UNIT THREE
THE ETHIOPIAN EMPIRE & THE EMERGENCE OF AUTOCRACY (1906-1935)
3.1 Power struggle in Ethiopia in 1906
The Problem of Succession & Tripartite Treaty
Political instability and power struggle in Ethiopia in the 1906 was due to
The illness of Menelik II
Empress Taytu exercised great power following the illness of Menelik
The death of Ras Mekonnen Wolde Mikael (the cousin of Menleik)
Ras Wolde Mikael was expected to become the successor of Menelik II.
The Tripartite Treaty (December 1906) - was signed among Britain, France and Italy to
defined their respective interest in Ethiopia.
France: control the eastern part of Ethiopia (Ethio-Djibouti railway)
Britain: to control the Western part of Ethiopia (Blue Nile and its tributes)
Italy: to construct railway that would link its colonies of Eritrea and Italian Somaliland
Objective: to partition Ethiopia among their sphere of influence
HW1: What were the causes to sign the Tripartite Treaty among Britain, France and Italy?
HW2: What were the measures of Emperor Menelik II to solve the internal power
struggle?
3.1 Power struggle b/n Shoan Nobility and Empress Taytu
Taytu disappointed by Menelik’s appointment of Lij Iyasu
HW3: Why Tayitu disappointed by the appointement of Lij Iyasu?
Taytu preferred Zewditu as a successor Menelik II
Made a political marriage Zewditu with her nephew Ras Gugsa Wolle Bitul
Cause for the power struggle b/n Empress Taytu and the Shoan nobilities
Taytu demoted Shoan nobilities and appointed her own relatives
Taytu’s political marriage among her relatives, families and dynasties to stay in power
To keep the political power among her relatives and respect her political influence
in the country.
She was tried to dissolve the Council of Minister which was dominated by Shoan
nobilities
The father of Lij Iyasu, Ras Mikael of Wollo was allied with the Shoan nobilities against
Empress Zewditu.
To defend the power his son, Lij Iyasu. Iyasu was the grandson of Menleik II (son of
Shewareged Ras Mikael of Wollo).
In 1910, Taytu was removed from her power and requested
For self-exit to her birth place of Wollo
The intervention of legations and the churches of Addis Ababa
In 1913 Menelik was died and Empress Taytu was exiled to Entoto and she was stayed until her
death in 1918.
3.3 The period of Lij Iysu (1913-1916)
Immediately after the death of Emperor Menelik, power struggle was started b/n Lij Iyasu and
the old Shoan nobilities. Why?
The death of Ras Bitweded Tessema in April 1911.
Lij Iyasu was refused to accept any other regent to replace Tessema
He was the son of Non- Shoan regional ruler, Ras Michael of Wollo
Reforms of Lij Iyasu
Modified traditional methods of tithes (asrat) collection.
Formerly Asrat was determined before harvesting by government official.
Outlawed the traditions of Lebashay or methods of criminal detection
Outlawed Quragna system by which accuser and the accused were chained together until
just is given.
Established the modern municipal policy force called Trunbulle which consisting of
former soldiers of Italy in Libya.
Established separate department of education
Established auditing system to protect public property.
Followed more liberal policy towards Ethiopian Muslim.
Established marriage alliance with local Muslim dynasties.
The fall of Lij Iyasu
i. Internal Factors
The conflict with old Shoan nobilities and his political measures
The appointment of his father as a governor of Tigray and Wollo in 1914 and
Begemidir and Gojjam in 1915
He undermined the power of old Shoan nobilities
Lack of attention to governmental affairs and his play boy character
Polygamous marriage with Muslims
HW4: What was the External Factor for the down fall of Lij Iyasu?
On 27 September 1916, Iyasu was deposed by the Shoan nobilities when he was visiting in
Harar.
In September 1916, at the battle Meiso, near Asebe teferi (Chero), Iyasu was defeated by
the army of Shewa and he was fled to Wollo.
On 27 October 1916, at the battle of Segele in Shoa fought b/n Ras Michael and the army of
Shoan nobilities
The end of Wollo autonomous administration
The restoration of Shoan supremacy
The fall of Ras Michael
In 1921, Iyasu was captured in Tigray and imprisoned in Fiche
Later transferred to Garamulata in Harerghe until his in 1936.
3.4 Diarchy (Dual) Rule (1916-1930)
On February 11, 1917 Shoan nobilities were nominated Zewditu as Empress and Ras Teferi
Mekonnen as an heir and immediately he assumed as regent.
She was the first woman took the imperial crown in Ethiopia
The Shoan nobilities were preferred Zewditu as empress of Ethiopia
She was less political ambitious
As a daughter of Menelik, she could maintain their interest.
Initially, there was a political stability until the power struggle followed between
A. Traditionalist (Conservative) Groups: consists of Council of ministers, old Shoan
nobilities and Church men with the leader of Empress Zewditu
Defended the old religious, social, economic and political system
Opposed the growing power of Ras Tafari
Opposed modernization, diplomatic relations and foreign investment
B. Progressive Groups: consisted of merchants, the young and educated as well as
enlightened nobility led by Ras Tafari
In 1918, Ras Tafari was removed the Council of Ministers from their power except Fitewrary
Habte Giorgs (the war minister and chairman of council of minister) due to
Corruption and demonstration of the Mahal Sefari (Soldiers & civil servants attached to
the palace)
N.B: The old Council of Ministers was replaced by Crown Council.
Served only an advisory group.
