02 Nov 1930: Haile Selassie, Ethiopian emperor

On this day in 1930, Haile Selassie became the emperor of Ethiopia. He would rule until he was overthrown in a military coup in 1974.

Selassie at his palace, circa 1942. (Library of Congress)

Some more details on Selassie:

• before being crowned, he was known as Ras Tafari Makonnen; Haile Selassie means “might of the Trinity”
• also known as the Lion of Judah, he claimed he Solomon and the Queen of Sheba as his ancestors
• in 1936, Italy captured Ethiopia; Selassie went into exile in England
  • he returned to the throne in 1941
• his palace is now the main building at Addis Ababa University
• Rastafarians (note Selassie’s previous name) see him as the messiah of the African race