Zewditu I of Ethiopia
Who was Zewditu I of Ethiopia?
Empress of Ethiopia from 1916 to 1930, the first woman to rule the country in her own right as monarch.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Zewditu I of Ethiopia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Zewditu I (1876–1930), originally named Askala Maryam from Ejersa Goro, was Empress of Ethiopia from 1916 to 1930. She was the first woman to independently rule the country as a monarch. She became queen after Lij Iyasu was dethroned in 1916, officially taking the regnal name "Zewditu" at her coronation on February 11, 1917, at the Cathedral of St. George in Addis Ababa. At 40 years old and without children when she was crowned, she was the only empress regnant in Ethiopia's history.
Her reign was marked by a shared power with her regent and future heir, Ras Tafari Makonnen, who later became Emperor Haile Selassie I. Ras Tafari aimed to modernize and engage Ethiopia internationally, while Zewditu held conservative views, focusing on preserving Ethiopia's traditional values and resisting change. This basic conflict caused tension throughout her 14-year rule, with support primarily from conservative groups and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, who considered her a stabilizing force.
Zewditu's leadership was deeply shaped by her strong religious beliefs and her dedication to maintaining Ethiopia's historical customs. She opposed many of Ras Tafari's proposed reforms, especially those involving foreign influence and modernization. Despite her resistance to change, she had to navigate the tricky political scenario of a nation under the pressure of colonial powers like Italy, while managing internal conflicts between conservative and modernist groups.
Her reign was filled with political maneuvering as Ethiopia tried to keep its sovereignty amid external threats and internal divisions. Her death on April 2, 1930, in Addis Ababa, concluded an era of traditional rule and led to Haile Selassie's more progressive governance. Zewditu's rule was the last period of deeply traditional Ethiopian monarchy before the country was forced to engage with modern international politics and colonial challenges.
Before Fame
Born as Askala Maryam in Ejersa Goro in 1876, Zewditu was the daughter of Emperor Menelik II, placing her within the Ethiopian royal family during a time of important political change. Her early life was shaped by the court culture of late 19th-century Ethiopia, where she received a conservative education focused on religious devotion and Ethiopian traditions.
Her path to the throne was unusual since Ethiopian succession usually favored male heirs. When Lij Iyasu was deposed in 1916, there was a succession crisis that conservative nobles resolved by elevating Zewditu to the throne. They saw her as a leader who would uphold traditional practices and resist outside influence. Her multiple marriages to prominent nobles, including Gugsa Welle, Araya Selassie Yohannes, Gwangul Zegeye, and Wube Atnaf Seged, illustrated the complex political alliances typical of Ethiopian court politics at the time.
Key Achievements
- First woman to rule Ethiopia in her own right as monarch
- Maintained Ethiopian independence during increasing colonial pressure from European powers
- Preserved traditional Ethiopian customs and religious practices during fourteen years of rule
- Successfully navigated complex power-sharing arrangement with progressive regent Ras Tafari
- Established herself as the first modern female head of state in Africa
Did You Know?
- 01.She was crowned in the Cathedral of St. George, which was located in Addis Ababa, a city founded by her father Emperor Menelik II
- 02.Zewditu modeled her reign after Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, despite her resistance to Western modernization
- 03.She was the last female Ethiopian head of state until Sahle-Work Zewde was elected president in 2018, nearly 90 years later
- 04.Her birth name was Askala Maryam, and she only adopted the name Zewditu when she became empress
- 05.She maintained a complex political relationship with her regent Ras Tafari, who would later become the famous Emperor Haile Selassie I