Emperor Menelik II

He was born in August 17, 1844 AD (Nehasa 12, 1836 in Ethiopian calendra). He was King of Shewa from 1866-89 and then Emperor of Ethiopia from 1889-1913.

He lead Ethiopia to victory against invading Italy at the battle of Adwa in the first Italo-Ethiopia war.

He was knowledgeable in many departments and fluently spoke Amharic, Oromo, Tigragn, English and French. He tried to modernize Ethiopia in many departments like establishing postal service, hotels, hospitals, railroad, secular school, electricity and telephone. He was the 1st black African to drive a car.

He is widely called "Emiye Menelik" in Ethiopia for his forgiving nature and his selfless deeds to the poor. He expanded Ethiopia's borders and pretty much restored Ethiopia's glory on par with the height of the Aksumite Empire, "one of the four most powerful kingdoms of the ancient world".

More Pics

More extra pics

- The last pic is Menelik II with young Teferi Makonnen (the future emperor Haileselassie)

I will visit Ethiopia in 2019. I like Ethiopian history

EmeeNaka:
I will visit Ethiopia in 2019. I like Ethiopian history

Great

.

Last but not least pics

Nice but I have to post this
‘I am not a Negro at all; I am a Caucasian,’ the Emperor Menelik told the West Indian pan-Africanist Benito Sylvain who had come to Addis Ababa to solicit the Emperor’s leadership in a society for the ‘Amelioration of the Negro Race.’ Haile Sellassie confirmed that view in a declaration to Chief H. O. Davis, a well-known Nigerian nationalist, stating that the Ethiopians did not regard themselves as Africans, but as ‘a mixed Hamito-Semitic people.'”
(See John H. Spencer, Ethiopia at Bay (19

fanficgirl:
Nice but I have to post this
‘I am not a Negro at all; I am a Caucasian,’ the Emperor Menelik told the West Indian pan-Africanist Benito Sylvain who had come to Addis Ababa to solicit the Emperor’s leadership in a society for the ‘Amelioration of the Negro Race.’ Haile Sellassie confirmed that view in a declaration to Chief H. O. Davis, a well-known Nigerian nationalist, stating that the Ethiopians did not regard themselves as Africans, but as ‘a mixed Hamito-Semitic people.'”
(See John H. Spencer, Ethiopia at Bay (19

Yeah, he said this, but I won't blame him, because all emperors of Ethiopia came to power with the claim that they were descendants of Queen of Sheba and King Solomon. Because of this, they didn't considered themselves to be black but rather Semite, even if they were more Cushite than Semite in reality. It was centuries old indoctrination by Egypt Coptic Churches that they weren't blacks but Semites that resulted for Menelik II and other emperors and general population that resulted for them to say they weren't black. We don't need to blame them.

In real truth, Ethiopians are black. Blacks are very diverse, so there is no one typical black look.

Hati13:

Yeah, he said this, but I won't blame him, because all emperors of Abyssinia came to power with the claim that they were descendants of Queen of Sheba and King Solomon. Because of this, they didn't considered themselves to be black but rather Semite, even if they were more Cushite than Semite in reality. It was centuries old indoctrination by Egypt Coptic Churches that they weren't blacks but Semites that resulted for Menelik II and other emperors and general population that resulted for them to say they weren't black. We don't need to blame them.

In real truth, Ethiopians are black. Blacks are very diverse, so there is no one typical black look.

Yeah I know, I just alwaya found that quote funny . I didn't know Egyptian Coptic Church had a huge influence in Ethiopia?

fanficgirl:

Yeah I know, I just alwaya found that quote funny . I didn't know Egyptian Coptic Church had a huge influence in Ethiopia?

Until the 20 century, all Ethiopian Orthodox Church bishops were assigned by Egypt Coptic church. So, Egypt were having a huge influence on Ethiopia religion wise.

Hati13:

Until the 20 century, all Ethiopian Orthodox Church bishops were assigned by Egypt Coptic church. So, Egypt were having a huge influence on Abyssinia religion wise.

How did they gain so much influence to do that?

fanficgirl:
Nice but I have to post this
‘I am not a Negro at all; I am a Caucasian,’ the Emperor Menelik told the West Indian pan-Africanist Benito Sylvain who had come to Addis Ababa to solicit the Emperor’s leadership in a society for the ‘Amelioration of the Negro Race.’ Haile Sellassie confirmed that view in a declaration to Chief H. O. Davis, a well-known Nigerian nationalist, stating that the Ethiopians did not regard themselves as Africans, but as ‘a mixed Hamito-Semitic people.'”
(See John H. Spencer, Ethiopia at Bay (19

As you might know the royal family claims solomonic dynasty so they do consider themselves to be different from the negro stock(Hamito-Semitic as you mentioned), but they never questioned their black african identity. I mean we pride ourselves to be "The black lions" who defeated the white fascists. If you were in Addis you would see that most of older facilities such as school,hospitals...are named "tikur anbessa" (black lion) The thing about Ethiopia is,if you randomly ask a person what his race (zer) is,he will identify with his specific tribe.If you ask if he is black he might say no i am keyh(light skinned),teyim (brown skinned) .Skin color isn't mostly a criteria for determining our tribes here exept for the few southern tribes which makeup small portion of the population.

