Born in 1892 near Harer, Haile Selassie I was the last emperor of Ethiopia (1930-1974) and a grandnephew of Emperor Menelik II. In 1916, he ousted Menelik’s successor, Lij Iyasu, replacing him with Zauditu, the old emperor’s daughter.

Selassie succeeded Zauditu when she died in 1930. In 1931, Selassie allowed his subjects to draw up a constitution, which established a parliament and a court system. In 1935, Italy invaded Ethiopia. Selassie then went into exile in England, where he planned the campaign that led to Ethiopia’s liberation.

Following his return to power in 1942, Selassie implemented land reform, the freeing of slaves, and revised the Constitution. In 1974 worsening political and economic conditions led to an army revolt, and Selassie was deposed.

Selassie is an important figure in other respects. He is the 225th descendant from the House of David, in other words he was a descendant of Jesus. He was and still is an icon of reverence to Rastafarians all over the world. He is considered by some to be the second coming of Jesus and by others to be a prophet. Selassie was the last emperor of the oldest civilization on Earth.

Ethiopia is the only African country not directly under European control.