Moviefone: Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia
- #news
- #headline
Figure timeline
Haile Selassie I was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974. He rose to power as the Regent Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia under Empress Zewditu between 1916 and 1930.
politics · Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974 · politician · monarch · ruler · also Haile Selassie I, Haile Selassie, Ras Tafari, Tafari Makonnen, Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia, Tafari
Born 23 July 1892 · Died 27 August 1975 · Q41178
105 published statements · 0 followers
Updated 1 day agoSee & hear
14 photos · 5 audio · 1 video
Video
Full Emperor Haile Selassie I 1968 UN Speech
Listen
1970 UN speech by H.I.M Haile Selassie I
Emperor Haile Selassie I's 1955 Constitutional Reform speech
Emperor Haile Selassie I's 1968 Speech to the United Nations
Haile Selassie
Haile Selassie 1967 Interview
Media from Wikimedia Commons, hotlinked at the source under its own licence — see each file for author and terms.
Live now
Unverified headlines, straight from trusted outlets’ feeds
Checking the wires…
These are live links, not archived citations — they only join the timeline once a collect run verifies and archives them.
Connections
Live pulse
Most recent outstanding titles, awards, and quotes
Moviefone: Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia
Claimed: “Photo shows Britain’s late Queen Elizabeth II and her son, King Charles III, bowing to Ethiopia's last emperor, Haile Selassie.” — rated False by AP News.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Claimed: “Photo shows “Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles” bowing to Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I.” — rated False by PolitiFact.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Claimed: “Image of Haile Selassie and Bob Marley” — rated FALSE by AFP Fact Check.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
The Jamaica Observer: Emperor Haile Selassie I’s visit 55 years ago
AFP Fact Check rated the claim “Queen Elizabeth II bows before Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie” This picture was taken 10 years before the queen's first visit to Ethiopia.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
A false headline had circulated of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip bowing down to Selassie and his wife during the Queen's state visit to Ethiopia at Jubilee Palace
Showcasing the life of the Ethiopian royal family
A bust statue built in 1957 was destroyed by protestors as a response to the assassination of Oromo singer Hachalu Hundessa
At the African Union's Headquarters in Addis Ababa
Two blue plaques commemorating his residence at Fairfield and his visits to nearby Weston-super-Mare were unveiled by his grandson
The Jamaica Observer: Grange observes anniversary of coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie I
Time: Haile Selassie in Jamaica: Color Photos From a Rastafari Milestone
Ethiopian pop star Teddy Afro released a song titled "Haile Selassie", depicting its namesake in a nationalistic light
Selassie was mentioned in the Ween song Mutilated Lips
Three years after the fall of the Derg regime, it was revealed to the public that the Derg had assassinated Selassie at the Jubilee Palace in Addis Ababa on 27 August 1975
Three years after the Derg regime was overthrown, an Ethiopian court charged several former military officers with genocide and murder, claiming that it had obtained documents attesting to a high-level order from the mil
Selassie's bones were found under a concrete slab on the palace grounds
Died 1975-08-27.
“I have heard of that idea [i.e., of Haile Selassie being the reincarnation of Jesus Christ]. I also met certain Rastafarians. I told them clearly that I am a man, that I am mortal, and that I would be replaced by the oncoming generation, and that they should never make a mistake in assuming or pretending that the human being is emanated from a deity.”
“Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted, the indifference of those who should have known better, the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most, that has made it possible for evil to triumph.”
“Leadership does not mean domination. The world is always well supplied with people who wish to rule and dominate others. The true leader is a different sort; he seeks effective activity which has a truly beneficient purpose. He inspires others to follow in his wake, and holding aloft the torch of wisdom, leads the way for society to realize its genuinely great aspirations.”
Ethiopian media during the revolution claimed the Emperor had a net worth of 11 billion dollars
Won United Nations Peace Medal (1972).
Awarded Collar of the Order of Charles III (1971).
At Vatican City, where they discussed issues regarding both their countries and history
Selassie visited Italy as a guest of President Giuseppe Saragat, and in Milan he met Giordano Dell'Amore, President of the Italian Savings Banks Association
Manley visited the Emperor at his palace in Addis Ababa before his election as prime minister of Jamaica in 1972
Visited Montréal, Canada, to open the Ethiopian Pavilion at the Expo '67 World's Fair where he received great acclaim among other world leaders there for the occasion
He participated in the 1966 Berlin Congress for World Evangelism organised by evangelist Billy Graham.
Selassie attempted to replace the historical tax system with a single progressive income tax, which would weaken the nobility who had avoided paying most of their taxes
Career landmark: chairperson of the Organisation of African Unity (1966–1967).
Selassie would initiate the concept of the United States of Africa, a proposition later taken up by Muammar Gaddafi
Presided over the formation of the Organisation of African Unity, the precursor of the African Union, and served as its first chairman
A revolt in Bale occurred, where peasant rioters whom were discouraged by the Ethiopian taxation headed by Prime Minister Aklilu Habte-Wold later turned into an insurgency
Selassie presided over the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the precursor of the continent-wide African Union (AU)
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is said to have helped Haile Selassie to put his grandson in the elite Gordonstoun school
In 1963, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is said to have helped Haile Selassie to put his grandson in the elite Gordonstoun school.
