Amha Selassie

Amha Selassie
አምሃ ሥላሴ
Amha Selassie in 1932
King of Ethiopia
(designate, unacknowledged)
Reign12 September 1974 –
21 March 1975
PredecessorHaile Selassie
as Emperor of Ethiopia
SuccessorMonarchy abolished
Tafari Benti
as Chairman of the Derg
Chairman
De facto
Aman Andom
Tafari Benti
Emperor of Ethiopia
(in exile)
Reign8 April 1989 – 17 January 1997
PredecessorHaile Selassie
Heir-apparentZera Yacob
BornAsfaw Wossen Tafari
(1916-07-27)27 July 1916
Harar, Ethiopian Empire
Died17 January 1997(1997-01-17) (aged 80)[1]
McLean, Virginia, United States
Burial
SpouseWolete Israel Seyoum
Medferiashwork Abebe
IssuePrincess Ijigayehu
Princess Maryam Senna
Princess Sehin Azebe
Princess Sifrash Bizu
Crown Prince Zera Yacob
HouseHouse of Solomon (Shewan Branch)
FatherHaile Selassie
MotherMenen Asfaw
ReligionEthiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Amha Selassie (Ge'ez: ቀዳማዊ ኀይለ ሥላሴ, romanized: Āmiha Śəllase, lit.'Salute of the Trinity'; born Asfaw Wossen Tafari; 27 July 1916 – 17 January 1997)[1] was Emperor-in-exile of Ethiopia. As son of Haile Selassie, he was Crown Prince and was proclaimed monarch three times. He was first proclaimed Emperor during an unsuccessful coup attempt against his father in December 1960, during which he alleged that he was detained and compelled to accept the title.[2] After his father was deposed in a later coup, he was proclaimed King (not Emperor) in absentia by the Derg on 12 September 1974[3] in an act which he never accepted as legitimate and that ended in the abolition of the Ethiopian monarchy on 21 March 1975.[4] He was again proclaimed Emperor in exile on 8 April 1989. This time he sanctioned the proclamation and accepted its legitimacy.[citation needed] After his accession, his full reign name was His Imperial Majesty Emperor Amha Selassie I, Elect of God, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah and King of Kings of Ethiopia.

  1. ^ a b Copley, Gregory. "A Brief Biography of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Amha Selassie I". Ethiopia Reaches Her Hand Unto God. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020 – via The Crown Council.
  2. ^ "Army Ultimatum Indicated". The New York Times. 16 December 1960. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Ethiopian Crown Prince Hears News of Succession on Radio". The New York Times. 13 September 1974. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  4. ^ "Ethiopia's Military Government Abolishes Monarchy and Titles". The New York Times. 22 March 1975. Retrieved 3 February 2022.