Emperor Haile Selassie I

Emperor Haile Selassie I was the Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to his deposition in 1974. He was believed to be a kind of Divine figure, the descendant of Solomon and head of the Church, whose authority was totally unimpeachable and absolute. Most of his efforts were directed towards, first, ensuring he stayed in power and, second, keeping up an appearance befitting his position. Thus, most of his days were spent listening to reports about conspiracies threatening to take him out of power, appointing ministers who would make him look good (which often meant that they were not entirely competent), and maintaining the loyalty of his workers. He was a clever and insightful man who was, for the most part, successful in managing a political situation which was often trying. He defied the expectations one might have of an absolute monarch. Though political opponents were executed and...