Eventually Mengesha's son "Ras" Seyoum was made "Leul" of all Tigray in succession to his father after the death of his cousin "Ras" Gugsa Araya and after the treason of Gugsa Araya's son, "Dejazmatch" Haile Selassie Gugsa. In 1935, Haile Selassie Gugsa joined forces with the Italian invaders when they conquered Ethiopia and occupied the country.