Emperor Haile Selassie I ruled Ethiopia, first as regent and then as emperor, for over half a century, embodying the symbolism of the “philosopher king” for many liberation movements, while simultaneously facing fierce criticism domestically as an autocrat whose reforms failed to meet the aspirations of the rising generations.
Tafari Makonnen (Haile Selassie’s original name before his coronation) was born on July 23, 1892, in the village of Ejersa Goro, Hararghe, Ethiopian Empire. His father, Ras Makonnen, was a cousin of Emperor Menelik II and a prominent military and diplomatic leader, which provided Haile Selassie with an education that combined traditional Orthodox teachings with Western languages and sciences.
After the death of Emperor Menelik II, Ethiopia entered a period of political instability. The heir apparent, Lij Iyasu, who was accused of leaning towards Islam and allying with the Ottomans, was removed. In 1916, Zewditu (Menelik II’s daughter) was crowned empress, and Haile Selassie was appointed regent and crown prince with the title of Ras.
During his regency (1916–1930), Haile Selassie began implementing an ambitious plan to modernize Ethiopia, which included the country’s admission to the League of Nations in 1923, the gradual abolition of slavery, and the construction of schools and hospitals. With the death of Empress Zewditu in 1930, Haile Selassie was crowned emperor under the name “Haile Selassie I” (which in Amharic means “Power of the Trinity”).
Haile Selassie’s greatest test was the Italian fascist invasion under dictator Benito Mussolini in 1935. Despite fierce resistance, the disparity in military equipment (particularly the Italians’ use of poison gas) led to the fall of Addis Ababa and forced the emperor into exile in Britain.
In 1936, Haile Selassie delivered his famous speech before the League of Nations in Geneva, which was considered a moral and legal indictment of the international community’s inaction. In his now-famous words, the emperor warned that “collective security” was at risk, declaring, “Today it is us; tomorrow it is you.” Although the League did not act effectively, this stance transformed Haile Selassie into a global icon of resistance against injustice and colonialism.
With the help of British forces and the Ethiopian resistance, Haile Selassie returned to the throne in 1941 after the defeat of the Italians in East Africa during World War II. The emperor dedicated the next two decades to rebuilding the institutions of the state.
He promulgated a new constitution in 1955, and while he retained absolute power, he introduced an electoral system for the House of Representatives. He also considered education his primary means of “creating a new Ethiopia,” hence personally serving as Minister of Education to ensure direct oversight. Similarly, he successfully made Ethiopia an active member of the United Nations and sent Ethiopian troops to participate in peacekeeping missions in Korea and the Congo, enhancing his international prestige.
Haile Selassie played a pivotal role in African liberation movements. Since Ethiopia was never colonized (with the exception of a brief Italian occupation), it served as a beacon of hope for African nations striving for independence.
In 1963, the Emperor hosted the founding summit of the Organization of African Unity (now the African Union) in Addis Ababa. He mediated between the rival African blocs (the Casablanca Bloc and the Monrovia Bloc), and Addis Ababa was chosen as the organization’s permanent headquarters. He is historically regarded as one of the early architects of Pan-Africanism, having provided material and military support to numerous resistance movements against racist and colonial regimes across the continent.
One of the phenomena associated with Haile Selassie was the rise of the Rastafari movement in Jamaica during the 1930s. Followers of this movement believed that Haile Selassie’s coronation was the fulfillment of religious prophecies, viewing him as a “holy figure” or “messiah” who would lead the African diaspora back to “Zion” (Ethiopia and Africa at large).
Although the emperor was a devout Orthodox Christian and never claimed divinity, he warmly welcomed the Rastafari during his famous visit to Jamaica in 1966 and granted them land in the Shashamane region of Ethiopia to settle in, which enhanced his symbolic status in the Caribbean and the African world.
However, cracks began to appear in Haile Selassie’s regime in the early 1960s. While he was achieving remarkable diplomatic successes abroad, Ethiopia was grappling with structural problems within its borders. The emperor failed to implement radical land reform, leaving most land in the hands of the Church and the Orthodox elite, while peasants suffered from abject poverty. Also, the education system introduced by the emperor produced a class of intellectuals and students who began demanding democracy and the abolition of the monarchy, deeming the pace of modernization too slow.
While the emperor was visiting Brazil, the Imperial Guard launched a failed coup attempt. Although he regained power, this incident was a clear indication that the aura of sanctity surrounding the throne was beginning to fade.
The early 1970s witnessed a confluence of factors that led to the end of the imperial era. In 1973, a catastrophic famine struck northern Ethiopia, and the government concealed news of it from the world. When Western media revealed the extent of the tragedy, the emperor faced fierce international and domestic criticism for his alleged “indifference.” Soaring global oil prices also led to hyperinflation in Ethiopia, sparking student, labor, and military protests.
In September 1974, a committee of military officers (known as the Derg) formally deposed the aging emperor. He was taken from his palace in a small Volkswagen, a scene that symbolized the end of one era and the beginning of another. Haile Selassie died in August 1975 under mysterious circumstances while in detention. The military regime claimed it was a natural death, while most historical evidence points to assassination.
