Short-nap cloth Makonnen

Ras Makonnen Wolde Mikaél (May 8th 1852 - March 21st 1906) is a large Ethiopian character , cousin of the emperor Ménélik II, and father of the emperor Haïlé Sélassié Ier.

Born in country Amhara with the Choa, grandson of the king Sahlé Sellassié of Choa by his mother, Tenagnework Sahlé Sellassié, Makonnen, quickly experienced soldier, exerted his first political offices in the province of Harar, city a long time occupied by the Egyptian forces in the name of the Ottoman Empire. It was by its mediation that Arthur Rimbaud organized in 1886 a caravan of weapons bound for Ménélik, but the operation was a fiasco and Rimbaud did not obtain any compensation for Makonnen.

Married to a princess of birth Oromo and Guragué, wäyzäro Yäshimabét Ali, it had like wire Tafari, future emperor.

Victorious general with the Battle of Adoua, in 1896, it withdrew a great prestige from it among the population. Appointed governor of the Harrar by the emperor Ménélik II, it pacified the area and bound privileged relations as from 1897 with the French installed to Djibouti.

In 1902, invited to the ceremonies of the crowning of the English sovereign Edouard VII with London, it made a course stay with Paris which caused a great curiosity in the press and the public opinion. at the time of this successful round, it accepted following decorations (directly or via embassies): badge & star off the Order off St Michael and St George ( Knight To order ) in England, Star of the Russian Order of co. Anne, Cross of the Legion of honor in France, ÈÉtoile about the Crown of Italy, and the Star about Osmanie of the Ottoman Empire.

Had a presentiment of like potential successor of Ménélik, he died in a premature way the March 21st 1906, leaving behind him young prince Tafari, and an older son, resulting from a first marriage, Yilma.

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