Aksumawi2805:


As you might know the royal family claims solomonic dynasty so they do consider themselves to be different from the negro stock(Hamito-Semitic as you mentioned), but they never questioned their black african identity. I mean we pride ourselves to be "The black lions" who defeated the white fascists. If you were in Addis you would see that most of older facilities such as school,hospitals...are named "tikur anbessa" (black lion) The thing about Ethiopia is,if you randomly ask a person what his race (zer) is,he will identify with his specific tribe.If you ask if he is black he might say no i am keyh(light skinned),teyim (brown skinned) .Skin color isn't mostly a criteria for determining our tribes here exept for the few southern tribes which makeup small portion of the population.

I understand about not identifying as black. Black is a very Western invention that doesn't fit on Africa

fanficgirl:

How did they gain so much influence to do that?

Christianity was first introduced in Ethiopia in the first century and became official in the mid 4th century. But there weren't many churches and monasteries. The Bible wasn't translated to Geez language. Around the 5th or 6th century, 9 Syrian saints were sent to Axum by Egypt Coptic church to build many churches and monasteries. They translated the Bible to Geez language and more people started to convert to Christianity.

It was from this point onwards, Egypt started to had huge religion influence on Axum and Abyssinia.

Hati13:

Christianity was first introduced in Ethiopia in the first century and became official in the mid 4th century. But there weren't many churches and monasteries. The Bible wasn't translated to Geez language. Around the 5th or 6th century, 9 Syrian saints were sent to Axum by Egypt Coptic church to build many churches and monasteries. They translated the Bible to Geez language and more people started to convert to Christianity.

It was from this point onwards, Egypt started to had huge religion influence on Axum and Abyssinia.

I always wondered. Who introduced Christianity to Ethiopia and around what time did Christianity started loosing prominence in Egypt?

fanficgirl:

I always wondered. Who introduced Christianity to Ethiopia and around what time did Christianity started loosing prominence in Egypt?

A Christian apostle named Matthew few years after the death of Jesus. They say, he was killed by Ancient Ethiopians. I'm Atheist by the way.

After Egypt was conquered by Arabs in the 7th or 8th century, most of the population started to convert to Islam, but there were large Christian communities on the further north parts. The Christian communities however started to decline through times, but now, there are about 5-10 million Christians in Egypt.

Hati13:

A Christian apostle named Matthew few years after the death of Jesus. They say, he was killed by Ancient Ethiopians. I'm Atheist by the way.

After Egypt was conquered by Arabs in the 7th or 8th century, most of the population started to convert to Islam, but there were large Christian communities on the further north parts. The Christian communities however started to decline through times, but now, there are about 5-10 million Christians in Egypt.

Wait Christian Apostle Matthew? Maybe I should pay closer attention to the bible . Why don't you believe when Ethiopia is mentioned so many times in the bible?

fanficgirl:

Wait Christian Apostle Matthew? Maybe I should pay closer attention to the bible . Why don't you believe when Ethiopia is mentioned so many times in the bible?

Christianity and other religions are basically nothing but a pointless fantasy system created to their respective fantasy God/gods. I only believe in reasons/science.

Why do you believe in Christianity?

Hati13:

Christianity and other religions are basically nothing but a pointless fantasy system created to their respective fantasy God/gods. I only believe in reasons/science.

Why do you believe in Christianity?

I've seen too many things that can't be explained

fanficgirl:

I've seen too many things that can't be explained

I respect your opinion sis.

Hati13:

I respect your opinion sis.

Not going to loe, I'm a terrible christian though . I keep going back and forth between atheism and Christianity, then something happens and I'm pulled nack in

fanficgirl:

Not going to loe, I'm a terrible christian though . I keep going back and forth between atheism and Christianity, then something happens and I'm pulled nack in

My opinion.

Please forget religion and believe in science, so you can live a relatively easy life compared to religious people life.

Hati13:

My opinion.

Please forget religion and believe in science, so you can live a relatively easy life compared to religious people life.

Lol I do embrace science, and I get what you mean but in this man's words
"I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn't, than live as if there isn't and to die to find out that there is"
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/albertcamu163017.html

fanficgirl:

Lol I do embrace science, and I get what you mean but in this man's words
"I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn't, than live as if there isn't and to die to find out that there is"
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/albertcamu163017.html

Even if you are wrong from my perspective, I like your strategy.

Good one.

Omoluabi16:
Good one.

Thanks!