Ras Makonnen
From Ethiopedia
[Image:File-RasMakonnen.jpg]
Biography of Ras Makonnen Wolde Mikael(1852 - 1906) (video) : 8 parts
Ras Mekonnen was born on May 8, 1852 in shoa region, in the small town of Derefo Maryam near the then capital city, Ankober. Mekonnen’s parents were Fetawrari Wolde Mikael and Tenagnworq Sahle-Sellassie. During the first decade of Mekonnen’s life, in 1855, the then ruler of Ethiopia Emperor Tewodros (1818 – 1868) had taken captive, all of the Shoan male heirs and contenders to the throne. Among them was Sahle Mariam, the future Emperor Menelik II (1844 - 1913).
By 1865 the young Sahle Mariam had escaped from captivity in Meqedla, a fortress built by Tewodros, and quickly reclaimed his position as Negus of Shoa. Mekonnen was thirteen year old boy at the time. The following year, the fourteen year old Mekonnen is brought to the court of Menelik so that he may be groomed in all the particulars befitting his royal status. During these years, Mekonnen became a close confidant and aide to the Emperor his cousin. Menelik’s father, Negus Haile-Melekot and Mekonnen’s mother Tenagne Worq were children of Negus Sahle-Sellassie of Shoa.
Mekonnen most likely met Yeshiemebet Ali, his future wife, at the home of his uncle Ras Darge. Her mother, Woizero Wolete Georgis was the wife of Ras Darge. However, Ras Darge was not Yeshiemebet’s father. Her father was Sheh Ali, a landlord of a small village of Wereylu in the region of Wello. In 1872 the twelve year old Yeshiemebet and Balambaras Mekonnen age eighteen, were married in the city of Ankober.
Harar
As a reward for his gallant service during the capture and subjugation of Harar region, Ras Mekonnen was awarded the governorship of Harar Province in 1887. This new territory it’s capital also known as Harar, was a thriving city with Muslim stronghold, and myriads of diverse cultures were the Ras would develop his skills in governance.
In 1890, the Ras made his first trip abroad; he traveled to Italy as a special envoy to the court of Emperor Menelik. There, his assignment was to sign supplemental articles to the 1889 Wechale Treaty. This trip had a significant impact on the Ras. He became convinced of the importance of modern education, these impressions would have great implications for the future. Prior to his departure to the West, the Ras is said to have had other encounters with westerners, most renowned is his meeting with, the reputable French poet, turned merchant Jean Nicolas Arthur Rimbaud. He is purported to have become very close friend to the governor of Harar this relationship may have further prepared the Ras in understanding the ways of the Western World for which he would quickly gain very high regard.
In the early hours of July 23, 1891 (Hamle 16, 1884 Ethiopian Calendar), in the village of Ejersa Goro, his son Teferi is born. Although his marriage with Woizero Yeshiemebet was exceedingly happy, they were not blessed with children. Teferi is the ninth and only child to survive. Tragically, Weizero Yeshiemebet dies on March 13, 1893 as a result of complications with childbirth.
Adwa
According to Nineteenth century Ethiopian conventional wisdom, a man’s reputation is not complete until he is tested in battle. And according to custom, everyman who has passed through a bloody battle will gain a horse name. The valiant actions of a warrior noble are celebrated long after the battle itself. The horse too is memorialized as his master will remember him by adopting the horse’s name with his own given name. Thus, in this manner, Ras Mekonnen gained the name Qagnew. He was synonymously referred as Aba Qagnew Mekonnen or simply Aba Qagnew. At the time of the Battle of Adwa in 1995, when their governor sent out the call of arms to fight against the invading Italians, the people responded making up one of the most valiant and loyal contingency in the Ethiopian forces.
