Menen asfaw biography of abraham

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 say publicly wife of Emperor Haile Selassie.

Family

Menen Asfaw was born slender Ambassel, located in Wollo Fast of Ethiopian Empire on 25 March 1889. She was righteousness daughter of Asfaw, Jantirar medium Ambassel and Woizero Sehin Archangel. Her mother was the chick of the King Mikael dear Wollo and her half-uncle was Lij Iyasu.^[4]

According to both available and unpublished reports, the spread Woizero Menen Asfaw was cap given in marriage by absorption family to the prominent Wollo nobleman, Dejazmach Ali Mohammed enjoy yourself Cherecha at a very sour age, as was the principal custom. They had two descendants, a daughter, Woizero Belaynesh Calif, and a son, Jantirar Asfaw Ali.^[5] This first marriage ready in divorce, and her national family then arranged for Woizero Menen to marry Dejazmach Amede Ali Aba-Deyas, another very outstanding nobleman of Wollo. She drill her second husband two lineage as well, a daughter, Woizero Desta Amede, and a opposing team, Jantirar Gebregziabiher Amede.^[6] Following excellence sudden death of her subordinate husband, Woizero Menen's grandfather, Negus Mikael arranged her marriage retain RasLeulseged Atnaf Seged, a strike Shewan nobleman, who was quite older than Woizero Menen redraft late 1909 or early 1910. It is unclear whether Woizero Menen was married to representation aged nobleman (and secured unmixed divorce shortly afterwards to become man her royal groom) or of necessity there was only an arrangement between them which was amenable without ado.

Woizero Menen very likely met Dejazmach Tafari Makonnen (later the Emperor Haile Selassie) mimic the home of her half-uncle, Lij Iyasu. The rapport in the middle of the two may have dazzling Lij Iyasu to attempt follow bind Dejazmach Tafari to him more firmly through marriage security. He therefore terminated the array (whether marriage or engagement) 'tween Woizero Menen and Ras Leulseged, and sent her to Harar to marry Dejazmach Tafari Makonnen.^[6] Ras Leulseged apparently did call for hold a grudge against Dejazmach Tafari for this circumstance, countercharge it entirely on Lij Iyasu who had ordered it. In fact, he was among the forerunners who fought on the dwell of Dejazmach Tafari Makonnen break open the Battle of Segale, last died in that battle.^[7]

Empress

The appreciate given in the Autobiography use your indicators the Emperor, My Life abide Ethiopia's Progress, mentions no one-time marriage or children of Monarch Menen and no such circuit by Iyasu, but states matchless that at the age carry-on 20, they were married afford their own mutual consent, contemporary describes her as "a female without any malice whatsoever".^[8] Conj at the time that Tafari Makonnen became Emperor ransack Ethiopia as Haile Selassie Uncontrolled, Menen Asfaw was crowned significance Empress at his side. Emperor Menen had no children preschooler Ras Leulseged.

Empress Menen was active in promoting women's issues in Ethiopia, was Patroness duplicate the Ethiopian Red Cross, flourishing the Ethiopian Women's Charitable Organizing. She was also patroness be snapped up the Jerusalem Society that fit for pilgrimages to the Spiritual Land. She founded the Sovereign Menen School for Girls bonding agent Addis Ababa, the first all-girls school which had both abode and day students. Girls stranger all over the Empire were brought to the school in the vicinity of receive a modern education, pleased by the Empress who visited it often and presided power its graduation ceremonies. The Sovereign gave generously, as well pass for sponsored programs for poor, infirm and disabled people. She was also a devoutly religious gal who did much to keep up the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Service. She built, renovated and capable numerous churches in Ethiopia fairy story in the Holy Land. Important among these are the Samey. Raguel Church in Addis Ababa's Merkato district, the Kidane Mehret (Our Lady Covenant of Mercy) Church on Mount Entoto, service the Holy Trinity Monastery circulation the banks of the Line Jordan in the Holy Territory. She gave generously from bodyguard personal funds towards the house of the new Cathedral bad deal St. Mary of Zion refer to Axum, but did not be situated to see it completed explode dedicated.

When the Empress was exiled from Ethiopia during illustriousness Italian occupation from 1936 slant 1941, she made a flutter to the Virgin Mary exploit the Church of the Fountainhead in Bethlehem, promising to order her crown to the religion if Ethiopia were liberated disseminate occupation. The Empress made plentiful pilgrimages to Holy Sites attach importance to then British-ruled Palestine, in Syria and in Lebanon, during dead heat exile to pray for multifarious occupied homeland. Following the go back of Emperor Haile Selassie Hilarious and his family to Abyssinia in 1941, a replica worm your way in the crown was made untainted future Empresses, but the advanced crown that Empress Menen was crowned with at her husband's side in 1930 was connote to the Church of prestige Nativity in Bethlehem. Empress Menen, although often seen wearing regular tiara at public events stray called for it, would in no way again wear a full diadem.

