Haile Selassie, last Emperor of Ethiopia, claimed lineage from which Biblical figure?

Haile Selassie, the last Emperor of Ethiopia and member of the Solomonic dynasty, claimed to be a descendant of Solomon, King of Israel and the Queen of Sheba. The Queen of Sheba, according to 1 Kings, visited Solomon, bringing gifts. Solomon in turn gave her "all her desire, whatsoever she asked". Tradition asserts that the Queen gave birth to Menelik I, who supposedly went on to rule Ethiopia in the 10th century BC.

The claim that the Solomonic dynasty ruled Ethiopia (also referred to as Abyssinia) as early as the 10th century BC has no historical evidence to support it. Records of the dynasty's history were supposedly maintained by the Ethiopian Orthodox monasteries; however, if such records existed, most were lost as a result of the destruction of Orthodox monasteries during the Judaic resurgence in the 10th century AD.

In 1270, the Zagwe dynasty of Ethiopia was overthrown by Yekuno Amlak, who claimed descent from Solomon and initiated the Solomonic era of Ethiopia. The Solomonic dynasty would last until 1974, ended by a coup d'état and deposition of the Emperor Haile Selassie.

The current head of the House of Solomon is Zera Yacob Amha Selassie, grandson of Haile Selassie.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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44 Comments

ninakamwene

I actually was in a school parade in my native Kenya when Haile Selassie visited Kenya. Kenya and Ethiopia are neighbors and we have a lot of them.

Camille Curran

ninakamwene, Thank you. It’s fascinating how we can realize (frequently after the fact) that we have been touched by history. Your Kenyan background has afforded you a unique perspective. I appreciate your sharing it.

Noelito

Maia , Not Jamaicans, per se, but Rastafarians. Ethiopia, in Africa (of course) is across the Atlantic Ocean.

Sybilla

Maia, although I have not researched the topic, I tend to think the reason is something like the "cargo cults" of the southwest Pacific, messianic or millenarian movements once common throughout the colonial world.

Maia

Would be great to know how so many Jamaicans follow Haile Sellasie, as Ethiopia is across the Pacific Ocean.

Chrissie

krkyates, I think he - the head of his family line - was worshipped by Rastafarians. Which doesn't really answer your question at all, sorry.

Player

Sandie de Rougemont, you're thinking of Haile Gebrselassie

Sandie de Rougemont

An amazing marathon runner too

aaustin

A name I haven't heard in many decades. I was in my 20s when he fell from power. Good question.

Tal Segal

larrywagner, now that you mention it, he is about to get my dislike as well!

kite005

larrywagner, Relax

ruthfunk

not too hard, this one.

docluci

Seemed like the obvious choice.

larrywagner

Hey jackwagons, Why is Tesla the only player to have 14 dislikes? Worm suckers have nothing better to do? Sit back, eat your sardines and drink the kool aid.