Amha Selassie
Amha Selassie (Amharic: አምሃ ሥላሴ; Āmiha Šilasē; born Asfaw Wossen Tafari; 27 July 1916 – 17 January 1997) was Emperor-in-exile of Ethiopia. As son of Haile Selassie, he was Crown Prince and was proclaimed monarch three times. He was first proclaimed Emperor during an unsuccessful coup attempt against his father in December 1960, during which he alleged that he was detained and compelled to accept the title. After his father was deposed in a later coup, he was proclaimed King (not Emperor) in absentia by the Derg on 12 September 1974 in an act which he never accepted as legitimate and that ended in the abolition of the Ethiopian monarchy on 21 March 1975. He was again proclaimed Emperor in exile on 8 April 1989. This time he sanctioned the proclamation and accepted its legitimacy. After his accession, his full reign name was His Imperial Majesty Emperor Amha Selassie I, Elect of God, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah and King of Kings of Ethiopia.
| Amha Selassie አምሃ ሥላሴ | |
|---|---|
Amha Selassie in 1932 | |
| King of Ethiopia (designate, unacknowledged) | |
| Reign | 12 September 1974 – 21 March 1975 |
| Predecessor | Haile Selassie as Emperor of Ethiopia |
| Successor | Monarchy abolished Tafari Benti as Chairman of the Derg |
| Chairman De facto | Aman Andom Tafari Benti |
| Emperor of Ethiopia | |
| Reign | 8 April 1989 – 17 January 1997 |
| Predecessor | Haile Selassie |
| Heir-apparent | Zera Yacob |
| Born | Asfaw Wossen Tafari 27 July 1916 Harar, Ethiopian Empire |
| Died | 17 January 1997 (aged 80) McLean, Virginia, United States |
| Burial | |
| Spouse | Wolete Israel Seyoum Medferiashwork Abebe |
| Issue | Princess Ijigayehu Princess Maryam Senna Princess Sehin Azebe Princess Sifrash Bizu Crown Prince Zera Yacob |
| House | House of Solomon (Shewan Branch) |
| Father | Haile Selassie |
| Mother | Menen Asfaw |
| Religion | Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo |