He was born on the 23rd of July 1892. His real name was Ras Tafari Makonnen. He was the grand nephew of emperor Menelik. In 1916 he chased emperor Menelik's successor Lij Lyasu and made himself regent.

 

In the 1930`s Ethiopia got a new emperor: Haille Selassie I. He was to become the most important symbol of Pan-Africanism. They say that he descended from King Solomon of Israel and the queen of Sheba.

In 1935 Italy invaded Ethiopia. Haille Selassie tried to resist but it was futile. None of the western countries even after he had appealed for help in his very impressive speech for the UN. Bob Marley used this speech later in the song "War". At last he got help from Great Britain. He fled in exile to England where he got help from the British with their campaign that in 1942 freed Ethiopia and put him back on the throne.

 

 

During his time on the throne he made lots of reformations. In 1942-44 he accomplished a major land reform and in 1942 he freed the slaves in Ethiopia and in 1955 he gave the people the right to vote. He also gave everyone the right to go to school, which only the richer people in Ethiopia could do at that time. In 1960 an attempt to remove him from the throne led by his son the crown prince Asfa Wossen was defeated.

Though in 1974 the military revolted against him since he didn't do anything to prevent the corruption, starvation and drought that the country suffered from. He was secretly on the 27th of August in 1975 in Addis Ababa. His body was thrown into a pit latrine and was only buried officially in December 2000.

He played a very important role for both African unity and other black movements even though he never really understood how important his influence to them was. The Rastafarians believe that he lives on in their spirits despite the fact that he is dead.

HIS ACHIEVEMENTS

He improved education at all levels. He did this by setting up a number of primary and secondary schools and the Haille Selassie University.

He established the Ethiopian airline. This helped him to enter into effective communication with the outside world.

He abolished slavery. He found slavery and slave trade still in existence in Ethiopia and put up a decree (law) against it.

He improved health standards in Ethiopia. A number of hospitals and dispensaries were opened up.

He improved infrastructural standards such as roads and railways.

He modernized the army and police. This was to ensure security of Ethiopians against external and internal aggression.

He introduced a modern civil service.

By employing such foreign experts, he improved Ethiopia's relationship with the outside world and enabled his ministers to obtain skills.

He introduced constitutional rule in Ethiopia.

In 1955, he amended the constitution which had given him too much powers to appoint, transfer or even dismiss ministers, mayors etc.

He improved games and sports in Ethiopia. He wanted his modernized Ethiopia to move at the pace of advanced countries. He himself was a good footballer.

He struggled for Ethiopia's independence. Firstly he negotiated for the admission of Ethiopia into the league of Nations ad achieved it in 1923.

He improved trade ties with other countries.

He was a great nationalist and pan Africanist.

He under took a cultural revival. This was characterised by calling for descent dressing, unity, respect of local languages, putting the Ethiopian Church under local Ethiopian clergy.

There was some limited freedom of the press and expression.

He opened up a Red Cross branch in Ethiopia in 1935.

He issued the first 5-year development plan in 1957.