Prince Sahle Selassie

Prince Sahle Selassie (27 February 1932 – 24 April 1962) was the youngest child of Emperor Haile Selassie and Empress Menen Asfaw of Ethiopia. His full title was "His Imperial Highness, Prince Sahle Selassie Haile Selassie".

Prince Sahle Selassie
Prince of Ethiopia
Born	27 February 1932 Menelik Palace, Addis Ababa, Ethiopian Empire
Died	24 April 1962 (aged 30) Addis Ababa, Ethiopian Empire
Burial	Holy Trinity Cathedral
Spouse	Mahisente Habte Mariam
Issue	Ermias Sahle Selassie
Full name Sahle Aba Dina
House	House of Solomon
Father	Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia
Mother	Menen Asfaw
Religion	Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Biography

Born after his parents had been crowned Emperor and Empress of Ethiopia, he was the only one of the Emperor's children to have been born with the title of Prince. Since his older brothers, Prince Asfa Wossen and Prince Makonnen, had both been born before the 1930 coronation, Prince Sahle Selassie was also the first legitimate child born to a reigning Emperor since the birth of Dejazmach Alemayehu Tewodros, son of Emperor Tewodros II.

Prince Sahle Selassie was married to Princess Mahisente Habte Mariam, the daughter of Dejazmach Habte Mariam Gabre-Igziabiher, the heir to the old Oromo kingdom of Leqa Naqamte in Welega Province, and later served as governor of Welega province. They had a son, Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie,[1] who currently is the President of the Crown Council of Ethiopia. The Prince was a man of an artistic bent, who is said to have made a movie which was banned from publication by the Imperial Government censor despite the fact the Prince was a member of the Imperial family. It was believed that the movie indirectly questioned the fast pace of development, and the strains it caused on rural society, and was thus unflattering to the policies of the Imperial government.

Prince Sahle Selassie died in 1962, months after the death of his mother Empress Menen Asfaw. He was survived by his wife and his son Prince Ermias, and was buried in the crypt of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Addis Ababa.

Honours

National honours

• Grand Cordon of the Order of the Seal of Solomon.
• Refugee Medal (1944).
• Jubilee Medal (1955).

Foreign honours

• Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim (Kingdom of Sweden, 19 December 1959).
• Knight Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum (Japan).
• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the House of Orange (Kingdom of the Netherlands).
• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Federal Republic of Germany, 1955).
• Sash of the Order of the Aztec Eagle (United Mexican States, 1954).
• Order of the Yugoslav Star, 1st class (21 July 1954).
• Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of the Pioneers of Liberia (Republic of Liberia).

Ancestry

Ancestors of Prince Sahle Selassie

16. Dejazmach Wolde Malakot Yamana Krestos 8. Dejazmach Wolde Mikael Gudessa 17. Woizero Kalama Worq 4. Ras Mäkonnen Wäldä-Mika'él Guddisa 18. Negus (King) Sahle Selassie of Shewa 9. Immabet Tenagnework Sahle Selassie 19. Woizero Yimegnushal Ayele 2. Emperor Haile Selassie I 10. Dejazmach Ali Abba Jifar of Woreilu 5. Woizero Yeshimebet Ali Abba Jifar 22. Ato Yimeru of Gurage 11. Immabet-Hoy Walatta Ihata Giyorgis Yimeru 23. Woizero Araza-Aregai 1. Prince Sahle Selassie of Ethiopia 6. Dejazmach Asfaw Mikael, Jantirar of Ambassel 3. Itege Menen Asfaw 28. Imam Ali Abba Bula 14. Negus (King) Mikael of Zion (Wello) 29. Woizero Getie 7. Woizero Sehin Mikael 30. Gabru 15. Woizero Fantaye 31. Hirut

References

1. "Prince Sahle Selassie featured in The Washington Post", 2 November 201. The Institute of World Politics.

External links

• Photograph of Prince Sahle Selassie.