Ethiopia
 

1881 - 6 Oct 1897                         6 Oct 1897 -  9 May 1936              9 May 1936 - 5 May 1941                5 May 1941 - 21 Mar 1974              21 Mar 1974 - 12 Sep 1975                      28 May 1991 - 6 Feb 1996                  12 Sep 1975 - 12 Sep 1987                     12 Sep 1987 - 28 May 1991                          Adopted 6 Feb 1996 Map of Ethiopia Hear National Anthem "Whedefit Gesgeshi Woude Henate Ethiopia" (March Forward, Dear  Mother Ethiopia) Text of National Anthem Adopted 1992 Constitution (22 August 1995) -------------------------- Imperial Constitutions (16 Jul 1931 and 4 Nov 1955) Eritrea-Ethiopia Border Map Map of Ethiopia 1952-1993 Hear Former Anthem "Ethiopia, Ethiopia, Ethiopia kidemi" (Ethiopia, Ethiopia, Ethiopia be first) (1975-1992) Hear Former Anthem "Ethiopia hoy dess ibalish beamlakish hail benegoosish"  (Ethiopia be happy, thanks to God's strength and your Emperor's wise rule) (1930 - 1975) Capital: Addis Ababa (Entoto 1880-89; Magdala 1855-1880; Gonder 1636-1855; Danqaz ...-1636; Tegulat 1270-....; Nazaret ....-....; Axum 250-...) Currency: Birr (ETB); Ethiopian Dollar (ETD) (23 Jul 1945-21 Sep 1976) National Holiday: 28 May (1991) National Day Population: 76,511,887 (2007) GDP: $71.6 billion (2006) Exports: $1.08 billion (2006) Imports: $4.1 billion (2006)  Ethnic groups: Oromo 31.8%, Amhara 29.3%, Somali 6.2%, Tigre 5.9%, Walaita 4.6%, Gurage 4.2%, Sidamo 3.4%, Afar 1.9%, Hadya-Libide 1.7%, other 11% (1994) Total Armed Forces: 162,500 (2003) Merchant marine: 8 ships (2006) Religions: Ethiopian Orthodox 50.3%, Muslim 32.9%, Protestant 10.1%, animist 4.8%, Roman Catholic 0.6%, other 1.3% (1994) International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, AfDB, APM, AU, BTWC, COMESA, CTBT, ENMOD (signatory), FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, KP, MIGA, NAM, NPT, NTBT, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCLOS (signatory), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) Ethiopia Index Chronology   250 - c.980                Empire of Axum 1117                       Ethiopian Kingdom ....                       Empire of Ethiopia 1528 - 1541                Much of Ethiopia occupied by the Muslim Sultan                               of Harar, Ahmad bin Ibrahim ("Gragn"), allied                              with the Ottoman Empire. 11 Oct 1875 - 1884         Harar occupied by Egypt. 1889                       Definitive incorporation of the Kingdom                               of Shewa (Shoa) into Ethiopia.  2 May 1889 - 26 Oct 1896  By the Treaty of Uccialli declared a protectorate                              by Italy (Abissinian Italian Protectorate);                              contested by Ethiopia.  3 Oct 1935                Italian invasion.  9 May 1936                Annexed by Italy.  1 Jun 1936                Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Italian Somalia are united                               into Italian East Africa and reorganized as a                              federation of six provinces: Eritrea (formed by                              the merger of the former colony of Eritrea and                              the Ethiopian region of Tigre), Somalia (formed                              by the merger of the former colony of Somalia                              and the Ethiopian region of Ogaden), Addis Ababa                              (capital region of Ethiopia), Amhara, Harar, and                              Galla-Sidama (parts of Ethiopia).  1 Jan 1939                Addis Ababa and parts of the provinces of Amhara                              and Galla-Sidama are united into the new                              province of Showa. Mar 1941 - 23 Sep 1948     British military administration of the Ogaden.  5 May 1941                Addis Ababa liberated by Allies. 27 Nov 1941                Last Italian administrators surrender. 15 Sep 1952                Eritrea federated with Ethiopia, under the                              sovereignty of the Ethiopian crown. 14 Nov 1962                Eritrea an integral part of Ethiopia. 12 Sep 1974                Ethiopia (semi-officially Socialist Ethiopia). 21 Mar 1975                Monarchy abolished. 10 Sep 1987                People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia 27 May 1991                Ethiopia 24 May 1993                Independence of Eritrea. 22 Aug 1995                Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Traditional Border States National Regional States  Imperial Govt. in Exile  Kingdom of Shewa (1682-1889)  Italian East Africa (1935-1942) Italian East Africa Ethiopian provinces Addis Aababa Amhara Galla-Sidama Harar Showa  Ogaden (1941-1948) Historical Maps of Ethiopia Ethiopian Orthodox Church Map of Ethiopia 1952-1993

