Father of Emperor Haile Selassie: “The Napoleon of Africa”
Channel: Emperors
Date: 2023-10-09

Ras Makonnen Wolde Mikael was an Ethiopian royal from Shewa, a military leader, the governor of Harar, and the father of future Emperor Haile Selassie. Described by Nikolai Gumilev as “one of the greatest leaders of Abyssinia”, he served in the First Italo-Ethiopian War, playing a key role at the Battle of Adwa. Ras Makonnen was commonly referred to as “the Napoleon of Africa”.