Menelik II
| Menelik II ዳግማዊ ምኒልክ | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negus | |||||
| Emperor of Ethiopia | |||||
| Reign | 10 March 1889 – 12 December 1913 | ||||
| Coronation | 3 November 1889 | ||||
| Predecessor | Yohannes IV | ||||
| Successor | Lij Iyasu (designated but uncrowned Emperor of Ethiopia) | ||||
| Born | 17 August 1844 Angolalla, Shewa, Ethiopian Empire | ||||
| Died | 12 December 1913 (aged 69) Addis Ababa, Ethiopian Empire[1] | ||||
| Burial | |||||
| Spouse | Altash Tewodros (1855–1865) Bafena Wolde Mikael (1865–1882) Taytu Betul (1882–1913) | ||||
| Issue | Zewditu I Shoa Ragad Wossen Seged | ||||
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| Dynasty | House of Solomon (Shewan Branch) | ||||
| Father | Haile Melekot (King of Shewa) | ||||
| Mother | Woizero Ejigayehu | ||||
| Religion | Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo | ||||
| Styles of Menelik II of Ethiopia | |
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Menelik II (Ge'ez: ዳግማዊ ምኒልክ dagmawi mənilək[nb 1]; horse name Aba Dagnew (Amharic: አባ ዳኘው abba daññäw); 17 August 1844 – 12 December 1913), baptised as Sahle Maryam (ሣህለ ማርያም sahlä maryam) was king of Shewa from 1866 to 1889 and Emperor of Ethiopia[nb 2] from 1889 to his death in 1913. At the height of his internal power and external prestige, the process of territorial expansion and creation of the modern empire-state was largely completed by 1898.[2]
The Ethiopian Empire was transformed under Menelik: the major signposts of modernisation were put in place, with the assistance of key ministerial advisors. Externally, Menelik led Ethiopian troops against Italian invaders in the First Italo-Ethiopian War; following a decisive victory at the Battle of Adwa, recognition of Ethiopia's independence by external powers was expressed in terms of diplomatic representation at his court and delineation of Ethiopia's boundaries with the adjacent kingdoms.[2] Menelik expanded his realm to the south and east, into Oromo, Kaffa, Sidama, Wolayta and other kingdoms or peoples.[3][4]: 2
Later in his reign, Menelik established the first cabinet of ministers to help in the administration of the empire, appointing trusted and widely respected nobles and retainers to the first ministries.[5] These ministers would remain in place long after his death, serving in their posts through the brief reign of Lij Iyasu (whom they helped depose) and into the reign of Empress Zewditu.
- ^ Nielsen, Euell A. (6 May 2019). "Emperor Menelik II (Sahle Miriam) (1844-1913) •". Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ a b Zewde, Bahru. A history of Ethiopia: 1855–1991. 2nd ed. Eastern African studies. 2001
- ^ John Young (1998). "Regionalism and Democracy in Ethiopia". Third World Quarterly. 19 (2): 192. doi:10.1080/01436599814415. JSTOR 3993156.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
International_Crisis_Group_2009was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Tsehai Berhane-Selassie, Ethiopian Warriorhood: Defence, Land and Society, 1800-1941 (Eastern Africa Series)
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