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Haile Selassie.

แŠƒแ‹ญแˆˆแก แˆฅแˆ‹แˆด Tรคfรคri แˆ˜แŠฎแŠ•แŠ•

Haile Selassie
Born Harar
Died Addis Ababa
Citizenship Ethiopia

TL;DR

Haile Selassie became Emperor of Ethiopia in 1930 after serving as Regent for Empress Zewditu. He led Ethiopia during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War in 1935 and addressed the League of Nations in 1936. Selassie is the central figure in Rastafari, a movement that considers him a messiah. He reigned until 1974 and died in 1975. He founded the Organization of African Unity in 1963.

At a glance.

STATS

Haile Selassie by the numbers โ€” life, work, and family.

83 Years lived
15 Film credits
3 Books
34 Awards
6 Children

Family ties.

KIN ยท 8

The relatives of Haile Selassie โ€” parents, partners, children, and siblings.

PARENTS
Yeshimebet Ali Mekonnen Welde Mikael
CHILDREN
Princess Tenagnework of Ethiopia Amha Selassie Princess Romanework Princess Zenebework Princess Tsehai Prince Sahle Selassie of Ethiopia

Who was Haile Selassie?

BIOGRAPHY

Haile Selassie โ€” early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

On 23 July 1892 in Harar, Ethiopian Empire, Tafari Makonnen was born. His father, Ras Mekonnen Welde Mikael, was a governor and general, cousin of Emperor Menelik II. His mother was Yeshimebet Ali.

After his father died in 1906, Tafari was appointed governor of Gara Mulatta at age 14 and later governor of Sidamo. He studied with European tutors and Ethiopian scholars, learning Amharic and French. These early roles prepared him for higher office.

Career

Selassie served as Regent Plenipotentiary for Empress Zewditu from 1916, modernizing Ethiopia and securing its admission to the League of Nations in 1923. He was crowned Emperor on 2 November 1930, taking the name Haile Selassie, meaning Emissary of the Holy Trinity.

During the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, he led the army at the Battle of Maychew in 1936, then went into exile. On 30 June 1936, he gave a speech to the League of Nations in Geneva, warning about collective security. He returned to Ethiopia in 1941 with British forces and reigned until 1974.

In 1966, he visited Jamaica and met Rastafari leaders. He helped found the Organization of African Unity in 1963, based in Addis Ababa.

Personal life

Haile Selassie married Menen Asfaw in 1911; she remained his wife until her death in 1962. They had six children: Princess Tenagnework, Crown Prince Amha Selassie, Princess Romanework, Princess Zenebework, Princess Tsehai, and Prince Sahle Selassie.

His son Amha Selassie was declared Emperor in exile after the 1974 coup. Selassie’s personal life was tied to his imperial role, and his family members often held official positions.

Legacy

The Rastafari movement, which emerged in Jamaica in the 1930s, reveres Haile Selassie as the messiah. Bob Marley’s song War 1976 uses Selassie’s 1963 United Nations speech. He received over 30 international awards, including the United Nations Peace Medal in 1972.

He abolished slavery, created a constitution in 1931, and helped found the Organization of African Unity in 1963. Selassie is remembered as a symbol of African independence and dignity, and as the 226th Negus of the Solomonic dynasty.

Filmography.

FILMS ยท 15

Browse the complete filmography of Haile Selassie โ€” every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

  1. TV Poster for World in Action

    World in Action

  2. Movie Poster for King Kong: Monster and Myth

    King Kong: Monster and Myth

  3. Movie Poster for Adventures on the New Frontier

    Adventures on the New Frontier

  4. Movie Poster for Benito Mussolini: Anatomy of a Dictator

    Benito Mussolini: Anatomy of a Dictator

  5. Movie Poster for The March on Rome

    The March on Rome

  6. Movie Poster for The Century Is Fifty

    The Century Is Fifty

  7. Movie Poster for To Arms, We Are Fascists!

    To Arms, We Are Fascists!

Bibliography.

BOOKS ยท 3

Haile Selassie's bibliography โ€” every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.

  1. Cover for The Autobiography of Emperor Haile Sellassie I

    The Autobiography of Emperor Haile Sellassie I

    by Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia

  2. Cover for Selected Speeches of Haile Selassie

    Selected Speeches of Haile Selassie

    by Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia

  3. Cover for Important Utterances of H.I.M Emperor Haile Selassie I

    Important Utterances of H.I.M Emperor Haile Selassie I

    by Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia

Awards & honors.

AWARDS ยท 34

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Haile Selassie โ€” Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

  • Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
  • Order of the White Eagle
  • Order of the White Rose of Finland
  • Order of Suvorov, 1st class
  • Grand Cross of the Order of the Condor of the Andes
  • Hilal-e-Pakistan
  • Order of the Nile
  • Order of the Yugoslavian Great Star
  • Order of the Star of Romania
  • United Nations Peace Medal
  • Knight Grand Cross of the Military Order of William
  • Collar of the Order of Pope Pius IX
  • Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun of Peru
  • Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
  • Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum
  • Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
  • Grand Star of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria
  • Grand Cross of the Sash of the Three Orders
  • Grand Cross of the Military Order of the Tower and Sword
  • knight of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus
  • Order of the Eagle of Zambia
  • Order of Propitious Clouds
  • honorary doctor of the University of Bonn
  • The honorary doctor of Lebanese University
  • Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
  • Order of the Redeemer
  • Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta
  • Collar of the Order of Charles III
  • Knight grand cross of the order of the crown of Italy
  • Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus
  • Knight of the Order of the Most Holy Annunciation
  • Knight Grand Cross of the Colonial Order of the Star of Italy
  • Knight of the Seraphim
  • Collar of the Order of the White Lion

Did you know?

FACTS ยท 4

Little-known facts about Haile Selassie โ€” origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

  1. As the 226th Negus of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie was considered a descendant of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, according to Solomonic tradition.

  2. His regnal name Haile Selassie translates from Ge’ez to Emissary of the Holy Trinity.

  3. During a 1966 visit to Jamaica, Selassie saw Rastafarians worshipping him and said, ‘Do not worship me, I am not God. I’m only a man. I worship Jesus Christ. The Rastafarians rejected this, claiming it was an impostor.

  4. Bob Marley’s 1976 song War features lyrics taken directly from Haile Selassie’s 1963 address to the United Nations.

You wanted to know.

FAQ ยท 35

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Haile Selassie.