Career landmark: chairperson of the Organisation of African Unity (1963–1964).
Tensions between independence-minded Eritreans and Ethiopian forces culminated in the Eritrean War of Independence
The Jamaican government sent a delegation of both Rastafari and non-Rastafari leaders to Ethiopia to discuss repatriation with the Emperor
The 30-year Eritrean War for Independence began, followed by the dissolution of the federation and shutting down of Eritrea's parliament
Awarded Collar of the Order of the White Lion (1959).
Awarded Order of Suvorov, 1st class (1959).
Pope Kyrillos VI elevated the Abuna to Patriarch-Catholicos
Awarded Hilal-e-Pakistan (1958).
Selassie only wanted to give him an apolitical position as a commissioned officer in the Ethiopian military, and Iskinder was made deputy commander of the Imperial Ethiopian Navy in 1958.
On a state visit to India, he met with Indian leaders who supported Ethiopia against fascist Italy's illegal occupation during the 1935–1941 war against the country
Served as the official residence of the head of state of Ethiopian Empire from 1955 to 1974
Awarded Knight Grand Cross of the Military Order of William (1954).
Awarded Knight of the Order of the Elephant (1954).
Awarded Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1954).
And annexed Eritrea as one of Ethiopia's provinces, while also fighting to prevent Eritrean secession
The Ogaden, a region disputed with both Italian Somaliland and British Somaliland, was granted to Ethiopia
Selassie donated 500 hectares of land at Shashamane, 250 kilometres (160 mi) south of Addis Ababa, to the Ethiopian World Federation Incorporated for the use of people of African descent who supported Ethiopia during the
Harari and Somali Muslims staged a significant rebellion against the empire in Harar
When Britain was affected by heavy flooding
Under Selassie's reign in 1942, Islamic courts were allowed to have judicial power concerning Muslim matters.
Attempted to institute a progressive tax scheme, but this failed due to opposition from the nobility, and only a flat tax was passed; in 1951, he agreed to reduce this as well
Islamic courts were allowed to have judicial power concerning Muslim matters
And 1945, Selassie applied to the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church to establish the independence of Ethiopian bishops, and when his appeals were denied he threatened to sever relations with the Coptic Church of A
Haile Selassie was to give a Christmas Day radio address to the American people to thank his supporters when his taxi was involved in a traffic accident, leaving him with a fractured knee
Did not recognise Italy's occupation: China, New Zealand, the Soviet Union, the Republic of Spain, Mexico and the United States
And the National Theatre in Addis Ababa in 1955
During the invasion, he was even named Time magazine's "Man of the Year"
The Sultanate of Jimma was formally absorbed into Ethiopia following the death of Sultan Abba Jifar II of Jimma
Career landmark: Emperor of Ethiopia (1930–1974).
Empress Zewditu planned on granting him the throne of Shewa; however, at the last moment opposition from certain provincial rulers caused a change and his title Negus or "King" was conferred without geographical qualific
When Dejazmach Balcha Safo went to Addis Ababa with a sizeable armed force
Awarded Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (1924).
Awarded Knight of the Seraphim (1924).
Ras Tafari toured Europe and the Middle East visiting Jerusalem, Alexandria, Paris, Luxembourg, Brussels, Amsterdam, Stockholm, London, Geneva, Gibraltar and Athens
By promising to eradicate slavery; each emperor since Tewodros II had issued proclamations to halt slavery, but without effect: the internationally scorned practice persisted well into Selassie's reign with an estimated
The title Le'ul-Ras replaced the senior office of Ras Bitwoded and so became the equivalent of a royal duke
On 3 August 1911, Tafari married Menen Asfaw of Ambassel, niece of the heir to the throne Lij Iyasu.
Was appointed governor over part of the province of Sidamo
The governorate of Harar was left vacant, and its administration was left to Menelik's loyal general, Dejazmach Balcha Safo
A realm of marginal importance, but one that enabled him to continue his studies
Awarded knight of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus.
Awarded Knight grand cross of the order of the crown of Italy.
Awarded Order of the Nile.
Awarded Order of the White Eagle.
Awarded Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta.
Awarded Knight Grand Cross of the Colonial Order of the Star of Italy.
Awarded Order of the White Rose of Finland.
Awarded Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun of Peru.
Awarded Grand Cross of the Order of the Condor of the Andes.
Awarded Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus.
Awarded The honorary doctor of Lebanese University.
Awarded Order of Propitious Clouds.
Awarded Grand Cross of the Sash of the Three Orders.
Awarded Grand Cross of the Military Order of the Tower and Sword.
Awarded Order of the Star of Romania.
Awarded Knight of the Order of the Most Holy Annunciation.
Awarded honorary doctor of the University of Bonn.
Awarded Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer.
Awarded Collar of the Order of Pope Pius IX.
Awarded Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.
Awarded Grand Star of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria.
Awarded Order of the Eagle of Zambia.
Awarded Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour.
Awarded Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum.
Awarded Order of the Yugoslavian Great Star.
Career landmark: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia.
Born 1892-07-23.