Meritorious Ethiopian Order of the Lion of Judah
Noble Corporation of the Knights de Bryan
The Solomonic Dynasty
Imperial
House of Ethiopia
H.I.M. Haile Selassie I
1892–1975,
emperor of Ethiopia (1930–74). He was born Tafari Makonnen, the
son of a noted general and the grandnephew of Emperor Menelik II. A brilliant
student, he became a favorite of Menelik, who made him a provincial governor
at 14. As a Coptic Christian, Tafari opposed Menelik’s grandson
and successor, Lij Yasu, who became a Muslim convert, and in 1916 compelled
his deposition and established Menelik’s daughter Zauditu as empress
with himself as regent. In 1928, Tafari was crowned king of Ethiopia,
and in 1930, after the empress’s mysterious death, he became emperor
as Haile Selassie, claiming to be a direct descendant of King Solomon
and the Queen of Sheba. He attempted internal reforms and took great pride
in the suppression of slavery. When Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1935, he
personally led defending troops in the field, but in 1936 he was forced
to flee to British protection. Twice (1936, 1938) he vainly appealed to
the League of Nations for effective action against Italy. In 1940, after
Italy entered World War II, he returned to Africa with British aid, and
in 1941 he reentered Ethiopia and regained his throne. In the postwar
period he instituted social and political reforms, such as establishing
(1955) a national assembly. In the 1960s and 70s he worked for pan-African
aims, particularly through the Organization of African Unity. In 1960
he crushed a revolt by a group of young intellectuals and army officers
demanding an end to oppression and poverty. In 1974, however, the army
was successful in seizing control. Haile Selassie was progressively stripped
of his powers and finally, on Sept. 12, 1974, deposed. He was murdered
in prison at the orders of the coup leaders in 1975.
© The
Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001
The Dynasty today
The head of the
dynasty today is H.I.H. Crowne Prince Zera Yaqobe
Amha-Sellassie Haile-Sellassie. In 1995, then the head of the family
H.I.M. Amha Sellassie, who died on January 17, 1997, appointed his grand
son Prince Bekere Fikre-Sellassie as Imperial Ethiopian Crown Council
Regent as his son Zere-Yaqob had been ill for some time.
© Princess Esther Sellassie
HONOUR GUARD OF THE IMPERIAL HOUSE OF SELLASSIE
MERITORIOUS ETHIOPIAN ORDER OF THE LION OF JUDAH