Chairman of the Central Committee of the Commission to Organize the
the (communist) Party of the Workers of Ethiopia (COPWE)
Dec 1979 - 12 Sep 1984     Mengistu Haile Mariam              (b. 1937)
General Secretary of the Ethiopian Worker's Party (EWP)
12 Sep 1984 - 21 May 1991  Mengistu Haile Mariam              (s.a.)
                          (10 Mar 1990, party renounces Marxist-Leninism)

Emperors¹
19 Jul 1682 - 13 Oct 1706  Iyasu I Yohannes                   (b. 1662 - d. 1706)
1685                       Yeshaq Iyasu? (in opposition)
13 Oct 1706 - 30 Jun 1708  Tekle Haymanot I Iyasu             (b. 16.. - d. 1708)
                             (in opposition from 27 Mar 1706)
Sep 1707                   Amda Seyon (in opposition)
30 Jun 1708 -  1 Jul 1708  Na'od II Tekle Haymanot            (b. 1704 - d. 1722)
 1 Jul 1708 - 14 Oct 1711  Tewoflos Yohannes                  (b. 16.. - d. 1711)
1709 - Jul 1710            Nebahne Yohannes (in opposition)
14 Oct 1711 - 19 Feb 1716  Yostos Delba Iyasus                (b. 16.. - d. 1716)
19 Feb 1716 - 18 May 1721  Dawit III Iyasu                    (b. 1695 - d. 1721) 
                             (in opposition from 8 Feb 1716)
18 May 1721 - 21 May 1721  Walda Giyorgis Iyasu
21 May 1721 - 19 Sep 1730  Asma Giyorgis Iyasu                (b. 1694 - d. 1730)
                             (a.k.a. Adbar Sagad II or Bakafa)
19 Sep 1730 - 26 Jun 1755  Iyasu II Asma Giyorgis             (b. 1723 - d. 1755)
19 Sep 1730 - 26 Jun 1755  Mantuab Walatta Giyorgis (f)       (b. c.1710 - d. 1773)
                             (1st time) -Dowager Empress-Regent
1736 - 1737                Hezqeyas (in opposition)
26 Jun 1755 -  7 May 1769  Iyoas I Iyasu                      (b. 174. - d. 1769)
26 Jun 1755 -  7 May 1769  Mantuab Walatta Giyorgis (f)       (s.a.)
                             (2nd time) -Dowager Empress-Regent
 7 May 1769 - 18 Oct 1769  Yohannes II Iyasu                  (b. 1699 - d. 1769)
18 Oct 1769 - Jun 1770     Tekle Haymanot II Yohannes         (b. 1754 - d. 1777)
                             (1st time)
Jun 1770 - Dec 1770        Susenyos II Iyasu?
Dec 1770 - 13 Apr 1777     Tekle Haymanot II Yohannes         (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)
13 Apr 1777 - 20 Jul 1779  Salomon II Adigo
20 Jul 1779 -  8 Feb 1784  Tekle Giyorgis I Yohannes
                             (1st time)                       (b. 1755 - d. 1817)
16 Feb 1784 - 24 Apr 1788  Iyasu III Azequ                    (d. 1788)
1787 - 1788                Iyasu (in opposition)
1787 - 1788                Be'ede Mariam (in opposition)
Feb 1788 - 1789            Tekle Haymanot (in opposition)
24 Apr 1788 - 26 Jul 1789  Tekle Giyorgis I Yohannes
                             (2nd time)                       (s.a.)
26 Jul 1789 - Jan 1794     Hezqeyas Iyasu                     (b. 17.. - d. 1816)
Jan 1794 - 15 Apr 1795     Tekle Giyorgis I Yohannes
                             (3rd time)                       (s.a.)
15 Apr 1795 - Dec 1795     Be'ede Mariam III Salomon
Dec 1795 - 20 May 1796     Tekle Giyorgis I Yohannes
                             (4th time)                       (s.a.)
20 May 1796 - 15 Jul 1797  Salomon III Tekle Haymanot
                             (1st time)
18 Aug 1797 -  4 Jan 1798  Yonas Letezum                      (b. 1766 - d. 1832)
 4 Jan 1798 - 20 May 1799  Tekle Giyorgis I Yohannes
                             (5th time)                       (s.a.)
20 May 1799 - 1799         Salomon III Tekle Haymanot
                             (2nd time)
1799 - 24 Mar 1800         Demetros Arqedewos (1st time)      (b. 17.. - d. 1803)
24 Mar 1800 - Jun 1800     Tekle Giyorgis I Yohannes
                             (6th time)                       (s.a.)
Jun 1800 - Jun 1801        Demetros Arqedewos (2nd time)      (s.a.)
Jun 1801 -  3 Jun 1818     Egwale Seyon Hezqeyas              (d. 1818)
19 Jun 1818 -  3 Jun 1821  Iyoas II Hezqeyas                  (d. 1821)
 3 Jun 1821 - Apr 1826     Gigar Iyasu (1st time)             (b. 1745 - d. 1831)
Apr 1826                   Be'eda Mariam IV
Apr 1826 - 18 Jun 1830     Gigar Iyasu (2nd time)             (s.a.)
18 Jun 1830 - 18 Mar 1832  Iyasu IV Salomon
18 Mar 1832 - 1832         Gebre Krestos Gebre Mesay
