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Haile Selassie, Last Emperor of Ethiopia > 
Haile Selassie (Power of Trinity) was the last Emperor (1930–1936; 1941–1974) of Ethiopia, and is a religious symbol in the Rastafarian movement. He was born in the town-village of Ejersa Goro, Ethiopia, as Tafari Makonnen His father was Ras Makonnen, the governor of Harar and his mother was Wezero (lady) Yeshimebet Ali. He didn't remember his mother, who died on March 14, 1894. He came about his Imperial blood through his paternal grandmother, Tenagnework Sahle Selassie, who was an aunt of Emperor Menelik II and a claimed direct descendant of Makeda, Queen of Sheba and King Solomon of ancient Israel.
In September 1916, an assembly of nobles with the agreement of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church deposed Emperor Lij Iyasu (Iyasu V), the grandson and heir of Emperor Menelik II, for suspected conversion to Islam. In his place they crowned Menelik's daughter Zauditu as Empress of Ethiopia and her cousin Ras (Duke) Tafari Makonnen as Crown Prince and Regent. As Ras Tafari (Amharic Fearsome), he ruled Ethiopia as regent and crown prince (1916–1928) for his cousin the empress Zauditu, and as king (negus) (1928–1930), assuming the title of Emperor upon Zauditu's death (April 2, 1930). He was crowned emperor November 2, 1930, taking the full title His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie I, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Elect of God, King of Kings of Ethiopia.
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