Haile Selassie - God Emperor of Ethiopia Documentary
The People Profiles・42 minutes read
Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia played a crucial role in modernizing the country, resisting Italian colonization, and addressing slavery, but faced challenges, leading to his downfall and the end of the Ethiopian monarchy. Despite his accomplishments, Selassie's reign was marred by human rights abuses and a controversial legacy, sparking debates over his overall impact and the circumstances of his deposition.
Insights
- Emperor Haile Selassie I, born in 1892 in Ethiopia, was a key figure in modernizing the country and resisting European colonization, securing independence.
- Selassie's leadership during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War and subsequent exile showcased his resilience against Italian aggression and his efforts to liberate Ethiopia.
- Despite being a central figure in Rastafarianism and viewed by some as a potential Messiah, Selassie faced internal challenges, including a coup attempt and human rights abuses, leading to his deposition in 1974.
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Emperor of Ethiopia, key figure in African history.
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Summary
00:00
Emperor Haile Selassie I: Ethiopia's Modernizing Monarch
- Emperor Haile Selassie I was born on July 23, 1892, in Ejarsa Goro, near Harar, Ethiopia, as Lij Tafari Makonnen.
- His father, Ras Makonnen, was the governor of Harar and an advisor to Emperor Menelik II, part of a noble family related to the imperial dynasty.
- Ethiopia's history is unique, with a Christian heritage dating back to Roman times, developing a distinct form of Christianity.
- The Solomonic Dynasty, claiming descent from King Solomon, expanded Ethiopia to its modern borders, encompassing diverse ethnic groups.
- Emperor Menelik II modernized Ethiopia, forming alliances to resist European colonization, securing independence.
- Tafari's rise to power began as a regional governor, marrying Menen Asfaw, and being appointed regent by Empress Zewditu.
- Tafari's modernization efforts in the 1920s included establishing a western-style government, military reforms, and joining the League of Nations.
- Economic and social reforms under Zewditu and Tafari included electrification, infrastructure development, and judicial system overhaul.
- Despite progress, slavery persisted in Abyssinia, with gradual efforts to address it amidst Western criticism.
- Tafari's modernization initiatives, supported by the council of ministers, led to his emergence as a powerful figure, overshadowing Zewditu's rule.
14:26
Haile Selassie I: Rise to Power and War
- Tafari was hesitant to eliminate the system in Ethiopia, focusing on international reputation growth in the 1920s.
- Tafari embarked on a fact-finding mission in 1924 to foreign capitals, aiming to emulate western societies.
- Tafari's delegation impressed London and Paris with displays of wealth and court ritual.
- Tafari sought British and French support for Abyssinia's access to the Red Sea during his foreign tour.
- Tafari was recognized as a significant figure in the Middle East and North Africa due to Abyssinia's resistance to European colonization.
- Tafari was crowned Negus in 1928, solidifying his power within the council of ministers and military.
- Tensions escalated between Tafari and Gugsa Welle, leading to a civil war outbreak in January 1930.
- Gugsa Welle's rebellion was swiftly defeated by Tafari's supporters at the Battle of Anchem in March 1930.
- Tafari ascended to emperorship in November 1930 as Haile Selassie I, introducing Ethiopia's first modern constitution in 1931.
- The Second Italo-Abyssinian War commenced in October 1935, with Italy's invasion leading to the League of Nations sanctioning Italy in October 1935.
29:06
Italian Colonial Rule in East Africa
- The Second Italo-Ethiopian War ended in May 1936 with the fall of Addis Ababa and Emperor Haile Selassie fleeing Ethiopia, but resistance pockets persisted in the south and west.
- Italian forces never fully controlled Abyssinia, but Italy declared Italian Ethiopia a colony in May 1936, later annexed into Italian East Africa, encompassing Abyssinia, Eritrea, and Italian Somaliland.
- Italy imposed harsh colonial rule in East Africa, using concentration camps and divisive policies among ethnic groups.
- Emperor Selassie sought help from the League of Nations in Geneva in 1936, but faced challenges due to European focus on Nazi Germany's rearmament.
- Selassie's speech at the League in May 1936 condemned fascism and Italian actions in East Africa, earning him Time magazine's recognition.
- Selassie lived in exile in England during the late 1930s, witnessing Germany's aggression and the start of World War II.
- Italy joined the war in June 1940, leading to conflict with Britain in East Africa, starting with an Italian air raid on British Kenya.
- British forces, along with Ethiopian, Eritrean, Free French, and Free Belgian troops, gradually pushed Italians back into Ethiopia and Eritrea by early 1941.
- Selassie re-entered Addis Ababa in May 1941, proclaiming Ethiopia's liberation from Italy, with British stipulation to abolish slavery.
- Slavery was officially abolished in Ethiopia in 1942, following British pressure, after piecemeal efforts since the 1850s.
44:07
Rastafarianism and Selassie's downfall in Ethiopia.
- In the 1930s, Rastafarianism emerged as a new quasi-religion and social movement in Africa and the Caribbean, combining elements of the Back to Africa movement and Ethiopianism.
- Rastafarianism was named after Selassie's regent title, Ras Tafari, with followers viewing Selassie as a potential Messiah.
- Selassie did not actively seek to be recognized as a messianic figure in Rastafarianism but did not reject such views either.
- In the 1960s, Selassie faced an attempted coup in Ethiopia led by the Kebur Zabagna, resulting in over 300 deaths and a more repressive regime.
- Selassie's rule saw a decline in human rights, with mass arrests, censorship, and atrocities in Eritrea by the Imperial Ethiopian Army.
- By the early 1970s, Selassie's rule became increasingly unpopular in Ethiopia, exacerbated by a severe famine in Wollo province.
- In 1974, unrest began with a mutiny in Negele Borana, leading to protests and insurrectionary movements across Ethiopia.
- The Derg, a military council, seized power in 1974, deposing Selassie in September 1974 after nearly six decades in power.
- Selassie was placed under house arrest, and his son, Crown Prince Asfaw Wossen, was proclaimed emperor by the Derg.
- Selassie's reign ended with his death in August 1975, allegedly by strangulation, marking the abolition of the Ethiopian monarchy and the beginning of a tumultuous period in Ethiopian history.
59:11
Opinions on Emperor Haile Selassie's Deposition
- Inquiry about opinions on Emperor Haile Selassie and the impact of his deposition by the Italians in the 1930s
- Request for comments on whether sympathy for him overshadows his own crimes
- Gratitude for watching and invitation for feedback in the comment section