Diplomatic missions
On the occasion of the coronation of Edward VII in 1902, Ras Mekonnen travelled to Great Britain as the special emissary of Emperor Menelik II. According to the then British agent at the court of Menelik Lieutenant Colonel John Harrington, the decision to send the Ras took many weeks of deliberation as the Monarch came to agree on the request that Harrington had made to send Ras Mekonnen for this official occasion. Harrington writes in his report to the Foreign Office in London “it would be an estimable advantage to our relations with Abyssinia Mekonnen would probably be the next King of Kings and who is by far the most intelligent chief in Abyssinia”. As part of the condition in accepting this invitation, Emperor Menelik insisted that Harrington accompany the Ras. Harrington does accompany the Ras’s entourage which consisted of four officers and five retainers. Among them were; Fitawrari, Hayle Sellasse Abayneh, Ethiopian General, and guardian of Ras Mekonnen's son, Tefari (later Emperor Haile Sellasie I). Kentiba Gebru Desta (1855-1950), Mayor of Gondar; Emperor Menilek II's special envoy to the Khalifa at Omdurman and confidant; moderniser, first signatory to 1931 Constitution, Mika'el Berru (c.1875-1920's), British Agency interpreter at Aden and then Addis Ababa, Fitawrari Abba Tabor (c.1845-c.1916/7), General and principal guardian of Ras Mekonnen's son, Tefari (later Emperor Haile Sellasie I), Memhir Gebre Egzi'abeher (c.1835-c.1905), Chief Priest of Harar district and Father Confessor to Ras Mokonnen.
His tour of London included; inter alia, the Woolwich Arsenal, and Winsor Castle. There he visited the tomb of Alemayehu, the son of Emperor Tewodros who was brought to England as a child and who had died at age seventeen. On July 4, the Prince of Wales received Ras Mekonnen and on July 8, the Ras visited the industrial establishments in Birmingham and later Glasgow. This European tour also included visits to France, Germany, Italy and Turkey.
On his return to Harar, the Ras continued to bring significant changes within the region of Harar. The first Postal office and the first Hospital, development in infrastructure and extensive trade in Coffee and arms were all underway during Mekonnen’s tenure.
On October 27 1905 (Tekemet 20 1898 Ethiopian calendar), Ras Mekonnen bestows the title of Dejazmach to thirteen year old son Teferi. The youth is also given the administrative responsibility of a small district within Harar by the name of Gara Muleta.
In late October 1905, Ras Mekonnen is summed urgently to the capital Addis Ababa. The Ras sets out on January 11, 1906 but discontinues his journey a few days later as he suddenly becomes ill. The Ras returns towards Harar and stops at the Holy city of Kulubi. A French Doctor by the name of Vatalien examins the Ras. The diagnosis is an acute stage of Typhoid. At the request of the Ras, his beloved son Teferi is quickly brought from the city of Harar to his father’s side. Ras Mekonnen dies a few days later on March 20, 1906.
For full text and other resources on Ras Makonnen see sellassie.info
Reference
Budge, EA Wallis (1911) The History of Ethiopia, London.
Greenfield, Richard (1965) Ethiopia, New York.
Jean Duchesne-Fourchet, (1908) Mission en Ethiopie, 1901-1903, Paris.
John, Edward Courtenay Bodley, (1976) The Coronation of Edward The Seventh: A Chapter of European and Imperial History, London.
L De Castro, (1915) Nella terra dei Negus, Milan.
Marcus, Harold (1975) The Life and Times of Menelik II: Ethiopa 1844-1913, Oxford.
(1994) A History of Ethiopia, Berkeley.
Pankhurst, Richard (1990) Social History of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa.
Reta, Zewde Teferi Mekonnen rejem yseltagn guzo 1884 – 1922, Addis Ababa
Sir Lionel Cust, (1930) King Edward VII and His Court, London.
Zewde, Bahru (2005) A History of Modern Ethiopia 1955 – 1991, Addis Ababa.
(2005) Pioneers of Change in Ethiopia, Addis Ababa.
Newspapers
The Illustrated London News, 19 July 1902, p 89, (photograph by Lafayette) captioned "The Abyssinian Coronation Envoy, H.E. Ras Makonnen, Now Returning Home [sic]."
Magazines
Chic, 27 September 1902, p 166, captioned "Ras Makonnen, The Special Envoy of Emperor Menelik of Abyssinia" (Photograph by Lafayette, London - Reproduction of (L)3253).
Vanity Fair, 12 February 1903, "Spy" Cartoon of Ras Makonnen, Number DCCLXVI of the series "Men of the Day"