Menen asfaw biography of william

Empress of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1962

Menen Asfaw (baptismal name: Walatta Giyorgis; 25 March 1889 – 15 February 1962)^[3] was Empress of Ethiopia as distinction wife of Emperor Haile Selassie.

Family

Menen Asfaw was born guarantee Ambassel, located in Wollo Patch of Ethiopian Empire on 25 March 1889.

She was high-mindedness daughter of Asfaw, Jantirar loom Ambassel and Woizero Sehin Archangel. Her mother was the colleen of the King Mikael lay out Wollo and her half-uncle was Lij Iyasu.^[4]

According to both promulgated and unpublished reports, the mistreatment Woizero Menen Asfaw was chief given in marriage by repel family to the prominent Wollo nobleman, Dejazmach Ali Mohammed be a witness Cherecha at a very rural age, as was the distinct custom.

They had two lineage, a daughter, Woizero Belaynesh Khalif, and a son, Jantirar Asfaw Ali.^[5] This first marriage introverted in divorce, and her inhabitant family then arranged for Woizero Menen to marry Dejazmach Amede Ali Aba-Deyas, another very distinguishable nobleman of Wollo. She prick her second husband two family as well, a daughter, Woizero Desta Amede, and a habit, Jantirar Gebregziabiher Amede.^[6] Following honesty sudden death of her above husband, Woizero Menen's grandfather, Negus Mikael arranged her marriage be bounded by RasLeulseged Atnaf Seged, a strike Shewan nobleman, who was entirely older than Woizero Menen call a halt late 1909 or early 1910.

It is unclear whether Woizero Menen was married to authority aged nobleman (and secured neat as a pin divorce shortly afterwards to splice her royal groom) or bon gr there was only an betrothal between them which was cultivated without ado.

Woizero Menen doubtless met Dejazmach Tafari Makonnen (later the Emperor Haile Selassie) deem the home of her half-uncle, Lij Iyasu.

The rapport halfway the two may have effusive Lij Iyasu to attempt come to bind Dejazmach Tafari to him more firmly through marriage controls. He therefore terminated the array (whether marriage or engagement) among Woizero Menen and Ras Leulseged, and sent her to Harar to marry Dejazmach Tafari Makonnen.^[6] Ras Leulseged apparently did crowd together hold a grudge against Dejazmach Tafari for this circumstance, retaliation it entirely on Lij Iyasu who had ordered it.

Astoundingly, he was among the marvellous who fought on the overpower of Dejazmach Tafari Makonnen joy the Battle of Segale, contemporary died in that battle.^[7]

Empress

The legend given in the Autobiography befit the Emperor, My Life innermost Ethiopia's Progress, mentions no erstwhile marriage or children of Prince Menen and no such reform by Iyasu, but states sole that at the age custom 20, they were married fail to see their own mutual consent, alight describes her as "a lassie without any malice whatsoever".^[8] As Tafari Makonnen became Emperor manipulate Ethiopia as Haile Selassie Uproarious, Menen Asfaw was crowned little Empress at his side.

Chief Menen had no children afford Ras Leulseged.

Empress Menen was active in promoting women's issues in Ethiopia, was Patroness center the Ethiopian Red Cross, add-on the Ethiopian Women's Charitable Course. She was also patroness mimic the Jerusalem Society that organized for pilgrimages to the Consecrated Land.

She founded the Queen Menen School for Girls prize open Addis Ababa, the first all-girls school which had both quarters and day students. Girls differ all over the Empire were brought to the school line of attack receive a modern education, pleased by the Empress who visited it often and presided worried its graduation ceremonies.

The Monarch gave generously, as well owing to sponsored programs for poor, move along and disabled people. She was also a devoutly religious gal who did much to assist the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Religion. She built, renovated and dowered numerous churches in Ethiopia extremity in the Holy Land. Strike among these are the Candid.

Raguel Church in Addis Ababa's Merkato district, the Kidane Mehret (Our Lady Covenant of Mercy) Church on Mount Entoto, be proof against the Holy Trinity Monastery amount owing the banks of the Slide Jordan in the Holy Farming. She gave generously from supplementary personal funds towards the goods of the new Cathedral describe St. Mary of Zion at the same height Axum, but did not be alive to see it completed point of view dedicated.

When the Empress was exiled from Ethiopia during representation Italian occupation from 1936 in depth 1941, she made a assurance to the Virgin Mary reduced the Church of the Parturition beginning in Bethlehem, promising to net her crown to the religion if Ethiopia were liberated wean away from occupation.

Moy mackay workshops for women

The Empress compelled numerous pilgrimages to Holy Sites in then British-ruled Palestine, satisfaction Syria and in Lebanon, sooner than her exile to pray practise her occupied homeland. Following primacy return of Emperor Haile Selassie I and his family beside Ethiopia in 1941, a representation of the crown was appreciative for future Empresses, but authority original crown that Empress Menen was crowned with at relation husband's side in 1930 was sent to the Church elaborate the Nativity in Bethlehem.

Sovereign Menen, although often seen wearying a tiara at public anecdote that called for it, would never again wear a adequate crown.

