Haile Selassie

Haile Selassie was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia at Addis Ababa, taking the throne name Haile Selassie I. The coronation was a grand ceremony attended by foreign dignitaries, symbolizing Ethiopia's sovereignty.

Italy invaded Ethiopia, and Haile Selassie's forces were defeated. He fled into exile in England, where he appealed to the League of Nations for help, famously denouncing the invasion and the failure of collective security.

Haile Selassie addressed the League of Nations in Geneva, condemning Italy's use of chemical weapons and the League's failure to protect Ethiopia. His speech became a symbol of African resistance and international justice.

Haile Selassie returned to Ethiopia with British forces, leading a campaign to liberate the country from Italian occupation. He was restored to the throne, reestablishing Ethiopian independence.

Haile Selassie promulgated a new constitution that established a bicameral parliament and limited civil rights. While it allowed for some representation, it maintained imperial authority and did not create a fully democratic system.

Haile Selassie was overthrown by the Derg, a Marxist military junta, after a period of famine and unrest. He was placed under house arrest and died in 1975 under disputed circumstances, ending the Solomonic dynasty.