Haile Selassie << HY lee suh LAS ee >> I (1892-1975) became emperor of Ethiopia in 1930. His reign ended in 1974, when military leaders overthrew him.
Haile Selassie worked for economic and social reforms, such as making slavery punishable by law. He gave Ethiopia its first written constitution in 1931. Ethiopia was attacked by Fascist Italy in 1935, and Haile Selassie lived in exile in England until 1941. During World War II (1939-1945), British forces assisted in the liberation of Ethiopia and restored him to the throne. Rebels seized the government on Dec. 13, 1960, while he was in South America, but he regained his throne four days later. Haile Selassie was born in Harer, Ethiopia, on June 23, 1892. His given and family name was Tafari Makonnen. He became Ras (Duke) Tafari in 1916. He belonged to a dynasty (series of rulers) that claimed to be descended from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. He took the title Haile Selassie I when he became emperor. Haile Selassie means Power of the Trinity. Haile Selassie died on Aug. 27, 1975.
