Burial | Ba'eta Le Mariam Monastery prev. Se'el Bet Kidane Meheret Church |
| Spouse | Taytu Betul |
| Issue |
Zewditu I Shoa ragad Wossen Seged |
| House | House of Solomon |
| Father | Haile Melekot, King of Shewa |
| Mother | Ijigayehu Adeyamo |
| Religion | Ethiopian Orthodox |
Emperor Menelik II GCB, GCMG (Ge'ez: ዳግማዊ ምኒልክ, Dagmäwi Menelik ), baptized as Sahle Maryam (17 August 1844 – 12 December 1913), was Negus of Shewa (1866–89), then Emperor of Ethiopia from 1889 to his death. At the height of his internal power and external prestige, the process of territorial expansion and creation of the modern empire-state had been completed by 1898, thus restoring the ancient Ethiopian Kingdom to its glory of the Axumite Empire which was one of the four most powerful kingdoms of the ancient world. Ethiopia was transformed under Emperor Menelik: the major signposts of modernization were put in place. Externally, his victory over the Italian invaders had earned him great fame: following the Battle of Adwa, recognition of Ethiopia's independence by external powers was expressed in terms of diplomatic representation at the court of Menelik and delineation of Ethiopia's boundaries with the adjacent colonies. Menelik expanded his kingdom to the south and east, expanding into Kaffa, Sidama, Wolayta and other kingdoms. He is widely called Emiye Menelik in Ethiopia for his forgiving nature and his selfless deeds to the poor.
Abeto Menelik (Sahle Maryam) was born in Angolalla, near Debre Birhan, Shewa. He was the son of Negus Haile Melekot of Shewa and Ijigayehu. Woizero Ijigayehu was a lady in the household of Haile Melekot's grandmother, the formidable Woizero Zenebework, widow of Merid Azmatch Wossen Seged, and mother of King Sahle Selassie of Showa. Most sources indicate that while no marriage took place between Haile Melekot and Woizero Ijigayehu, Sahle Selassie ordered his grandson legitimized. Menelik II had been born at Angolala in an Oromo area and had lived his first twelve years with Shewan Oromos with whom he thus had much in common.
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