                             (1st time)                       (d. 1832)
1832                       Sahle Dengel Gebre Mesay
                             (1st time)                       (b. c.1778 - d. 18..)
1832 -  8 Jun 1832         Gebre Krestos Gebre Mesay
                             (2nd time)                       (s.a.)
Oct 1832 - 29 Aug 1840     Sahle Dengel Gebre Mesay
                             (2nd time)                       (s.a.)
1832                       Egwala Anbasa (in rebellion)
30 Aug 1840 - Oct 1841     Yohannes III Tekle Giyorgis
                             (1st time)                       (b. 1797 - d. af.1868)
Oct 1841 - 1845            Sahle Dengel Gebre Mesay
                             (3rd time)                       (s.a.)
1845                       Yohannes III Tekle Giyorgis
                             (2nd time)                       (s.a.)
1845 - 1850                Sahle Dengel Gebre Mesay
                             (4th time)                       (s.a.)
1850 - 1851                Yohannes III Tekle Giyorgis
                             (3rd time)                       (s.a.)
1851 - 11 Feb 1855         Sahle Dengel Gebre Mesay
                             (5th time)                       (s.a.)
1851 - 29 Jun 1853         Ali Alula (usurper)                (b. c.1819 - d. 1853)
Jul 1853 -  9 Feb 1855     Webe Haile Mariam (usurper)
 9 Feb 1855 - 13 Apr 1868  Tewodros II                        (b. c.1818 - d. 1868)
11 Jun 1868 - 11 Jul 1871  Tekle Giyorgis II                  (b. c.1836 - d. 1872)
1868 - 15 Nov 1868         Menelik II (in rebellion)          (b. 1844 - d. 1913)
11 Jul 1871 -  9 Mar 1889  Yohannes IV                        (b. 1837 - d. 1889)
 9 Mar 1889 - 12 Dec 1913  Menelik II                         (s.a.)
1910                       Etege T'aytu Bet'ul (f) -Regent    (b. 1853 - d. 1918)
1910 - 1911                Ras Tesemma -Regent                (d. 1911)
1912 - 1913                Lij Iyasu -Regent                  (b. 1898 - d. 1935)
12 Dec 1913 - 27 Sep 1916  Iyasu V                            (s.a.)
27 Sep 1916 -  2 Apr 1930  Zauditu -Empress                   (b. 1876 - d. 1930)
27 Sep 1916 -  2 Apr 1930  Ras Tafari Makonnen -Regent        (b. 1892 - d. 1975)
                            (from 1928, Negus)
 3 Apr 1930 -  2 May 1936  Haile Selassie I (1st time)        (s.a.)
                            (Ras Tafari)(2 May 1936 - 5 May 1941 in exile
                             in Jersusalem, then Bath, U.K and
                             later Anglo-Egyptian Sudan)
 1 May 1936 - 17 Dec 1936  Ras Imru -Regent                   (b. 1892 - d. 1980)
 9 May 1936 -  5 May 1941  Vittorio Emanuele III              (b. 1869 - d. 1947)
                            (in name only to 3 Sep 1943;
                             also King of Italy and of Albania)
 5 May 1941 - 12 Sep 1974  Haile Selassie I (2nd time)        (s.a.)
13 Dec 1960 - 15 Dec 1960  Mengistu Neway                     (d. 1960)            Mil
                           + Girmame Neway                    (d. 1960)
                           (in rebellion)
12 Sep 1974 - 21 Mar 1975  Asfa Wossen                        (b. 1916 - d. 1997)
                            (13-15 Dec 1960 designated head of state
                             by rebel leaders; 21 Sep 1974 designated 
                             emperor, does not take office)
Chairmen of the Provisional Military Administrative Council²
12 Sep 1974 - 17 Nov 1974  Aman Mikael Andom                  (b. 1924 - d. 1974)  Mil
17 Nov 1974 - 28 Nov 1974  Mengistu Haile Mariam (1st time)   (s.a.)               Mil
28 Nov 1974 -  3 Feb 1977  Tafari Benti                       (b. 1921 - d. 1977)  Mil
11 Feb 1977 - 10 Sep 1987  Mengistu Haile Mariam (2nd time)   (s.a.)               Mil/EWP
Presidents
10 Sep 1987 - 21 May 1991  Mengistu Haile Mariam              (s.a.)               EWP
21 May 1991 - 28 May 1991  Tesfaye Gebre Kidan (acting)       (b. 1935 - d. 2004)  EWP
28 May 1991 - 22 Aug 1995  Meles Zenawi (interim)             (b. 1955)            TPLF/EPRDF
22 Aug 1995 -  8 Oct 2001  Negasso Gidada                     (b. 1943)            ODPO
 8 Oct 2001 -              Girma Wolde-Giorgis Lucha          (b. 1924)            EPRDF

