Tafari Makonnen Empire of Ethiopia Haile Selassie I, original name Tafari Makonnen, (born July 23, 1892, near Harer, Ethiopia—died August 27, 1975, Addis Ababa), emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974 who sought to modernize his country and who steered it into the mainstream of post-World War II African politics. He brought Ethiopia into the League of Nations and the United Nations and made Addis Ababa the major centre for the Organization of African Unity (now African Union).
Tafari was a great-grandson of Sahle Selassie of Shewa (Shoa) and a son of Ras (Prince) Makonnen, a chief adviser to Emperor Menilek II. Educated at home by French missionaries, Tafari at an early age favourably impressed the emperor with his intellectual abilities and was promoted accordingly. As governor of Sidamo and then of Harer province, he followed progressive policies, seeking to break the feudal power of the local nobility by increasing the authority of the central government—for example, by developing a salaried civil service. He thereby came to represent politically progressive elements of the population. In 1911 he married Wayzaro Menen, a great-granddaughter of Menilek II.
23 July 1892 – 1 November 1905: Lij Tafari Makonnen[3][4]
1 November 1905 – 11 February 1917: Dejazmach Tafari Makonnen[3][5]
11 February 1917 – 7 October 1928: Le'ul-Ras Tafari Makonnen[6][7][8]
7 October 1928 – 2 November 1930: Negus Tafari Makonnen[9]
2 November 1930 – 12 September 1974: His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I ("Might of the Trinity"), King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Elect of God.[5][8][10][11][12][13]
134th Christian ruler of Ethiopia[14][15][16]
On 21 January 1965, H.I.M Haile Selassie I was venerated with the title of "Defender of the Faith" by the Patriarchs of the Oriental Orthodox Churches of the World.[17]
Orders and decorations
