skibriye
H.I.H. Princess Tenagnework Haile Selassie
Born in 1912 in the city of Harrar, she was the eldest child of the marriage of the then Dejazmatch Tafari Makonnen and his wife Woizero Menen Asfaw (the future Emperor Haile Selassie and Empress Menen of Ethiopia). Princess Tenagnework Haile Selassie was married at a young age to Ras Desta Damtew, a member of the aristocratic Adisge clan. Her husband was at various times appointed as Governor-General of Keffa and Limu, and then Sidamo provinces. Princess Tenagnework and Ras Desta had six children, Princesses Aida, Seble, Sophia and Hirut, as well as Princes Amha and Iskinder Desta Upon the occupation of Ethiopia by fascist Italy in 1936, Princess Tenagnework and her children went into exile with the rest of the Imperial family while her husband remained behind to command the Imperial Ethiopian forces in southern Ethiopia. Ras Desta was captured and summarily executed by the Italians. The widowed princess lived in Bath, England with her parents, and acted as hostess for her father most of the time as the Empress spent much of her exile in Jerusalem due to the harsh climate of Britain. While in exile the Princess during a brief union with Ato Abebe Retta, gave birth to a daughter Tsige Mariam Abebe. Shortly before the restoration in 1941 Princess Tenagnework's eldest son, Amha Desta died. The Princess returned to Ethiopia in 1941 following the restoration and would marry Betwoded (later Ras) Andargatchew Messai. Bitwoded Andargatchew would serve as Governor-General of Beghemidir and Simien province. Later, following the federation of Eritrea to the Ethiopian Empire, Bitwoded Andargatchew and Princess Tenagnework would serve as the first Vice-roy and Vice-reine of Eritrea, representing the Ethiopian crown. Eventually the couple would return to Addis Ababa from Asmara where the Bitwoded was elevated to the title of Ras and served as Minister of the Interior, and then made a Senator and a Crown Councilor. Princess Tenagnework would have a daughter by Ras Andargatchew, Mentewab Andargatchew, who died in infancy. Ras Andargatchew had three daughters previous to his marriage to the Princess and were raised by her.
Princess Tenagnework was active in charitable works and participated in organizations that dealt with women's issues. She was the founder of the Sebeta School and Center for the Blind. She also from her private funds helped construct several public schools including those at Asebot, Wondo Guenet, Kuyera, Gefersa, and many other localities. She also funded training centers for the physically handicaped at Magdalla in Wollo, and Kuyera in Arsi. The Princess donated her large estate at Ginde Beret to be used as a center for the treatment of those affected by Leporsy, and donatedanother large vegitable and dairy farm and tree nursery at Gefersa to the Cheshire Home Charitable Organization. Princess Tenagnework also donated the land on which the now famous Fistula Hospial established by Dr. Hamlin was built. She also founded Ethiopia's first old age home for impoverished elderly people without anyone to care for them. Following the death of her younger sister Princess Tsehai in 1941, Princess Tenagnework took over the presidency of the Ethiopian Women's Charitable Works Association and headed this organization until it was disolved by the Derg in 1974.
After the death of Empress Menen in 1961, Princess Tenagnework became the most visible and foremost woman at the Imperial court. During the lead up to the revolution, the Princess became victim to a smear campaign not only by leftist radicals who spearheaded the revolution, but also by officials that identified with the technocrats against the conservative nobility. Increasingly blamed for much of the lack of reform, the Princess found herself increasingly used as a scapegoat for the lack of change perhaps far beyond her actual level of influence. Princess Tenagnework and the rest of the Imperial family were placed in detention on September 11, 1974. The next day, Emperor Haile Selassie was deposed and also placed under arrest. The Princess together with other women of the Imperial family was held in the notorious Akaki prison, known as "Alem Bekagn" (I've had enough of this world) for the next 15 years. While imprisoned, Princess Tenagnework's remaining son, Rear Admiral Iskinder Desta, was executed by firing squad without trial in November 1974, her father Emperor Haile Selassie I was murdered, her daughter Emebet Tsige Mariam died in Ethiopia, and her husband Ras Andargatchew died in exile in London. In September of 1989, Princess Tenagnework and the women of the Imperial family were all freed from prison. A year later, the male members of the family were also freed. Soon after, the Princess and some of the other members of the family were permitted to leave Ethiopia and joined the rest of the Imperial family in exile. Princess Tenagnework settled in the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC to be near her surviving sibling, Crown Prince Asfaw Wossen (Emperor-in-Exile Amha Selassie). Deeply affected by her brother's death in 1997, her health began to decline. She returned to Ethiopia permanently in 1999 and took part in the re-burial of Emperor Haile Selassie's remains in November 2000. She continued to receive emense respect and deference in post-monarchial Ethiopia after she was released from prison as the matriarch of the Imperial house. Princess Tenagnework died on April 6, 2003 at her home in Addis Ababa and was buried at Holy Trinity Cathedral on April 12.
