Home > Iyasu V of Ethiopia

Iyasu was a grandson of Menelik II of Ethiopia and son of Shewa Regga, a half-sister of Menelik's eldest daughter Zauditu, and was proclaimed heir apparent in 1909.

As ruler, he continued Menelik's program of modernization, including the establishment of the first police force in Addis Ababa, but he was accused of being a Muslim and deposed 27 September 1916 in favor of his aunt Zauditu.

He evaded capture however, and spent five years at large in the countryside before being taken into custody by Gugsa Araya on 11 January 1921. In 19311931 is the common year starting on Thursday. see link for calendar) Events January January 4 Female aviator Elly Beinhorn begins her flight to Africa January 6 Thomas Edison submits his last patent application. January 22 Sir Isaac Isaacs sworn in as the he escaped from imprisonment at Fikke , but was recaptured shortly afterwards.

Iyasu was intitially married to Romanework Mangasha, granddaughter of Emperor Johannes IV, and niece of Menelik II's consort Empress Taitu. Following the desolution of that married he married Seble Wongel Hailu, who was the granddaughter of King Tekle Haimanot of Gojjam . He additionally seems to have had at least thirteen secondary wives, and an uncertain number of natural children several of whom have been Iyasuist claimants to the Imperial throne. His only legitmate daughter was Imebet-hoi Alem Tsehai Iyasu, by his legal wife Seble Wongel of Gojjam.