Gugsa Araya Selassie
Encyclopedia
Gugsa Araya Selassie was an army commander
and a member of the Royal family
of the Ethiopian Empire
.
Gugsa Araya Selassie was the legitimate son of Ras
Araya Selassie Yohannes
. Araya Selassie Yohannes was the legitimate son of Emperor
Yohannes IV of Ethiopia
.
In 1917, Gugsa Araya Selassie married Leult
Yeshashework Yilma
, the niece of Ras Tafari Makonnen. On 2 November 1930, Tafari Makonnen was crowned as Emperor Haile Selassie.
On 11 January 1921, Gugsa Araya Selassie captured Lij
Iyasu
. Iyasu was then delivered by him into the custody of Ras Kassa Haile Darge
. While sometimes referred to as "Emperor Iyasu V," Iyasu was never formally crowned Emperor of Ethiopia. In 1916, Iyasu was deposed after forces loyal to him were defeated in the Battle of Segale
. Iyasu was replaced by his aunt, Empress Zewditu I. 40-year-old Zewditu was named Enderase
during the minority of then 24-year-old Ras Tafari Makonnen. Iyasu and a small band of followers roamed the Afar Depression
for five years after his being deposed before falling into the hands of Gugsa Araya Selassie.
Gugsa Araya Selassie was a Ras and Shum
of eastern Tigray Province
. Towards the end of 1928, Negus Tafari called for Ras Gugsa Araya Selassie and the governors of several other provinces to suppress an Oromo revolt in Wollo
. Like many of those approached by Tafari, his response was not enthusiastic. Being a traditionalist, Gugsa Araya Selassie was not happy about the rise of Tafari. He was approached by Ras Gugsa Welle
concerning an uprising against Tafari. But, after initially indicating support, he did not respond to a letter from Gugsa Welle. When Gugsa Welle openly revolted
, Gugsa Araya Selassie did not support him.
By 1932, Gugsa Araya Selassie's health deteriorated and he fell ill. Haile Selassie authorized a trip to Switzerland
for medical help. Had Gugsa Araya Selassie traveled in a stretcher, he may have made it. But tradition dictated that a Ras travel by war mule
and this is what he did. He averaged about one hour of travel per day. His doctor insisted that he should stop traveling in this manner, but tradition won out and he died.
On 28 April 1932, according to legend, the corpse of Ras Gugsa Araya Selassie enterred Adigrat
strapped upright on his war mule. Upon his death, his son, Haile Selassie Gugsa
, moved into his father's Italian-built palace in Mek'ele
and replaced him as Shum of eastern Tigray. Dejazmatch
Army of the Ethiopian Empire
Armies of the Ethiopia have existed since earliest times. Ethiopia maintained a sizable contingent of her forces in her Sabbean Garrisons which expanded out to project power over colonies in Yemen and to protect Caravans or trade routes....
and a member of the Royal family
Royal family
A royal family is the extended family of a king or queen regnant. The term imperial family appropriately describes the extended family of an emperor or empress, while the terms "ducal family", "grand ducal family" or "princely family" are more appropriate to describe the relatives of a reigning...
of the Ethiopian Empire
Ethiopian Empire
The Ethiopian Empire also known as Abyssinia, covered a geographical area that the present-day northern half of Ethiopia and Eritrea covers, and included in its peripheries Zeila, Djibouti, Yemen and Western Saudi Arabia...
.
Biography
LeulEthiopian aristocratic and court titles
Until the end of the monarchy in 1974, there were two categories of nobility in Ethiopia: the Mesafint or princes, hereditary nobles, formed the upper echelon of the ruling class; while the Mekwanint were the appointed nobles, often of humble birth, who formed the bulk of the nobility...
Gugsa Araya Selassie was the legitimate son of Ras
Ethiopian aristocratic and court titles
Until the end of the monarchy in 1974, there were two categories of nobility in Ethiopia: the Mesafint or princes, hereditary nobles, formed the upper echelon of the ruling class; while the Mekwanint were the appointed nobles, often of humble birth, who formed the bulk of the nobility...
Araya Selassie Yohannes
Araya Selassie Yohannes
Araya Selassie Yohannes was an army commander and a member of the Royal family of the Ethiopian Empire.- Biography :Leul Araya Selassie Yohannes was born in Enderta, Tigray in 1867, the legitimate son of Emperor Yohannes IV of Ethiopia...
