"Haile Selassie" (1892 – 1975) Emperor of Ethiopia 1930 – 1974

Haile Selassie was an Ethiopian emperor and leader who served from 1930 to 1974. He was born Tafari Makonnen on July 23, 1892, in the town of Ejersa Goro, Ethiopia. He was the son of a local chief and member of the ruling Solomonic dynasty.

Selassie was educated and trained by private tutors and was an avid reader. In his twenties, he served in the Ethiopian military and rose to the rank of lieutenant-general. He was a close advisor to Emperor Menelik II and was appointed regent for Menelik's grandson, Lij Yasu, in 1916. In 1930, Selassie was crowned emperor of Ethiopia, taking the name Haile Selassie, which means “Might of the Trinity.” He implemented sweeping reforms in the country, including the abolition of slavery, the establishment of a national bank, and modernizing the nation's economy. He was instrumental in establishing the Organization of African Unity, a precursor to the African Union. Selassie maintained strong relations with the West and was a vocal opponent of colonialism in Africa. He was respected globally and is considered a hero in Ethiopia and elsewhere. In 1935, his rule was challenged by the Italian invasion of Ethiopia. Selassie led the Ethiopian resistance, rallying support from the League of Nations. After Italy was defeated, Selassie returned to Ethiopia in 1941 and began a period of internal reforms. In 1974, Ethiopia was rocked by a popular uprising and Selassie was overthrown. He was placed under house arrest and died of natural causes in 1975. His body was buried in a secret location, which was only revealed in 2000. Selassie's legacy is complex. He was praised for the reforms he implemented and his resistance to colonialism. He was also criticized for his authoritarian rule and his failure to modernize Ethiopia further. Nevertheless, he is remembered as a powerful leader and symbol of African independence.