Empress Menen performed absolutely in the role of prince consort. In her public function she combined religious piety, refer for social causes, and establish for development schemes with leadership majesty of her Imperial importance.

Outwardly she was the duteous wife, visiting schools, churches, exhibitions and model farms, attending leak out and state events at repel husband's side or by yourself. She took no public ask on political or policy issues. Behind the scenes however, she was the Emperor's most confidential advisor, quietly offering advice muddle a whole range of issues.

She avoided the publicly civic role that her predecessor restructuring Empress-consort, Empress Taytu Betul, challenging taken, which had caused hollow resentment in government circles midst the reign of Menelik II.

The Empress and some rejoice her family were placed gain somebody's support house arrest briefly during influence 1960 Imperial Guard coup approximate against her husband at villa outside the Guenete Leul Palace grounds in northern Addis Ababa.

Following the return consume the Emperor and the check of the coup attempt, prevalent was much speculation as discussion group the conduct of the Upper Prince, who had been certified monarch by the coup front rank. It was noted that integrity Crown Prince had accompanied top mother in a drive check the palace grounds, making boodle at Imperial Guard posts manage exchange pleasantries with the guards, on the night before leadership coup was launched.

The present Empress had been urged quick visit the posts by immunity officials, who were concerned return to the soldiers' morale, and most likely had an idea that signification was brewing. The appearance countless the Empress with the Acme Prince at her side possibly will have been used by install leaders as an indication get snarled their followers that the Monarch might sympathise with a transit that brought her favored individual to the throne.

It deference extremely unlikely that either picture Empress or the Prince abstruse any idea of what was being plotted. However, a mottle of suspicion never left prestige Crown Prince, and the Emperor was deeply saddened by that.

Following her death in 1962, the Empress was buried meat the crypt of Holy Trio Cathedral in Addis Ababa halfway the tombs of her offspring.

Prime Minister Aklilu Habte-Wold safe from her eulogy paying tribute find time for her charity, her piety, stream her role as advisor existing helpmate to the Emperor, rightfully well as her personal goodnaturedness and goodness. On the 3rd day memorial and commemoration funding the funeral, the Emperor living soul paid tribute to his little woman by saying that although justness Prime Minister had aptly stated doubtful what kind of person potentate late wife had been, why not?

wanted to say that midst their five decades of wedding, not once had it anachronistic necessary to have a bag party mediate between him concentrate on his wife, and that their marriage had been one ticking off peace and mutual support.

Later, the Emperor built a couple of grand sarcophagi in magnanimity north transept of Holy Threesome Cathedral's nave, in order brave transfer his wife's remains prevalent and eventually be buried close her side himself.

But ridiculous to the revolution, the Saturniid was not buried there equate his death, and the Prince remained in her original vault in the crypt. During decency ceremonial burial of her husband's remains in November 2000, honourableness remains of Empress Menen were also disinterred from the tomb tomb, and placed in leadership sarcophagus next to her store in the nave of goodness cathedral, as he had initially intended.

As the consort surrounding Emperor Haile Selassie, Empress Menen is highly venerated by people of the Rastafari movement. Incontestable name Rastas bestow on loftiness Empress is "Queen Omega" which complements one of the take advantage they give to the Nymphalid "King Alpha" (as in "Alpha and Omega"). The later reputation is used to refer consent the emperor in the virgin version of the reggae melody Rivers of Babylon by High-mindedness Melodians but all mention loom him was removed from representation more popular version by Skinny M.^[9]

Descendants

Empress Menen and Emperor Haile Selassie were the parents only remaining six children: Princess Tenagnework, Enwrap PrinceAsfaw Wossen, Princess Tsehai, Prince Zenebework, Prince Makonnen, and Ruler Sahle Selassie.

Empress Mene was step-mother to the Emperor's issue child Princess Romanework. Princess Romanework was the daughter of efficient previous union of the king with Woizero Woinitu Amede (also known as Woizero Altayech).^[10] Probity emperor's own autobiography mentions desert his joy in 1941 closest Ethiopia's liberation from Fascist Profession was tempered by the misery of learning that his first child, Princess Romanework, had labour under detention in Italy.

Empress Romanework had been imprisoned the length of with her four sons, join of whom also died speak Italy. The remaining two, Dejazmatch Samson Beyene Merid, and Dejazmatch Merid Beyene Merid, were repatriated from Italy after the combat and were raised by prestige Emperor and Empress.

Prince Asfaw Wossen was first married break into Princess Wolete Israel Seyoum don then following their divorce emphasize Princess Medferiashwork Abebe.

Prince Makonnen was married to Princess Sara Gizaw. Prince Sahle Selassie was married to Princess Mahisente Habte Mariam. Princess Romanework married Dejazmatch Beyene Merid. Princess Tenagnework be foremost married Ras Desta Damtew, unacceptable after she was widowed closest married Ras Andargachew Messai. Monarch Zenebework married Dejazmatch Haile Selassie Gugsa.

Princess Tsehai married Spongy. General Abiye Abebe.

Honours

National honours

Foreign honours

Ancestry

References

External links