Chief ministers
1909 - 1927                Habte Giyorgis                     (d. 1927)
1927 -  1 May 1936         Ras Tafari Makonnen                (s.a.)
                             (from 3 Apr 1930, Haile Selassie I)
 1 May 1936 - 1942         Wolde Tzaddick (in exile 1936 - 1941)
Prime ministers
1942 -  1 Nov 1957         Makonnen Endelkachew               (b. 1890 - d. 1963)
27 Nov 1957 - 15 Dec 1960  Abebe Aragai                       (b. 1903 - d. 1960)
12 Dec 1960 - 15 Dec 1960  Ras Imru (in rebellion)            (s.a.)
15 Dec 1960 - 17 Apr 1961  Vacant
17 Apr 1961 -  1 Mar 1974  Tsehafi Taezaz Aklilu Habte-Wold   (b. 1912 - d. 1974)
 1 Mar 1974 - 22 Jul 1974  Endelkacaw Makonnen                (b. 1927 - d. 1974)
 3 Aug 1974 - 12 Sep 1974  Lij Mikael Imru                    (b. 1929)
12 Sep 1974 - 10 Sep 1987  Post Abolished
10 Sep 1987 -  8 Nov 1989  Fikre Selassie Wogderess                                EWP
 8 Nov 1989 - 26 Apr 1991  Hailu Yimenu (acting)              (b. 19.. - d. 1991)  EWP
26 Apr 1991 -  6 Jun 1991  Tesfaye Dinka (acting)                                  EWP
 6 Jun 1991 - 22 Aug 1995  Tamirat Layne                      (b. 1955)            EPDM
                             (acting to 29 Jul 1991)
23 Aug 1995 -              Meles Zenawi                       (s.a.)               TPLF/EPRDF

