Zera Yacob Amha Selassie, Crown Prince of Ethiopia
Encyclopedia
Zera Yacob Amha Selassie, Crown Prince of Ethiopia (Ge'ez
ዘርአ ያዕቆብ አምሃ ሥላሴ; born 17 August 1953) is the grandson of Emperor Haile Selassie and son of Emperor-in-Exile Amha Selassie of Ethiopia
. He has been Head of the Imperial House of Ethiopia
since 17 February 1997 and is currently recognized as such by the Crown Council of Ethiopia
. However, there are rival claimants in the form of Girma Yohannis Iyasu
, the grandson of Emperor Iyasu V
, and of Mangasha Seyum
, the great grandson of Emperor Johannes IV
and representative of the Tigrean Dynasty.
and Exeter College, Oxford University
. He was named "Acting Crown Prince" and Heir Presumptive to the Imperial throne of Ethiopia in 1974 by his grandfather, Emperor Haile Selassie, following his father's severe stroke a year earlier.
Following the fall of the Ethiopian monarchy, Prince Zera Yacob completed his studies at Oxford in the mid-seventies and went on to briefly work as a banker in the United States. He then returned to London
to be closer to his parents. He was married and had a daughter, Princess Lideta Zera Yacob, but was subsequently divorced from his wife. He briefly accompanied his father Emperor Amha Selassie when he moved to Virginia
in 1989, but later returned to England
and resided for a time in Manchester
. He was named Heir Apparent by his father Crown Prince Asfaw Wossen, when the Crown Prince assumed the title of Emperor in exile in April 1989.
Crown Prince Zera Yacob has been regarded as head of the Imperial Family of Ethiopia since the death of his father on 17 February 1997. He is currently living in Addis Ababa
.
and bestows awards to individuals for their outstanding service of assistance to the people of Ethiopia.
Ge'ez alphabet
Ge'ez , also called Ethiopic, is a script used as an abugida for several languages of Ethiopia and Eritrea but originated in an abjad used to write Ge'ez, now the liturgical language of the Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Church...
ዘርአ ያዕቆብ አምሃ ሥላሴ; born 17 August 1953) is the grandson of Emperor Haile Selassie and son of Emperor-in-Exile Amha Selassie 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...
. He has been Head of the Imperial House of Ethiopia
Solomonic dynasty
The Solomonic dynasty is the Imperial House of Abyssinia. Its members claim lineal descent from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, the latter of whom tradition asserts gave birth to the first King Menelik I after her Biblically described visit to Solomon in Jerusalem .-Overview:The dynasty, a...
since 17 February 1997 and is currently recognized as such by 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....
. However, there are rival claimants in the form of Girma Yohannis Iyasu
Girma Yohannis Iyasu
Prince Girma Yohannis Iyasu is the Iyasuist claimant to the throne of Ethiopia. He is also known by the name Girma Ghebresillasie.-Life:He is the son of Lij Yohannes Iyasu...
, the grandson of Emperor Iyasu V
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...
, and of Mangasha Seyum
Mangasha Seyum
Ras Mengesha Seyoum GCVO is a member of the imperial family of the Ethiopian Empire. In 1974, the monarchy was abolished by the Derg, a communist military junta.- Biography :...
, the great grandson of Emperor Johannes IV
Yohannes IV of Ethiopia
Yohannes IV , born Lij Kassay Mercha Ge'ez, was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1872 until his death.-Early life:...
and representative of the Tigrean Dynasty.
Biography
He attended and graduated from Eton CollegeEton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Exeter College, Oxford University
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. He was named "Acting Crown Prince" and Heir Presumptive to the Imperial throne of Ethiopia in 1974 by his grandfather, Emperor Haile Selassie, following his father's severe stroke a year earlier.
Following the fall of the Ethiopian monarchy, Prince Zera Yacob completed his studies at Oxford in the mid-seventies and went on to briefly work as a banker in the United States. He then returned to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to be closer to his parents. He was married and had a daughter, Princess Lideta Zera Yacob, but was subsequently divorced from his wife. He briefly accompanied his father Emperor Amha Selassie when he moved to Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in 1989, but later returned to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and resided for a time in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. He was named Heir Apparent by his father Crown Prince Asfaw Wossen, when the Crown Prince assumed the title of Emperor in exile in April 1989.
Crown Prince Zera Yacob has been regarded as head of the Imperial Family of Ethiopia since the death of his father on 17 February 1997. He is currently living in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
.
Charity
Prince Zera Yacob is the sovereign of the Imperial Ethiopian Order of Saint Mary of ZionImperial Ethiopian Order of Saint Mary of Zion
Imperial Ethiopian Order of Saint Mary of Zion was established in November 2001, by His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Zere Yacob Asfa Wossen Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, and he retains the title, authority and dignity of Imperial Head of all Orders, Commendations and Awards within the Ethiopic...
and bestows awards to individuals for their outstanding service of assistance to the people of Ethiopia.