. Araya Selassie Yohannes was the legitimate son of Emperor
Emperor of Ethiopia
The Emperor of Ethiopia was the hereditary ruler of Ethiopia until the abolition of the monarchy in 1974. The Emperor was the head of state and head of government, with ultimate executive, judicial and legislative power in that country...
Yohannes IV of Ethiopia
Yohannes IV of Ethiopia
Yohannes IV , born Lij Kassay Mercha Ge'ez, was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1872 until his death.-Early life:...
.
In 1917, Gugsa Araya Selassie married Leult
Ethiopian aristocratic and court titles
Until the end of the monarchy in 1974, there were two categories of nobility in Ethiopia: the Mesafint or princes, hereditary nobles, formed the upper echelon of the ruling class; while the Mekwanint were the appointed nobles, often of humble birth, who formed the bulk of the nobility...
Yeshashework Yilma
Yeshashework Yilma
Princess Yeshashework Yilma was the daughter of Dejazmatch Yilma Makonnen, governor of Harar and niece of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. Her mother Woizero Aselefech was the niece of Empress Taitu Bitul, consort of Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia. Through her paternal great-grandmother, she...
, the niece of Ras Tafari Makonnen. On 2 November 1930, Tafari Makonnen was crowned as Emperor Haile Selassie.
On 11 January 1921, Gugsa Araya Selassie captured Lij
Ethiopian aristocratic and court titles
Until the end of the monarchy in 1974, there were two categories of nobility in Ethiopia: the Mesafint or princes, hereditary nobles, formed the upper echelon of the ruling class; while the Mekwanint were the appointed nobles, often of humble birth, who formed the bulk of the nobility...
Iyasu
Iyasu V of Ethiopia
Iyasu V , also known as Lij Iyasu was the designated but uncrowned Emperor of Ethiopia . His baptismal name was Kifle Yaqob...
. Iyasu was then delivered by him into the custody of Ras Kassa Haile Darge
Kassa Haile Darge
Ras Kassa Haile Darge GCVO, GBE , was a Shewan nobleman, the son of Haile Wolde Kiros of Lasta and Tisseme Darge, and grandson of Ras Darge Sahle Selassie the brother of Menelik II's father....
. While sometimes referred to as "Emperor Iyasu V," Iyasu was never formally crowned Emperor of Ethiopia. In 1916, Iyasu was deposed after forces loyal to him were defeated in the Battle of Segale
Battle of Segale
The Battle of Segale, fought on 27 October 1916, defeated the supporters of Emperor Iyasu V of Ethiopia and secured the effects of the palace coup that led to Zawditu being proclaimed Empress. Henze states that "Segale was Ethiopia's greatest battle since Adwa."- Background :The nobility of...
. Iyasu was replaced by his aunt, Empress Zewditu I. 40-year-old Zewditu was named Enderase
Ethiopian aristocratic and court titles
Until the end of the monarchy in 1974, there were two categories of nobility in Ethiopia: the Mesafint or princes, hereditary nobles, formed the upper echelon of the ruling class; while the Mekwanint were the appointed nobles, often of humble birth, who formed the bulk of the nobility...
during the minority of then 24-year-old Ras Tafari Makonnen. Iyasu and a small band of followers roamed the Afar Depression
Afar Depression
The Afar Triangle is a geological depression that is caused by the Afar Triple Junction which is part of the Great Rift Valley. It overlaps Eritrea, Djibouti and the entire Afar Region of Ethiopia. The Afar Triangle includes the Danakil Depression and the lowest point in Africa, Lake Asal...
for five years after his being deposed before falling into the hands of Gugsa Araya Selassie.
Gugsa Araya Selassie was a Ras and Shum
Ethiopian aristocratic and court titles
Until the end of the monarchy in 1974, there were two categories of nobility in Ethiopia: the Mesafint or princes, hereditary nobles, formed the upper echelon of the ruling class; while the Mekwanint were the appointed nobles, often of humble birth, who formed the bulk of the nobility...
of eastern Tigray Province
Tigray Province
Tigray was a province of Ethiopia. The Tigray Region superseded the province with the adoption of the new constitution in 1995. The province of Tigre merged with its neighboring provinces, including Semien, Tembien, Agame and the prominent Enderta province and towards the end of 19th century it...