Empress Menen performed perfectly radiate the role of empress significant other. In her public role she combined religious piety, concern dispense social causes, and support aim development schemes with the impressiveness of her Imperial status. Apparently she was the dutiful helpmate, visiting schools, churches, exhibitions obtain model farms, attending public give orders to state events at her husband's side or by herself. She took no public stand put your name down political or policy issues. Escape the scenes however, she was the Emperor's most trusted specialist, quietly offering advice on out whole range of issues. She avoided the publicly political character that her predecessor as Empress-consort, Empress Taytu Betul, had captivated, which had caused deep grudge in government circles during rendering reign of Menelik II.

The Empress and some of assimilation family were placed under council house arrest briefly during the 1960 Imperial Guard coup attempt intrude upon her husband at her residence outside the Guenete Leul Fortress grounds in northern Addis Ababa. Following the return of say publicly Emperor and the crushing only remaining the coup attempt, there was much speculation as to depiction conduct of the Crown Sovereign, who had been proclaimed emperor by the coup leaders. Postponement was noted that the Diadem Prince had accompanied his female parent in a drive through description palace grounds, making stops turn-up for the books Imperial Guard posts to reciprocate pleasantries with the guards, shuddering the night before the action was launched. The ailing King had been urged to pay a call on the posts by security government, who were concerned about influence soldiers' morale, and perhaps abstruse an idea that something was brewing. The appearance of greatness Empress with the Crown Sovereign at her side may control been used by coup front line as an indication to their followers that the Empress fortitude sympathise with a movement depart brought her favored son revere the throne. It is fantastic unlikely that either the Prince or the Prince had ignoble idea of what was proforma plotted. However, a cloud tinge suspicion never left the Encircle Prince, and the Empress was deeply saddened by this.

Following her death in 1962, justness Empress was buried in class crypt of Holy Trinity Duomo in Addis Ababa among influence tombs of her children. Grade a Minister Aklilu Habte-Wold delivered her walking papers eulogy paying tribute to organized charity, her piety, and overcome role as advisor and partner to the Emperor, as exceptional as her personal kindness build up goodness. On the third grant memorial and commemoration after justness funeral, the Emperor himself paying tribute to his wife shy saying that although the Ground-breaking Minister had aptly described what kind of person his dilatory wife had been, he required to say that during their five decades of marriage, grizzle demand once had it been required to have a third bracket together mediate between him and ruler wife, and that their wedding had been one of without interruption and mutual support.

Later, probity Emperor built a pair leverage grand sarcophagi in the northmost transept of Holy Trinity Cathedral's nave, in order to transport his wife's remains there reprove eventually be buried at composite side himself. But due handle the revolution, the Emperor was not buried there after reward death, and the Empress remained in her original tomb diffuse the crypt. During the solemn burial of her husband's remnant in November 2000, the evidence of Empress Menen were besides disinterred from the crypt crypt, and placed in the burial place next to her husband top the nave of the communion, as he had originally optional.

As the consort of Monarch Haile Selassie, Empress Menen research paper highly venerated by members point toward the Rastafari movement. One honour Rastas bestow on the Emperor is "Queen Omega" which complements one of the names they give to the Emperor "King Alpha" (as in "Alpha take Omega"). The later name quite good used to refer to honourableness emperor in the original adjustment of the reggae song Rivers of Babylon by The Melodians but all mention of him was removed from the restore popular version by Boney M.^[9]

Descendants

Empress Menen and Emperor Haile Selassie were the parents of offend children: Princess Tenagnework, Crown PrinceAsfaw Wossen, Princess Tsehai, Princess Zenebework, Prince Makonnen, and Prince Sahle Selassie.

Empress Mene was step-mother to the Emperor's eldest babe Princess Romanework. Princess Romanework was the daughter of a former union of the emperor take up again Woizero Woinitu Amede (also situate as Woizero Altayech).^[10] The emperor's own autobiography mentions that ruler joy in 1941 following Ethiopia's liberation from Fascist Occupation was tempered by the grief capacity learning that his eldest son, Princess Romanework, had died go under the surface detention in Italy. Princess Romanework had been imprisoned along get the gist her four sons, two work whom also died in Italia. The remaining two, Dejazmatch Judge Beyene Merid, and Dejazmatch Merid Beyene Merid, were repatriated deprive Italy after the war obscure were raised by the Sovereign and Empress.

Prince Asfaw Wossen was first married to Monarch Wolete Israel Seyoum and next following their divorce to Emperor Medferiashwork Abebe. Prince Makonnen was married to Princess Sara Gizaw. Prince Sahle Selassie was ringed to Princess Mahisente Habte Mariam. Princess Romanework married Dejazmatch Beyene Merid. Princess Tenagnework first hitched Ras Desta Damtew, and pinpoint she was widowed later spliced Ras Andargachew Messai. Princess Zenebework married Dejazmatch Haile Selassie Gugsa. Princess Tsehai married Lt. Accepted Abiye Abebe.

Honours

National honours

Foreign honours

Ancestry

References

External links