Zauditu Early Life Ascent To Power Reign Political Maneuvering

Zauditu was the eldest daughter of King Menelik of Shoa. Her mother, Woizero (Lady) Abechi , was a Shoan noblewoman. Abechi had died when Zauditu was very young, and so Zauditu was raised mainly by her father. Menelik later married Taytu Betul, but had no children by his Empress. Menelik had three aknowleged children, Zewditu, a son Assfaw Wossen who died in infancy, and another daughter Shewa Regga, mother of Lij Eyasu his eventual heir. The Emperor however remained closest to Zauditu. Zauditu also had good relations with her step-mother Empress Taytu.

In 1882, Zauditu was married to Ras Araya Selassie Yohannis , son and heir of Emperor Yohannis IV . The marriage was political, having been arranged when Menelik agreed to submit to Yohannis' rule. Yohannis and Menelik eventually fell into conflict again, however, with Menelik launching a rebellion against Yohannis' rule. Zauditu's marriage was childless, although her husband had fathered a son by another woman. When Zauditu's husband died in 1888, she returned to her father's court. Despite the hostility between Menelik and Yohannis, Zauditu managed throughout the conflict to maintain good relations with both.

Zauditu had two further marriages, both brief, before marrying Ras Gugsa Welle . Gugsa Welle was the nephew of Empress Taytu, Zauditu's stepmother. Zauditu had already been on good terms with Taytu, but the establishment of a direct tie between the two helped cement the relationship. Unlike her prior marriages, Zauditu's marriage to Gugsa Welle is thought to have been happy.

2 Ascent to power

Menelik, having defeated Yohannis IV, had himself become Emperor of Ethiopia in 1889. In 1913, Menelik died. Lij Iyasu, Menelik's grandson (the son of Zauditu's half-sister Shewa Regga) had been declared heir apparent in 1909. Iyasu considered Zauditu a potential threat to his rule, and exiled her and her husband to the countryside.

Iyasu was officially proclaimed as Emperor Iyasu V, but quickly encountered problems with his rule. He was widely disliked by the nobility for his unstable behavior, and the church held him in suspicion for his alleged Muslim sympathies. He was never officially crowned. After a troubled few years, Iyasu was removed from power. Zauditu was summoned to the capital, and on September 27September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 95 days remaining. Events 489 Odoacer attacks Theoderic at the Battle of Verona, and is defeated again. 1540 Jesuit Order receives its charter from Pope Paul I 1916, the Council of State and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church officially deposed Iyasu in favour of Zauditu. Zauditu's official title was Nigiste Negest (Queen of Kings), a modification of the traditional title Neguse Negest (King of Kings).

Initially, Zauditu was not permitted to exercise power herself. Instead, her cousin Ras Tafari Makonnen was appointed regentFor the insecticide 'Regent', see Regent (insecticide A regent is an acting governor. In a monarchy, a regent usually rules due to the actual monarch's absence, incapacity, or minority. In the case of Finland and Hungary, military officers served as regen, and her father's old loyal general, Fitawrari Hapte Giorgis Dinagde was made commander in chief of the army. Ras Tafari was also made heir apparent to Zauditu - none of Zauditu's children had survived to adulthood. In 1928Centuries: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s Years: 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 See also 1928 in aviation 1928 in film 1928 in literature 1928 in mu, after an attempt to remove Ras Tafari Makonnen from power failed, the Empress was compelled to crown her cousin "Nigus" or King.

3 Reign

3.1 Political maneuvering

While the conservative Ethiopian aristocracy was generally supportive of Zauditu, it was less enthusiastic about many of her relatives. Zauditu's stepmother and the aunt of her husband, Dowager Empress Taytu, had withdrawn from the capital after Menelik's death, but was still distrusted somewhat due to her well known nepotism she had practiced during the reign of her late husband Menelik II. In an attempt to limit her influence, the aristocracy arranged for her nephew (Zauditu's husband Gugsa Welle) to be appointed to a remote governorship, removing him from court. This move, while intended as a strike against Taytu rather than against Zauditu, is believed to have upset Zauditu considerably. Zauditu also suffered guilt for taking the throne from Lij Iyasu, who her father had wanted to succeed him - while she believed that Iyasu's overthrow was necessary, she had admired her father greatly, and was unhappy at having to disobey his wishes. Her separation from her husband and her guilt about Iyasu's overthrow combined to make Zauditu not particularly happy as Empress. Increasingly, the Empress retreated from state responsibility into a world of fasting and prayer, as the progressive elements that surrounded the heir, Tafari Makonnen gained in strength and influence at court.

3.2 War against Iyasu

The early period of Zauditu's reign was marked by a war against Lij Iyasu, who had escaped captivity. Backed by his father, Nigus (King) Mikael of Wollo, a powerful northern leader, Iyasu attempted to regain the throne. Iyasu's father was eventually captured, however, and Iyasu himself fled to Afar. Iyasu was later captured by Dejazmatch Gugsa Araya , the son who Zauditu's first husband had fathered by another woman. Gugsa Araya was rewarded with the title of Ras from his former step-mother, and the hand of Princess Yeshashework Yilma , niece of Tafari Makonnen in marriage.

3.3 Rise of Tafari

As Zauditu's reign progressed, a rift gradually widened between her and her appointed heir, Tafari Makonnen. Tafari was a moderniser, believing that Ethiopia needed to open itself to the world in order to survive. In this, he had the backing of many younger nobles. Zauditu, however, was a conservative, believing in the preservation of Ethiopian tradition. She had the strong backing of the church in this belief. Slowly, however, Zauditu began to withdraw from active politics, leaving more and more power to Tafari. Under Tafari's direction, Ethiopia entered the League of Nations, and abolished slavery. Zauditu busied herself with religious activities, such as the construction of a number of significant churches.

In 1928, there was a small conservative uprising against Tafari's reforms, but it was unsuccessful. Zauditu was compelled to grant Tafari, who now controlled most of the Ethiopian government, the post of Regent and the additional title of Nigus (king). While Nigus Tafari remained under the nominal rule of Zauditu (who was still Nigiste Negest, Queen of Kings), Tafari was now effectively the ruler of Ethiopia. A number of attempts were made to displace him, but they were all unsuccessful. In 1930, Zauditu's husband Gugsa Welle led a rebellion against Tafari, hoping to end the regency, but was defeated in battle by the modernised Ethiopian army at the Battle of Anchiem on February 28th, 1930.

4 Death and succession

On 1 March 1930, the day after Gugsa Welle was killed in battle, Empress Zauditu died. It is known today that Zauditu suffered from diabetes, and was seriously ill, but it is not universally agreed that this was the cause of her death. According to some popular histories, Zauditu died of shock and grief at hearing of her husband's death, but other accounts contradict this, claiming that Zauditu was not informed of the battle's outcome before her sudden death. Some, particularly conservative critics of her successor, Emperor Haile Selassie, allege that once the rebellion had been decisively defeated, he or his supporters felt safe in poisoning Zauditu. Speculation as to the cause of Zauditu's death continues today.

Zauditu was succeeded on the throne by Nigus Tafari, who took the name Haile Selassie.

Ethiopian people

5 External link

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1 Early life