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| Zewditu ዘውዲቱ | |
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| Negesta Nagastat | |
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| Empress of Ethiopia | |
| Reign | 27 September 1916 – 2 April 1930 |
| Coronation | 11 February 1917 |
| Predecessor | Lij Iyasu |
| Successor | Haile Selassie I |
| Regent | Ras Tafari Makonnen |
| Born | Askala Maryam 29 April 1876 Werrehimenu, Wollo, Ethiopian Empire |
| Died | 2 April 1930 (aged 53) Addis Ababa, Ethiopian Empire |
| Spouse | Araya Selassie Yohannes (1882–1888) Gwangul Zegeye Wube Atnaf Seged Gugsa Welle (1900–1930) |
| Dynasty | House of Solomon (Shewan Branch) |
| Father | Menelik II |
| Mother | Weyziro Abechi |
| Religion | Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo |
| Styles of Zewditu I of Ethiopia | |
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Zewditu (Ge'ez: ዘውዲቱ,[1] born Askala Maryam; 29 April 1876 – 2 April 1930) was Empress of Ethiopia from 1916 until her death in 1930. The first female head of an internationally recognized country in Africa in the 19th and 20th centuries, and the first and only empress regnant of the Ethiopian Empire, her reign was noted for the reforms of her Regent and designated heir Ras Tafari Makonnen (who succeeded her as Emperor Haile Selassie I), about which she was at best ambivalent and often stridently opposed, due to her staunch conservatism and strong religious devotion. She is the most recent empress regnant, as well as the last female Ethiopian head of state until the 2018 election of Sahle-Work Zewde as president.[2]
Empress Zewditu sought to maintain Ethiopia's traditional values during her reign through a series of conservative policies, resisting rapid modernization. Ascending to the throne in 1916 after the deposition of Emperor Iyasu V, she was supported by conservative factions and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, who saw her as a stabilizing figure. Her rule was characterized by efforts to uphold Ethiopian traditions and the Orthodox Christian faith, contrasting with the modernizing ambitions of her regent, Ras Tafari Makonnen, later known as Emperor Haile Selassie.[3]
Faced with significant internal challenges, she navigated power struggles between conservative and modernist factions within the country. Despite her conservative stance, Zewditu had to deal with the complexities of a nation under pressure to modernize and engage with foreign powers. During her reign, Ethiopia experienced political manoeuvring, with Ras Tafari pushing for reforms and international diplomacy, creating a dual power dynamic that defined her rule.[3] Ethiopia's attempts to assert its sovereignty amidst external threats, particularly from colonial powers like Italy, marked this period. Her commitment to preserving Ethiopian independence and cultural heritage was a notable aspect of her leadership.[4] However, resistance to rapid modernization and reliance on traditionalist policies led to tensions within the government and society.[5]
The death of Empress Zewditu in 1930, under circumstances that remain somewhat unclear, marked the end of an era and paved the way for Ras Tafari to become Emperor Haile Selassie. Her legacy reflects efforts to maintain traditional values while facing the inevitability of change. She is remembered for her dedication to the Ethiopian Orthodox faith and her role in a transitional period that set the stage for the modernization efforts that followed. Critics argue that her conservative policies may have hindered Ethiopia's progress and adaptation to the modern world. However, supporters highlight her significant role in maintaining Ethiopian sovereignty and cultural identity during a period of potential upheaval.[6] Her reign remains a topic of study for its insights into the challenges of leadership during a time of significant political and social change.
- ^ "About this Collection | United States Treaties and Other International Agreements | Digital Collections | Library of Congress". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ "Empress Zewditu". Oxford Reference. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ a b Abota, Arka (6 December 2002). "Ethiopia's Foreign Policy Under Emperor Haile Selassie I: an Appraisal". docslib.org/. pp. 22–28. Archived from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ Tesfu, Julianna (14 June 2008). "Empress Zewditu (1876–1930)". Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ Gebissa, Ezekiel (1996). "Prowess, Piety and Politics: the Chronicle of Abeto Iyasu and Empress Zewditu of Ethiopia (1909–1930) (review)". Northeast African Studies. 3 (1): 129–131. doi:10.1353/nas.1996.0002. ISSN 1535-6574.
- ^ "Empress Zewditu: A Woman of Faith and Modernization". 29 February 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.