Ras Makonnen
|
Mäkonnen Wäldä-Mika'él KCMG |
|
|---|---|
_(1852-1906).jpg) |
|
| of Harar | |
|
In office 1887–1906 |
|
| Monarch |
Yohannes IV Menelik II |
| Succeeded by | Yilma Makonnen |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Mäkonnen Wäldä-Mika'él Woldemelekot 8 May 1852 Derefo Maryam, Shewa Ethiopian Empire |
| Died | 21 March 1906 (aged 53) Kulubi, Harar Ethiopian Empire |
| Nationality |
 Ethiopian
|
| Spouse(s) | Yeshimebet Ali |
| Children |
Yilma Makonnen Tafari Makonnen |
| Occupation | Military Officer, Diplomat, Court Official |
| Religion | Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
Ethiopian Empire
|
| Battles/wars | |
Mäkonnen Wäldä-Mika'él (May 8, 1852 – March 21, 1906), or simply Ras Makonnen is a member of the Solomonic Dynasty, was a general and the governor of Harar province in Ethiopia, and the father of Tafari Mäkonnen (later known as Emperor Haile Selassie I). His father was Woldemikael Gudisa of Shewa. Makonnen was a grandson of Sahle Selassie of Shewa through his mother, Tenagnework Sahle Selassie. As such, he was a first cousin of the Ethiopian Emperor, Menelik II.
Ras Mäkonnen was born at Derefo Maryam near Ankober, and at the age of 14 his father took him to the court of Negus Menelik, then ruler of Shewa, where he became a special companion of Menelik.
In 1887, Makonnen was given the governorship of Harar after it was incorporated into the Ethiopian Empire by his cousin, Emperor Menelik. Other posts Ras Makonnen served included temporary governor of Tigray after the removal of the rebellious Ras Mangasha Yohannes; as a general during various military campaigns including during the First Italo–Ethiopian War, including a leading role at the Battle of Adowa where Ethiopian forces routed the Italians; and as a diplomat and de facto foreign minister.
In the 1880s, as of Harar, Ras Mäkonnen became a close friend of the French poet, Arthur Rimbaud, who was then living and doing business in that province.
...
Wikipedia