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Taytu Betul(Amharic:ጣይቱ ብጡልṬaytu Bəṭul;baptised as Wälättä Mikael; 1851 – 11 February 1918) wasEmpress of Ethiopiafrom 1889 to 1913 and the third wife ofEmperorMenelik II.An influential figure in the anti-colonial resistance during the late 19th-centuryScramble for Africa,she, along with her husband, founded the modern Ethiopian capitalAddis Ababain 1886.[1]
| Taytu Betul ጣይቱ ብጡል | |
|---|---|
| Itege | |
 | |
| Empress of Ethiopia | |
| Tenure | 10 May 1889 – 12 December 1913 |
| Coronation | 4 November 1889 |
| Queen consort of Shewa | |
| Tenure | 1883 – 9 March 1889 |
| Born | 1851 Semien,North Gondar,Ethiopian Empire |
| Died | 11 February 1918(aged 66–67) Addis Ababa,Ethiopian Empire |
| Burial | Ba'eta le-Mariam Monastery |
| Spouse | Menelik II |
| Father | Betul Haile Maryam |
Early life
According to Raymond Jonas, Taytu Betul (or Taitu) was born inSemien,North Gondar,Ethiopian Empire.[2][3]Scholarly consensus is that she was born at about 1851.
Taytu's father,RasBetul Haile Maryam,was part of the ruling family ofSemienthat claimed to be descendants of theSolomonic Dynastythrough EmperorSusenyos I.[4]Taytu's uncle was theAmharawarlordWube Haile Maryamwho governed the Semien andTigrayprincedom.[5]
Education
There are no records indicating that Empress Taytu attended school; however, she was taught to read and write inAmharicandGe'ez.This is a rarity, considering that it was unlikely for women to be educated at the time. It is believed that she was taught diplomacy, politics and economics. Additionally, she understood a language once exclusive to the Ethiopian Orthodox liturgy.[6]
Hobbies
Empress Taytu was known to play thebegena,which is a 10-string instrument. Her other activities included playingSenterej,Ethiopian chess, and an interest in writing poetry.[6]
Family history
OfLasta,YejjuandTigraydescent,[7]her family is claimed to have a ruling foothold in the Northern region of the country. Such places include:Semien,Begemeder,Lasta,Yejju,WelloandTigray.[8]Her aristocratic lineage dates back to 1607–32, descending from the daughter of Emperor Susneyos.[9]Her great-grandfather, Ras Gebre of Simien, ruled for 44 years during the period known as the Zemene Mesafint, or the "Era of the Princes".[9]His fame was acknowledged through two measures. He was responsible for making the communities west of Gondar pay taxes in gold, as well as treating his subjects so well – providing an ample amount of food and drink so that they no longer needed to farm to sustain themselves.[9]Her grandfather, DejazmachHaile Maryam Gebre,also held a respected title. He governed Simien, where his children Wube, Betul and Merso were born.[9]Additionally, her uncle Degazmach Wube followed in the family's footsteps by also acquiring a high position in the region. As the half-brother of Taytu's father,Degazmach Wubewas responsible for ruling the Tigray province.[9]Taytu had two brothers (Ras Welle Betul & Temru Betul) and two sisters.[6][10]
Personal life
In her fourth and final marriage, Taytu Betul married KingMenelikofShewa,who would later becomeEmperor of Ethiopia.[9][11]
Political contributions
Taytu is acknowledged to have wielded considerable political power both before and after she and Menelik were crowned Emperor and Empress in 1889. She led the conservative faction at court that resisted the modernists and progressives who wanted to develop Ethiopia along western lines and bring modernity to the country. According to the historians, she was always consulted by the Emperor prior to making important decisions. Thus, Empress Taytu was a key player in the conflict over theTreaty of WuchalewithItaly,which she tore up. Empress Taytu was the first to motivate the hesitant Emperor and other men to stand up against the Italians.[12]Deeply suspicious of European intentions towards Ethiopia, she was a key player in the conflict over the Treaty of Wuchale with Italy, in which the Italian version made Ethiopia an Italian protectorate, while theAmharicversion did not do so. The Empress held a hard line against the Italians, and when talks eventually broke down, and Italy invaded the Empire from itsEritreancolony, she marched north with the Emperor and the Imperial Army, commanding a force of cannoneers at the historicBattle of Adwathat resulted in a humiliating defeat for Italy in March 1896. This victory was the most significant of any African army battling European colonialism.[13]Menelik II and Taytu Betul were temporarily in possession of 4,000 prisoners of war.[11]Menelik, who often prevaricated and postponed unpleasant decisions by answering "Yes, tomorrow" (Ishi, nega), found it useful to have his wife be in a powerful enough position to say "Absolutely not" (Imbi) to people and issues he just did not want to personally offend or refuse.[14]
When Menelik's health began to decline around 1906, Taytu began to make decisions on his behalf, angering her rivals for power through her appointment of favorites and relatives to most of the positions of power and influence. As a means to curb her family's political influence at court, Menelik selectedSabla Wangel Hailuas the heir-presumptiveLijIyasu's wife, as her family had no ties to Taytu's.[15]Taytu was widely resented for her alleged Gonderine xenophobia and nepotism, and the nobility of Shoa and Tigray, along with the Wollo relatives ofLijIyasu conspired to remove her from state responsibility. In 1910, she was forced from power, and a regency underRasTessema Nadewtook over. Instructed to limit herself to the care of her stricken husband, Taytu faded from the political scene. Taytu and Menelik did not have any children. Menelik died in 1913 and was succeeded by his grandson from a daughter of a previous liaison,Lij Iyasu.Taytu was banished to the old Palace atEntoto,next to the St. Mary's church she had founded years before, and where her husband had been crowned Emperor.
