Gugsa Araya Selassie(1885 – 28 April 1932) was anarmy commanderand a member of theroyal familyof theEthiopian Empire.
| Gugsa Araya Selassie | |
|---|---|
| Dejazmach of Ethiopia | |
 | |
| Shum ofEastern Tigray | |
| Reign | 1888-1932 |
| Predecessor | Araya Selassie Yohannes |
| Successor | Haile Selassie Gugsa |
| Born | 1885 Enderta,Tigray,Ethiopia |
| Died | April 28th, 1932 |
| Spouse | Yeshashework Yilma Zimam Birru |
| Issue | Kifletsion Gugsa Haile Selassie Gugsa |
| House | House of Solomon(Tigrayan Branch) |
| Father | Araya Selassie Yohannes |
| Religion | Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo |
Biography
editLeul[nb 1]Gugsa Araya Selassie was the legitimate son ofRas[nb 2]Araya Selassie Yohannes.Araya Selassie Yohannes was the legitimate son ofEmperorYohannes IV of Ethiopia.
In 1917, Gugsa Araya Selassie marriedLeult[nb 3]Yeshashework Yilma,the niece ofRasTafari Makonnen.On 2 November 1930, Tafari Makonnen was crowned as EmperorHaile Selassie.
Gugsa Araya Selassie had a sonKifletsion Gugsaby his second wife Woizero Zimam Birru, daughter of Degiat Birru. After Ras Gugsa died woizero Zimam Birru Married to Degiat Zegeye Hailu.
On 11 January 1921, Gugsa Araya Selassie capturedLij[nb 4]Iyasu.Iyasu was then delivered by him into the custody ofRasKassa Haile Darge.While sometimes referred to as "Emperor Iyasu V," Iyasu was never formally crowned Emperor of Ethiopia. In 1916, Iyasu was deposed after forces loyal to him were defeated in theBattle of Segale.Iyasu was replaced by his aunt, EmpressZewditu I.40-year-old Zewditu named as herEnderase,orRegent,the then 24-year-oldRasTafari Makonnen. Iyasu and a small band of followers roamed theAfar Depressionfor five years after his being deposed before falling into the hands of Gugsa Araya Selassie.
Gugsa Araya Selassie was aRasandShum[nb 5]of easternTigray Province.Towards the end of 1928,NegusTafari called forRasGugsa Araya Selassie and the governors of several other provinces to suppress an Oromo revolt inWollo.Like many of those approached by Tafari, his response was not enthusiastic. Being a traditionalist, Gugsa Araya Selassie was not happy about the rise of Tafari. He was approached byRasGugsa Welleconcerning an uprising against Tafari. But, after initially indicating support, he did not respond to a letter from Gugsa Welle.[1]WhenGugsa Welle openly revolted,Gugsa Araya Selassie did not support him.
By 1932, Gugsa Araya Selassie's health deteriorated and he fell ill. Haile Selassie authorized a trip toSwitzerlandfor medical help. Had Gugsa Araya Selassie traveled in a stretcher, he may have made it. But tradition dictated that aRastravel bywar muleand this is what he did. He averaged about one hour of travel per day. His doctor insisted that he should stop traveling in this manner, but tradition won out and he died.[2][nb 6]
On 28 April 1932, according to legend, the corpse ofRasGugsa Araya Selassie enteredAdigratstrapped upright on his war mule. Upon his death, his son,Haile Selassie Gugsa,moved into his father's Italian-built palace inMek'eleand replaced him asShumof eastern Tigray.Dejazmatch[nb 7]
See also
editNotes
edit- Footnotes
- Citations
References
edit- Haile Selassie I, Translated and Annotated by Edward Ullendorff (1999).My Life and Ethiopia's Progress: The Autobiography of Emperor Haile Selassie I, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Volume I: 1892-1937.Chicago: Research Associates School Times Publications. p. 338.ISBN0-948390-40-9.
- Marcus, Harold G. (1994).A History of Ethiopia.London: University of California Press. pp.316.ISBN0-520-22479-5.
- Mockler, Anthony (2002).Haile Sellassie's War.New York: Olive Branch Press.ISBN978-1-56656-473-1.
- Nicolle, David (1997).The Italian Invasion of Abyssinia 1935-1936.Westminster, MD: Osprey. pp. 48 pages.ISBN978-1-85532-692-7.