08/18/2026
182 years ago in the town of Angolalla in Northern Shewa, a son was born to Abeto Beshah Wered (later Negus Haile Melekot) and Woizero Idjigayehu Lemma. The child would be baptized as Sahle Mariam, but his grandfather Negus Sahle Selassie, king of Shewa, renamed him Menelik.
The baby born on August 17, 1844 would eventually mount the Imperial throne as Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia. He would successfully consolidate the authority of the central government over peripheral areas, and restored the sovereignty of the Ethiopian Crown over the various vassal kingdoms and sultanates who had functioned with autonomy since the Zemene Mesafint (“Era of the Princes”, a time of strife and disorder) or the earlier Gragn Wars. He would successfully defend his realm against Italian colonialism, decisively defeating the largest European army assembled in Africa until that time at the Battle of Adwa in 1896. He started his country on the road to modernity, setting up the foundations for development.
Menelik was taken prisoner as a small boy by Emperor Tewodros II during that Emperor’s forcefull campaign to bring Shewa back under direct imperial rule. Although imprisoned, Tewodros developed a deep affection for the little prince and treated him as his own son. When Menelik came of age Tewodros even married him to his daughter Alitash Tewodros. However Menelik soon after escaped detention abandoning his bride and returning to Shewa and claiming his father’s throne. Although from that point, Tewodros and Menelik were political opponents and Menelik was a claimant of the throne Tewodros occupied, personal feelings were different. Tewodros, once his initial rage subsided said he understood why Menelik had done what he did, but that he was hurt that he chose to abandon his bride. For his part when Menelik heard of Tewodros II’s defeat and su***de at Magdala, he shut himself away and wept inconsolably for three days. Tewodros had after all been a father to him.
During his time as King of Shewa he demonstrated his skill at governing, his natural diplomacy, and his skill st picking hood advisors. He made a devoted friend of his one time enemy, King Tekle Haimanot of Gojjam, and navigated a rocky relationship with Emperor Yohannes IV, placing himself in a position to assume the Imperial throne he had long claimed after Yohannes IV fell at Mettema fighting the Mahdists.
As Emperor Menelik II was the type of leader who suspended the collection of taxes when a rinderpest outbreak killed off most cattle including ploughing oxen, triggering a devastating famine. He led by example going out to personally break the earth with a hand held hoe, to encourage cattle-less farmers to do the same, stressing that there was no dishonor in working with one’s hands if even the crowned and anointed monarch could do so. Easily moved by the plight of others, compassionate and merciful, he earned the nickname Imiye Menelik እምዬ ምኒልክ (Mother Menelik) because he was seen to be more like an indulgent and affectionate mother figure, than the typical stern father figure image of traditional Emperors. Tolerant in matters of religion, firmly believing that everyone had the right to practice their religion unmolested, he nevertheless was personally a devout member of the Orthodox Church and devoted to the Virgin Mary. He had the ability to turn enemies into friends, but was firm when firmness was needed. He had a childlike delight in new inventions and technological advancements. He dreamed sbout how they could improve the lives of his people. His reign saw the introduction of electricity, the telephone, telegraphs, automobiles, trains, modern western style schools, hospitals and diplomatic ties with the major powers, thanks to his heroic political and military leadership that achieved victory over invading Italy at Adwa.
In recent years, shameless revisionists have tried to turn Emperor Menelik II into a monster. It is an insidious effort to undermine the Ethiopianism he stood for. However, truth and history cannot remain buried or be corrupted forever. The truth will prevail.
May the memory of Menelik II, King of Kings of Ethiopia, be eternal.
✍🏾 Solomon Kibriye
