Prince Sahle Selassie
Encyclopedia
Prince Sahle Selassie was the youngest child of Emperor
Haile Selassie and Empress Menen Asfaw
of Ethiopia
. His full title was "His Imperial Highness, Prince Sahle Selassie Haile Selassie".
Born after his parents had been crowned Emperor and Empress of Ethiopia, he was the only one of the Emperor's children to have been born with the title of Prince. Since his older brothers, Prince Asfa Wossen
and Prince Makonnen
, had both been born before the 1930 coronation, Prince Sahle Selassie was also the first legitimate child born to a reigning Emperor since the birth of Dejazmach Alemayehu Tewodros, son of Emperor Tewodros II.
Prince Sahle Selassie was married to Princess Mahisente Habte Mariam
, the daughter of Dejazmach Hapte Mariam Gebre Igziabiher, the heir to the old Oromo
kingdom of Leqa Naqamte in Welega Province
, and later served as governor of Welega province. They had a son, Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie
, who currently is the President of the Crown Council of Ethiopia
. The Prince was a man of an artistic bent, who is said to have made a movie which was banned from publication by the Imperial Government censor despite the fact the Prince was a member of the Imperial family. It was believed that the movie indirectly questioned the fast pace of development, and the strains it caused on rural society, and was thus unflattering to the policies of the Imperial government.
Prince Sahle Selassie died in 1962, months after the death of his mother Empress Menen Asfaw. He was survived by his wife and his son Prince Ermias, and was buried in the crypt of Holy Trinity Cathedral
in Addis Ababa
.
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...
Haile Selassie and Empress Menen Asfaw
Menen Asfaw
Empress Menen Asfaw was the wife and consort of Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia. Empress Menen was the daughter of Asfaw, Jantirar of Ambassel...
of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. His full title was "His Imperial Highness, Prince Sahle Selassie Haile Selassie".
Born after his parents had been crowned Emperor and Empress of Ethiopia, he was the only one of the Emperor's children to have been born with the title of Prince. Since his older brothers, Prince Asfa Wossen
Amha Selassie of Ethiopia
Amha Selassie, GCMG, GCVO, GBE was the last Emperor of Ethiopia. First proclaimed Emperor during the unsuccessful coup attempt by the Imperial Guards against his father Haile Selassie I in December 1960, he initially went along with this proclamation under duress. The coup collapsed within days...
and Prince Makonnen
Prince Makonnen
Prince Makonnen Haile Selassie, Duke of Harar was the second son, and second youngest child, of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia and Empress Menen Asfaw...
, had both been born before the 1930 coronation, Prince Sahle Selassie was also the first legitimate child born to a reigning Emperor since the birth of Dejazmach Alemayehu Tewodros, son of Emperor Tewodros II.
Prince Sahle Selassie was married to Princess Mahisente Habte Mariam
Mahisente Habte Mariam
Princess Mahisente Habte Mariam is the widow of Prince Sahle Selassie, youngest son of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. She is the daughter of Dejazmach Habte Mariam Gebre Igziabiher, heir to the former Welega Kingdom of Leqa Naqamte...
, the daughter of Dejazmach Hapte Mariam Gebre Igziabiher, the heir to the old Oromo
Oromo people
The Oromo are an ethnic group found in Ethiopia, northern Kenya, .and parts of Somalia. With 30 million members, they constitute the single largest ethnic group in Ethiopia and approximately 34.49% of the population according to the 2007 census...
kingdom of Leqa Naqamte in Welega Province
Welega Province
Welega was a province in the western part of Ethiopia, with its capital city at Nekemte. It was named for the Welega Oromo, who are the majority of the population within its boundaries....
, and later served as governor of Welega province. They had a son, Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie
Ermias Sahle Selassie
Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie is the only son of Prince Sahle Selassie of Ethiopia and Princess Mahisente Habte Mariam. He is the grandson of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, and also of Dejazmach Habte Mariam Gebre Igziabiher, the heir to the former Welega kingdom of Leqa Naqamte.Prince Ermias...
, who currently is the President of the Crown Council of Ethiopia
Crown Council of Ethiopia
The Crown Council of Ethiopia was the constitutional body which advised the reigning emperors of Ethiopia and acted on behalf of the Crown. The council’s members were appointed by the emperor....
. The Prince was a man of an artistic bent, who is said to have made a movie which was banned from publication by the Imperial Government censor despite the fact the Prince was a member of the Imperial family. It was believed that the movie indirectly questioned the fast pace of development, and the strains it caused on rural society, and was thus unflattering to the policies of the Imperial government.
Prince Sahle Selassie died in 1962, months after the death of his mother Empress Menen Asfaw. He was survived by his wife and his son Prince Ermias, and was buried in the crypt of Holy Trinity Cathedral
Holy Trinity Cathedral (Addis Ababa)
Holy Trinity Cathedral, known in Amharic as Kidist Selassie, is the highest ranking Orthodox cathedral in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It was built to commemorate Ethiopia's liberation from Italian occupation and is the second most important place of worship in Ethiopia, after the Church of Our Lady Mary...
in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
.