. Towards the end of 1928, Negus Tafari called for Ras Gugsa Araya Selassie and the governors of several other provinces to suppress an Oromo revolt in Wollo
Wollo
Wollo was a historical region and province in the northeastern part of Ethiopia, with its capital city at Dessie. The province was named after the Wollo Oromo, who settled in this part of Ethiopia in the 17th century...
. Like many of those approached by Tafari, his response was not enthusiastic. Being a traditionalist, Gugsa Araya Selassie was not happy about the rise of Tafari. He was approached by Ras Gugsa Welle
Gugsa Welle
Gugsa Welle , also known as Gugsa Wolie and Gugsa Wele, was an army commander and a member of the Royal family of the Ethiopian Empire. He represented a provincial ruling elite which was often at odds with the Ethiopian central government.Gugsa Welle was born in Marto in Yejju Province...
concerning an uprising against Tafari. But, after initially indicating support, he did not respond to a letter from Gugsa Welle. When Gugsa Welle openly revolted
Gugsa Welle's Rebellion (1930)
Gugsa Welle's Rebellion of 1930 was a rebellion raised by Ras Gugsa Welle and by supporters of Empress Zewditu to rid her of the Crown Prince and heir apparent, Negus Tafari Makonnen. With Tafari gone, Zewditu would be the sole claiment to succession as the ruler of the Ethiopian Empire...
, Gugsa Araya Selassie did not support him.
By 1932, Gugsa Araya Selassie's health deteriorated and he fell ill. Haile Selassie authorized a trip to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
for medical help. Had Gugsa Araya Selassie traveled in a stretcher, he may have made it. But tradition dictated that a Ras travel by war mule
Mule
A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. Horses and donkeys are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes. Of the two F1 hybrids between these two species, a mule is easier to obtain than a hinny...
and this is what he did. He averaged about one hour of travel per day. His doctor insisted that he should stop traveling in this manner, but tradition won out and he died.
On 28 April 1932, according to legend, the corpse of Ras Gugsa Araya Selassie enterred Adigrat
Adigrat
Adigrat is a city in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. Located in the Misraqawi Zone at longitude and latitude with an elevation of 2457 meters above sea level, below a high ridge to the west, Adigrat is the last important Ethiopian city south of the border with Eritrea, and is considered to be a...
strapped upright on his war mule. Upon his death, his son, Haile Selassie Gugsa
Haile Selassie Gugsa
Haile Selassie Gugsa was an army commander and a member of the Royal family of the Ethiopian Empire.- Biography :Haile Selassie Gugsa was the son of Leul Ras Gugsa Araya Selassie...
, moved into his father's Italian-built palace in Mek'ele
Mek'ele
Mek'ele , also transliterated as Makale, is a city in northern Ethiopia and the capital of the Tigray Region. It is located some 650 kilometers north of the capital, Addis Ababa, at latitude and longitude with an elevation of 2084 meters above sea level...
and replaced him as Shum of eastern Tigray. Dejazmatch
See also
- Monarchies of EthiopiaMonarchies of EthiopiaThis is a list of Monarchies that existed throughout the history of Ethiopia. This list is divided into kingdoms that were subdivisions of Ethiopia, and kingdoms that were later conquered by Ethiopia...
- Line of succession to the Ethiopian ThroneLine of succession to the Ethiopian ThroneThe line of succession to the Ethiopian throne is described in the first section of the 1955 Revised Constitution of Ethiopia.In brief, the title of Emperor may pass only through male descendants of HIM Haile Selassie I, through the oldest male line before the younger...
- Ethiopian aristocratic and court titlesEthiopian aristocratic and court titlesUntil the end of the monarchy in 1974, there were two categories of nobility in Ethiopia: the Mesafint or princes, hereditary nobles, formed the upper echelon of the ruling class; while the Mekwanint were the appointed nobles, often of humble birth, who formed the bulk of the nobility...
- Battle of AnchemBattle of AnchemThe Battle of Anchem was a battle fought between two factions of the Royal family in the Ethiopian Empire...