Appointed the relative and favorite or friends of Ras Tafari
The young educated allies of Ras Tafari used a newspaper called Berhanena Selam for
Criticizing the feudal order, heavy taxation, corruption and slavery.
Dev’t through the expansion of education
Insisted the expansion of veterinary and health services, the expansion of infrastructure,
abolition of the gebbar system and slavery
Reforms of Ras Tafari
Expanded modern education- sent young Ethiopians abroad for further education
He established printing press
Welcomed foreign investors and missionaries
In 1923, Tafari won Ethiopia’s membership to the League of Nations
Precondition given to Ethiopian membership of League of Nation
To end slaver and slave trade- anti-slave trade decree was issued
In 1924, Ras Tafari made tour to Europe with some prominent nobility exposed to
western civilization.
In 1926, Fitewrary habte Giorgs and Abune Matheos were died by natural death enables
Tefferi to control the land and the troops of Ethiopia.
In 1927, the unconditional surrender of Dejazmach Balcha Safo
Veteran of Adwa and a governor of Sidamo who was died fighting against Fascist
Italy in 1937
In 1928, Abba Wuqaw- the commander of palace guard who rebelled in defense of
Zewditu was surrendered and sentenced to death later changed to life imprisonment
Finally, the Mahal Sefari and Tafaris’ supporter influenced Zewditu coronate Tafari
She crowned as Nigus Tafari in October 1928
On 31 March 1930, at the battle of Anchim, the army of Ras Gugsa who was ex-husband of
Empress Zewditu and governor of Begemidir (1918-1830) was defeated by Nigus Tafari
Cause: to centralize the customs of Mettema trade
HW5: What were the consequences of the battle of Anchim?
Finally, Tafari crowned as an Emperor of Ethiopia by the name of Haile Sellasie I on 2,
November 1930
3.5 The Emergence of Autocracy in Ethiopia (1930-1935)
Autocracy is a political system in which all powers lies in the hand of one ruler
The 1931 Constitution: was the first written constitution of Ethiopia.
Foundation for Emperor Haile Selassie to exercise unlimited power
The 1931 constitution was drafted
To consolidate autocracy
To establish friendly relation with European powers.
To regulate the relationship between the king and to resolve the problem of succession.
HW6: What were the extensive powers given to Emperor Haile Selassie according to the
constitution?
The constitution had:
The Chamber of Senates (Upper House) - were elected by the Emperor from the
nobility, princes, judges, ministers and high ranking civil and military officials
The Chamber of Deputies (Lower House) - were elected by the nobility from the lower
lords.
Property qualification was the criteria for the election of Chamber of Deputies.
The nobility had the obligation of defending the throne and the constitution
The constitution had the rights and duties:
The rights of free movement, security of private property, appointment to civil and
military posts and due process of law
Paying gov’t taxes and tributes and giving military services
Administration Reforms: adopted a policy of centralized monarchical control over the province
To eliminated the possible challenges of regional lords.
To establish complete control over human and material resources
Different states power come to an end and replaced by newly appointed Shoan nobilities
In 1916, Wollo by defeating Negus Michael
In 1930, Begemidir by defeating Ras Gugsa
Gojjam and Jimma in 1932 & 1933 respectively
Tigray was the only autonomous state ruled by the grandson of Emperor Yohannes IV
namely Ras Seyoum Mengesh and Ras Gugsa Araya.
To consolidate his autocratic rule: Expanded modern education to fill gov’tal posts and served
the system as a loyal servant
Appointed graduates from local schools and foreign educated Ethiopians as an
administrative, financial, diplomatic and military posts
Economic Reform: the major sources of the state were income of land tax and tax on goods
Encouraged settlement on the uncultivated lands over the south
In 1935, the gov’t collected 30 Maria Theresa Talers fixed taxes per gasha
Established its own custom posts & set rules and regulations
HW7: What were the Military Reforms?
3.6 The Socio-Economic Development 1906-1934
The Development of Urbanization: In southern Ethiopia, urbanization was started in the last
quarter of the 19th c.
The emergence of military garrison due to the expanding army of Menelik II.
The military garrisons were later developed into small towns (ketema).
The foundation of Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa was founded by Empress Taytu in 1886.
Factors that make Addis Ababa as permanent capital city of Ethiopia
The peace and stability in the post Adwa.
The settlement of foreign merchants and Ambassadors
The introduction of Eucalyptus tree which solved the shortage of firewood
The completion of Djibouti- Addis Ababa railway in 1917
HW8: What were the effects of the Djibouti-Addis Ababa rail way?
The ruling class involved in money lending, hotel, taxi transport, cinema and banking.
Gebbar System was the basic means of surplus appropriation of the feudal class
Gabbar was a land holding peasants who had to pay gibir or tribute to the state in cash,
kind & labour
Generally, the modernization technologies introduced in Ethiopia were
Postal service (1894) Menleik II hospital (1910)
Telegraph (1898) Printing Machinery (1912)
First motor car (1904) The completion of Djibouti-Addis Ababa
Bank of Abyssinia (1905) railway (1917)
Itege Hotel (1907) Birhan Ena Selam Newspaper (1925)
Menelik II school (1908) Air plan (1929)
The main agents of technological innovation in the country were the craftsmen
They were considered as an evil eye
At the beginning of 20th c, the following progresses were witnessed.
In 1923, slavery was abolished.
In 1924, Gebbar system was modified.
Coercive labour (forced labour) was abolished
External trade was revived