Imperial Government in Exile

Emperor
 6 Apr 1988 - 17 Jan 1997  Amha Selassie I                        (b. 1916 - d. 1997)
                             (Asfa Wossen Haile Selassie)
                             (to 23 Oct 1989 in London, then in Washington, DC)
President of the Crown Council
15 Jul 1993 -              Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie           (b. 1960)
                             Haile-Selassie 

 ¹Official style: Moa Anbesa ze Emnegede Yehuda, N.N., Seyume Egziebher, Neguse/Negeste Negest za Ityopya ("Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, N.N., Elect of God, King/Queen of Kings of Ethiopia").

  ²Nominally acting for Crown Prince Asfa Wossen Haile Selassie (s.a.), who did not assume
this office from his father when he was overthrown, on 12 Sep 1974, until the abolition of 
the monarchy on 21 Mar 1975.

Territorial Disputes: Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by the 2002 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision, but neither party responded to the revised line detailed in the Nov 2006 EEBC Demarcation Statement; UN Peacekeeping Mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), which has monitored the 25-km-wide Temporary Security Zone in Eritrea since 2000, is extended for six months in 2007 despite Eritrean restrictions on its operations and reduced force of 17,000; the undemarcated former British administrative line has little meaning as a political separation to rival clans within Ethiopia's Ogaden and southern Somalia's Oromo region; Ethiopian forces invaded southern Somalia and routed Islamist Courts from Moghadishu in Jan 2007; "Somaliland" secessionists provide port facilities in Berbera and trade ties to landlocked Ethiopia; civil unrest in eastern Sudan has hampered efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with Ethiopia.

Party abbreviations: AAPO = All-Amhara People's Organization; EPRDF = Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front; ODPO = Oromo People's Democratic Organization (Omoro regionalist); TPLF = Tigre People's Liberation Front (Tigre regionalist); Mil = Military;
- Former parties: EPRP = Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party, socialist, 1974-1991);
EWP = Ethiopian Workers' Party (Communist Party -only legal party 1984-1990, renounces Marxist-Leninism 7 Mar 1990); MEISON = All-Ethiopia Socialist Movement (1976-1991, socialist, only legal party 1976-1978); WSLF = Western Somali Liberation Front (Ogaden regionalist, Somali separatist 1974-1989)

1839                       Kingdom of Shewa (Shoa)
1856 - 1859                Annexed by Ethiopia.
1860 - 1864                Annexed by Ethiopia.
1889                       Incorporated into Ethiopia.

