Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia Facts for Kids

Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia

Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia (July 23, 1892 - August 26, 1975) was the Emperor of Ethiopia. He is also known as the religious symbol for God incarnate (in the flesh) among members of the Rastafari movement, who call themselves by his name before becoming Emperor - Ras Tafari.

Tafari was made into local governor of Sidamo in 1907, and Harar province in 1911. As governor of Harar, he had a huge following, but he agreed not to remove Lij Iyasu from power as regent, in exchange for Lij Iyasu not removing him as governor of Harer. However, Iyasu became a Muslim, and also he did try to remove Tafari as governor, breaking the agreement. Tafari said that now the agreement was broken, he did not have to keep it either, and so he did remove Iyasu as regent.

Because Iyasu had gone over to Islam, the nobles replaced him with Empress Zauditu on September 27, 1916 and made Tafari regent. From this time onward, he controlled Ethiopia. He was made negus (king) in 1928, and was crowned "Haile Selassie I, King of Kings of Ethiopia, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Elect of God" on November 2, 1930. His coronation was given widespread publicity throughout the world, especially through two TIME Magazine articles. This publicity created interest on the far-away island of Jamaica, where a belief in his divinity (Godliness) soon arose because of his titles, and because they saw him as a symbol of black liberation.

1936 and after

In 1936 he left Ethiopia after the invasion by Mussolini's Italy. He gave a speech at the League of Nations, asking the world to stop the Italians, but they failed to act. With the help of the British in World War Two, he was able to return to Ethiopia in 1941. In 1963, the Emperor did everything he could to help start the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) with its headquarters in Addis Ababa. In 1966, he visited Jamaica, where he met the Rastafarian community of Jamaica.

On September 12, 1974, he was overthrown by a Marxist coup. They said he died of natural causes the following August, but evidence later showed that they had murdered them. However, many Rastafarians claim he is still alive.

Images for kids

Ras Makonnen Woldemikael and his son Lij Tafari Makonnen
Dejazmatch Tafari, as governor of Harar
Empress Zewditu with one of her trusted priests
Ras Tafari at his investiture as regent on 11 February 1917
Haile Selassie with President Lyndon B. Johnson at the White House
Cover of Time magazine, 3 November 1930
When the struggle to resist Italy appeared doomed, Haile Selassie traveled to the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela for fasting and prayer.
The Emperor arrives in Jerusalem. May 1936
A plate from the dinner service sold by Haile Selassie in England in 1937
Haile Selassie in 1942
Newspaper illustration drawn by Charles H. Alston for the U.S. Office of War Information Domestic Operations Branch News Bureau, 1943
Meeting with Crown Prince Akihito in 1955
Haile Selassie with Brigadier Daniel Sandford (left) and Colonel Wingate (right) in Dambacha Fort, after its capture, 15 April 1941
Plaque commemorating the visit of Haile Selassie I to Mexico, 1954 – Etiopía Station, line 3 of the Mexico City Metro
Haile Selassie photographed during a radio broadcast
Haile Selassie with U.S. President John F. Kennedy, October 1963
Haile Selassie with President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt in Addis Ababa for the Organisation of African Unity summit, 1963.
A parade in honor of Haile Selassie, turns onto Pennsylvania Avenue from New York Avenue; crowds line the street. Washington, D.C 1963
Haile Selassie I in Toledo (Spain) in April 1971. Picture by Eduardo Butragueño.
The deposition of Emperor Haile Selassie I (above rear window) from the Jubilee Palace on 12 September 1974, marking the coup d'état's action on that day and the assumption of power by the Derg.
Prince Makonnen, son of Haile Selassie I

Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia facts for kids

1936 and after

Images for kids

See also