Ethiopian Empire
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The Ethiopian Empire, also known as Abyssinia, was a monarchical state located in the central and northern regions of the Horn of Africa. Its supreme ruler was called the 'Negusa Nagast' (king of kings), translated into English as 'Emperor'. The state passed through periods of varying central authority—sometimes strong, sometimes weak—and ended in 1974 when the military transferred power from Haile Selassie.
Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity was a fundamental pillar binding the empire's law and culture. Most emperors claimed descent traced through Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, a lineage used to legitimize their authority.
Early History
Before the empire, the region had been home to the Aksumite state and its successors. During the medieval period, the Solomonic dynasty—said to have begun in the thirteenth century—ruled the highland territories. Central authority weakened at various times, particularly during what is known as Zemene Mesafint (the era of the princes), when the emperor was merely a figurehead while regional commanders held real power.
Reunification in the Nineteenth Century
In the mid-nineteenth century, emperors such as Tewodros II, Yohannes IV, and Menelik II restored central authority. Menelik II extended the empire's borders to the south, east, and toward the Ogaden, incorporating new populations and territories. In 1896, Ethiopian forces defeated an Italian army at the Battle of Adwa, and as a result the empire gained international recognition of its independence during the period of African partition.
The Twentieth Century and End
In 1936, Italy invaded Ethiopia and Haile Selassie went into exile. In 1941, with the support of British forces and internal resistance, the empire was restored. In the following years, Ethiopia became one of the founding members of the Organization of African Unity, with its capital Addis Ababa serving as the headquarters. In 1974, after popular unrest and military mutinies, a military council (the Derg) removed Haile Selassie from power, and the empire formally ended.