Ruling princes
1682 - 1703                Negasi Krestos Lebsa Qal           (d. 1703)
1704 -  6 Mar 1719         Sebestyanos Negasi Krestos         (d. 1719)
 6 Mar 1719 - 23 Feb 1744  Qedami Qal Sebestyanos             (d. 1744)
23 Feb 1744 -  6 Feb 1775  Amha Iyasus Qedami Qal             (d. 1775)
 6 Feb 1775 - 30 Jul 1807  Tewodros Amha Iyasus               (d. 1807)
Kings (styled Ras to 1839)
30 Jul 1807 -  7 Jun 1813  Welde Giyorgis Tewodros            (d. 1813)
 7 Jun 1813 - 12 Oct 1847  Sahle Selassie                     (b. c.1795 - d. 1847) 
12 Oct 1847 -  9 Nov 1855  Haile Melekot                      (b. 1825 - d. 1855)
 9 Nov 1855 - 1856         Sahle Mariam (1st time)            (b. 1844 - d. 1913)
                            (Menelik II of Ethiopia)
Ruling princes
1856 - 1859                Haile Mikael Sahle Selassie        (b. c.1827 - d. 1884)
1859                       Bezabeh (1st time)(usurper)
1859 - 1860                Seyfu Sahle Selassie               (b. 1828 - d. 1860)
1860 - 1865                Bezabeh (2nd time)(usurper)
King
Aug 1865 - 1889            Sahle Mariam (2nd time)            (s.a.)

Map of Italian East Africa

Capital: Addis Abbeba (Mogadishu 1935-1936)

Currency: Italian East Africa Lira (AOIL)

Population: N/A

 

15 Jan 1935                Eritrea and Italian Somaliland united as Italian East Africa.

 3 Oct 1935                Italy invades Ethiopia.

 9 May 1936                Annexation of Ethiopia by Italy.

 1 Jun 1936                Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Italian Somalia are united 

                             into Italian East Africa and reorganized as a federation of 

                             six provinces: Eritrea (formed by the merger of the former 

                             colony of Eritrea and the Ethiopian region of Tigre), Somalia 

                             (formed by the merger of the former colony of Somalia and the 

                             Ethiopian region of Ogaden), Addis Ababa (capital region of 

                             Ethiopia), Amhara, Harar, and Galla-Sidama 

                             (parts of Ethiopia).

 1 Jan 1939                Addis Ababa and parts of the provinces of Amhara and 

                             Galla-Sidama are united into the new province of Showa.

 5 May 1941                Addis Ababa liberated by Allies.

27 Nov 1941                Last Italian administrators surrender.

Governors
 5 May 1936 - 27 May 1936  Giuseppe Bottai                    (b. 1895 - d. 1959)
 1 Jun 1936 - 23 Sep 1938  Alfredo Siniscalchi
23 Sep 1938 -  1 Jan 1939  Francesco Camero Medici

Governors
 1 Jun 1936 - 15 Dec 1937  Alessandro Pirzio Biroli           (b. 1877 - d. 1962)
15 Dec 1937 -  1 Jan 1939  Ottorino Mezzetti                  (b. 1877 - d. 19..)
 1 Jan 1939 - 19 May 1941  Luigi Frusci (acting)              (b. 1879 - d. 1949)
19 May 1941 - 27 Nov 1941  Guglielmo Nasi (acting)            (s.a.)

Governors
 1 Jun 1936 -  9 Jul 1938  Carlo Geloso                       (b. 1879 - d. 1957)
10 Jul 1938 - 12 Aug 1938  Armando Felsani
12 Aug 1938 -  6 Jul 1941  Pietro Gazzera                     (s.a.)

Governors
 1 Jun 1936 -  5 May 1939  Guglielmo Nasi (1st time)          (s.a.)
 5 May 1939 - 11 Jun 1940  Enrico Cerulli                     (b. 1898 - d. 1988)
11 Jun 1940 -  4 Feb 1941  Guglielmo Nasi (2nd time) (acting) (s.a.)
 4 Feb 1941 -  9 Mar 1941  Pompeo Gorini (acting)
10 Mar 1941 - 24 Apr 1941  Carlo De Simone (acting)           (b. 1885 - d. 19..)

Governors
 1 Jan 1939 -  5 May 1939  Enrico Cerulli                     (s.a.)
 5 May 1939 -  2 Jun 1940  Guglielmo Nasi                     (s.a.)
 2 Jun 1940 -  3 Apr 1941  Giuseppe Daodice
 3 Apr 1941 -  6 Apr 1941  Agenore Frangipani (acting)