Amha Selassie | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amha Selassie in 1932
|
|||||
Emperor of Ethiopia (Designate, unacknowledged) |
|||||
Reign | 12 September 1974 – 12 March 1975 |
||||
Predecessor |
Haile Selassie I as Emperor of Ethiopia |
||||
Successor |
Monarchy abolished Tafari Benti as Chairman of the Derg |
||||
Chairman De facto |
Aman Andom Tafari Benti |
||||
Emperor-in-exile of Ethiopia | |||||
Reign | 8 April 1989 –17 February 1997 | ||||
Predecessor | Haile Selassie I | ||||
Heir-apparent | Crown Prince Zera Yacob | ||||
Born | 27 July 1916 Harar, Ethiopian Empire |
||||
Died | 17 February 1997 McLean, Virginia, United States |
(aged 80)||||
Burial | Holy Trinity Cathedral, Addis Ababa | ||||
Spouse |
Wolete Israel Seyoum Medferiashwork Abebe |
||||
Issue |
Princess Ijigayehu Princess Maryam Senna Princess Sehin Azebe Princess Sifrash Bizu Crown Prince Zera Yacob |
||||
|
|||||
House | House of Solomon | ||||
Father | Haile Selassie I | ||||
Mother | Menen Asfaw | ||||
Religion | Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo |
Full name | |
---|---|
Amha Selassie |
Amha Selassie, GCMG, GCVO, GBE (27 July 1916 – 17 February 1997) was the last reigning monarch of Ethiopia. First proclaimed Emperor during the unsuccessful coup attempt by the Imperial Guards against his father Haile Selassie I in December 1960, he initially went along with this proclamation under duress. The coup collapsed within days and the Emperor Haile Selassie was restored. Amha Selassie was again proclaimed on the deposition of his father by the Derg on 12 September 1974, but he never accepted this proclamation as legitimate, and in any case this brief reign was ended with the abolition of the Ethiopian monarchy in March 1975. He was again proclaimed in exile on 8 April 1989. This time he sanctioned the proclamation and accepted its legitimacy.
He was born Asfaw Wossen Taffari, in the walled city of Harar, to Dejazmach Tafari Makonnen, then the governor of Harar and future Emperor of Ethiopia, and his wife Menen Asfaw, on 27 July 1916. After his accession his full reign name was His Imperial Majesty Emperor Amha Selassie I, Elect of God, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah and King of Kings of Ethiopia.
Amha Selassie became Crown Prince Asfaw Wossen of Ethiopia when his father was crowned Emperor on 2 November 1930. Crown Prince Asfaw Wossen was granted the title of Meridazmach and the province (former kingdom) of Wollo to rule as his fief. He was married to Princess Wolete Israel Seyoum, great-granddaughter of Emperor Yohannis IV, and had a daughter, Princess Ijigayehu. Following the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in 1936, the Crown Prince and Princess went into exile with the rest of the Imperial family. They separated around 1938, and eventually divorced in 1941.