Menelik II

**Menelik II** (Ge'ez: ዳግማዊ ምኒልክ *dagmawi mənilək*; horse name **Aba Dagnew** (Amharic: አባ ዳኘው *abba daññäw*); 17 August 1844 – 12 December 1913), dem baptise as **Sahle Maryam** (ሣህለ ማርያም *sahlä maryam*) na he be king of Shewa from 1866 to 1889 den Emperor of Ethiopia from 1889 to ein death insyd 1913. At de height of ein internal power den external prestige, na de process of territorial expansion den creation of de modern empire-state be largely completed by 1898.

Na de Ethiopian Empire transform under Menelik: na dem put in place de major signposts of modernisation, plus de assistance of key ministerial advisors. Externally, na Menelik lead Ethiopian troops against Italian invaders insyd de First Italo-Ethiopian War; dey follow a decisive victory at de Battle of Adwa, na recognition of Ethiopia ein independence by external powers be expressed in terms of diplomatic representation at ein court den delineation of Ethiopia ein boundaries plus de adjacent kingdoms. Na Menelik expand ein realm to de south den east, into Oromo, Kaffa, Sidama, Wolayta den oda kingdoms anaa peoples.

Later insyd ein reign, na Menelik establish de first cabinet of ministers make he help insyd de administration of de empire, wey dey appoint trusted den widely respected nobles den retainers to de first ministries. Na dese ministers go remain in place long after ein death, wey dem dey serve insyd dema posts thru de brief reign of Lij Iyasu (whom na dem help depose) den into de reign of Empress Zewditu.

## Early life
Na Menelik be de son of de Shewan Amhara king, Negus Haile Melekot, den probably of de palace servant girl Ejigayehu Lemma Adyamo. Na dem born am insyd Angolalla wey na dem baptize am to de name Sahle Maryam. Na ein poppie, at de age of 18 before na he inherit de throne, impregnate Ejigayehu, then he lef am; wey na he no realize say na dem born Menelik. Na de boy enjoy a respected position insyd de royal household wey na he receive a traditional church education.

Insyd 1855 na de Emperor of Ethiopia, Tewodros II, invade de then semi-independent kingdom of Shewa. Early insyd de subsequent campaigns, ma Haile Malakot die, wey na dem capture Menelik wey na dem take am to de emperor ein mountain stronghold, Amba Magdela. Still, na Tewodros treat de young prince well, even na he offer am marriage to ein daughter Altash Tewodros, wich na Menelik accept.

Upon Menelik ein imprisonment, na dem appoint ein uncle, Haile Mikael, as Shum of Shewa by Emperor Tewodros plus de title of Meridazmach. However, na Meridazmach Haile Mikael rebel against Tewodros, wey na as a result dem replace am by de non-royal Ato Bezabeh as Shum. Na Ato Bezabeh in turn rebel against de emperor wey na he proclaim einself Negus of Shewa. Although na de Shewan royals dem imprison at Magdela be largely complacent as long as a member of dema family rule over Shewa, na dis usurpation by a commoner no be acceptable to dem. Na dem plot Menelik ein escape from Magdela; plus de help of Mohammed Ali den Queen Worqitu of Wollo, he escape from Magdala on de night of 1 July 1865, wey na he abandon ein wifey, den return to Shewa. Enraged, na Emperor Tewodros slaughter 29 Oromo hostages wey then he make dem beat 12 Amhara notables to death plus bamboo rods.

## Illness, death den succession

On 27 October 1909, na Menelik suffer a massive stroke wey na ein "mind den spirit die". After dat, na Menelik no longer be able make he reign, wey na de office be taken over by Empress Taytu, as de facto ruler, til na dem publicly announce Ras Bitwaddad Tesemma regent. However, na he die within a year, den a council of regency – from wich na dem exclude de empress – na e be formed insyd March 1910.

Insyd de early morning hours of 12 December 1913, Menelik die. Na dem bury am quickly widout announcement anaa ceremony at de Se'el Bet Kidane Meheret Church, on de grounds of de Imperial Palace. Insyd 1916, na dem rebury Menelik insyd de specially church dem build at Ba'eta Le Mariam Monastery insyd Addis Ababa.

After de death of Menelik, na de council of regency continue to rule Ethiopia. Na dem never crown Lij Iyasu Emperor of Ethiopia, den eventually, Empress Zewditu succeed Menelik on 27 September 1916.

## References

## Sources

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* Chris Prouty. *Empress Taytu and Menilek II: Ethiopia 1883–1910*. Trenton: The Red Sea Press, 1986. 
* A. K. Bulatovich *Ethiopia Through Russian Eyes: Country in Transition, 1896–1898*, translated by Richard Seltzer, 2000
* With the Armies of Menelik II, emperor of Ethiopia at www.samizdat.com A.K. Bulatovich *With the Armies of Menelik II* translated by Richard Seltzer
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## External links

* Imperial Ethiopia Homepages – Emperor Menelik II the Early Years
* Imperial Ethiopia Homepages – Emperor Menelik II the Later Years
* Ethiopian Treasures – Emperor Menelik II
* 'The Emperor's electric chair' – Critical re-examination of a popular legend concerning Menelik II
* A recorded message from Menelik II to Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom on YouTube (In Amharic, from 4 June 1899; The British Library (search phrase "Menelik II")).
* Newspaper clippings about Menelik II in the 20th Century Press Archives of the ZBW