While some believe Taytu may have played a part in the plot that eventually removed EmperorIyasu Vfrom the throne in 1916, replacing him with EmpressZauditu,the price for Zauditu's elevation was a divorce from Taytu's nephew RasGugsa Welle,who became governor ofBegemder.Zauditu, Menelik II's daughter by yet another previous marriage, had always been close to Empress Taytu and invited Taytu to live with her. Although Taytu declined she resumed advising rulers "in a modest way," to quote Chris Prouty.
Later years
Taytu lived out the next few years at the old palace next to the Entoto Maryam Church overlookingAddis Ababa.She requested permission to go to Gondar in November 1917 to end her days, but was refused; she died three months later.[16]She is buried next to her husband at the Taeka Negest Ba'eta Le Mariam Monastery in Addis Ababa.
Notes
- ^"Taytu Betul: Ethiopia's strategic empress".amp.dw.com.Retrieved2022-03-23.
- ^The Battle of Adwa African Victory in the Age of Empire.Cambridge: Belknap Press: An Imprint of Harvard University Press. 2015.ISBN9780674503847.
- ^Chris Prouty notes that her tomb in Addis Ababa states she was born inE.C.1832 (or 1839/40), while other sources state her date of birth was 1853. "The date of 1850–1 dovetails best with the known facts of her life." (Empress Taytu and Menilek II: Ethiopia 1883–1910,p. 27).
- ^Rosenfeld, Chris Prouty (1986)."The background of Taytu Betul Hayle Maryam".Empress Taytu and Menilek II Ethiopia 1883-1910.Ravens Educational & Development Services. pp. 26–43.ISBN9780932415103.
- ^Akyeampong, Emmanuel Kwaku; Gates, Henry Louis (2012).Dictionary of African biography vol 1-6.Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 180–181.ISBN9780195382075.
- ^abcOfoego, Obioma; Onajin, Alaba (2015).Taytu Betul: The Rise of an Itege.France: UNESCO. pp. 43–52.ISBN978-92-3-100104-8.
- ^The Battle of Adwa:Reflections of Ethiopia's Herioic Victory against European Colonialism,p.181f.,Paulos Milkias, Getachew Metaferia
- ^Akyeampong, Emmanuel Kwaku; Gates, Henry Louis (2012).Dictionary of African biography vol 1-6.Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 180–181.ISBN9780195382075.
- ^abcdefProuty, Chris (1986).Empress Taytu and Menelik II: Ethiopia 1883–1910.London: Ravens Educational and Developmental Services and The Red Sea Press.ISBN0947895019.
- ^ጥላሁን ብርሃነ ሥላሴ፣ «የ20ኛው ክፍለ ዘመን ኢትዮጵያ» አንደኛ መጽሐፍ፣ ፲፱፻፺፮ ዓ.ም.
- ^abStokes, Jamie; Gorman, editor; Anthony; consultants, Andrew Newman, historical (2008).Encyclopedia of the peoples of Africa and the Middle East.New York: Facts On File. p. 516.ISBN978-1438126760.
{{cite book}}:|author2=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^"Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti".ZODML.Retrieved23 May2018.
- ^"Taytu Betul: The Rise of an Itege"(PDF).United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. 2015.Retrieved28 November2015.
- ^Prouty (1986),Empress Taytu,p. 42.
- ^Augustyniak, Zuzanna (2014). "Lïj Iyasu's marriages as a reflection of his domestic policy". In Ficquet, Éloi; Smidt, Wolbert G. C. (eds.).The Life and times of Lïj Iyasu of Ethiopia: New Insights.Zurich: LIT Verlag. p. 41.
- ^Prouty (1986),Empress Taytu,pp. 345f.
Bibliography
- Chris Prouty.Empress Taytu and Menilek II: Ethiopia 1883–1910.Trenton: The Red Sea Press, 1986.ISBN0-932415-11-3
External links