H.I.H. Princess Tenagnework Haile Selassie
Born in 1912 in the city of Harrar, she was the eldest child of the marriage of the then Dejazmatch Tafari Makonnen and his wife Woizero Menen Asfaw (the future Emperor Haile Selassie and Empress Menen of Ethiopia). Princess Tenagnework Haile Selassie was married at a young age to Ras Desta Damtew, a member of the aristocratic Adisge clan. Her husband was at various times appointed as Governor-General of Keffa and Limu, and then Sidamo provinces. Princess Tenagnework and Ras Desta had six children, Princesses Aida, Seble, Sophia and Hirut, as well as Princes Amha and Iskinder Desta Upon the occupation of Ethiopia by fascist Italy in 1936, Princess Tenagnework and her children went into exile with the rest of the Imperial family while her husband remained behind to command the Imperial Ethiopian forces in southern Ethiopia. Ras Desta was captured and summarily executed by the Italians. The widowed princess lived in Bath, England with her parents, and acted as hostess for her father most of the time as the Empress spent much of her exile in Jerusalem due to the harsh climate of Britain. While in exile the Princess during a brief union with Ato Abebe Retta, gave birth to a daughter Tsige Mariam Abebe. Shortly before the restoration in 1941 Princess Tenagnework's eldest son, Amha Desta died. The Princess returned to Ethiopia in 1941 following the restoration and would marry Betwoded (later Ras) Andargatchew Messai. Bitwoded Andargatchew would serve as Governor-General of Beghemidir and Simien province. Later, following the federation of Eritrea to the Ethiopian Empire, Bitwoded Andargatchew and Princess Tenagnework would serve as the first Vice-roy and Vice-reine of Eritrea, representing the Ethiopian crown. Eventually the couple would return to Addis Ababa from Asmara where the Bitwoded was elevated to the title of Ras and served as Minister of the Interior, and then made a Senator and a Crown Councilor. Princess Tenagnework would have a daughter by Ras Andargatchew, Mentewab Andargatchew, who died in infancy. Ras Andargatchew had three daughters previous to his marriage to the Princess and were raised by her.
Princess Tenagnework was active in charitable works and participated in organizations that dealt with women's issues. She was the founder of the Sebeta School and Center for the Blind. She also from her private funds helped construct several public schools including those at Asebot, Wondo Guenet, Kuyera, Gefersa, and many other localities. She also funded training centers for the physically handicaped at Magdalla in Wollo, and Kuyera in Arsi. The Princess donated her large estate at Ginde Beret to be used as a center for the treatment of those affected by Leporsy, and donatedanother large vegitable and dairy farm and tree nursery at Gefersa to the Cheshire Home Charitable Organization. Princess Tenagnework also donated the land on which the now famous Fistula Hospial established by Dr. Hamlin was built. She also founded Ethiopia's first old age home for impoverished elderly people without anyone to care for them. Following the death of her younger sister Princess Tsehai in 1941, Princess Tenagnework took over the presidency of the Ethiopian Women's Charitable Works Association and headed this organization until it was disolved by the Derg in 1974.
After the death of Empress Menen in 1961, Princess Tenagnework became the most visible and foremost woman at the Imperial court. During the lead up to the revolution, the Princess became victim to a smear campaign not only by leftist radicals who spearheaded the revolution, but also by officials that identified with the technocrats against the conservative nobility. Increasingly blamed for much of the lack of reform, the Princess found herself increasingly used as a scapegoat for the lack of change perhaps far beyond her actual level of influence. Princess Tenagnework and the rest of the Imperial family were placed in detention on September 11, 1974. The next day, Emperor Haile Selassie was deposed and also placed under arrest. The Princess together with other women of the Imperial family was held in the notorious Akaki prison, known as "Alem Bekagn" (I've had enough of this world) for the next 15 years. While imprisoned, Princess Tenagnework's remaining son, Rear Admiral Iskinder Desta, was executed by firing squad without trial in November 1974, her father Emperor Haile Selassie I was murdered, her daughter Emebet Tsige Mariam died in Ethiopia, and her husband Ras Andargatchew died in exile in London. In September of 1989, Princess Tenagnework and the women of the Imperial family were all freed from prison. A year later, the male members of the family were also freed. Soon after, the Princess and some of the other members of the family were permitted to leave Ethiopia and joined the rest of the Imperial family in exile. Princess Tenagnework settled in the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC to be near her surviving sibling, Crown Prince Asfaw Wossen (Emperor-in-Exile Amha Selassie). Deeply affected by her brother's death in 1997, her health began to decline. She returned to Ethiopia permanently in 1999 and took part in the re-burial of Emperor Haile Selassie's remains in November 2000. She continued to receive emense respect and deference in post-monarchial Ethiopia after she was released from prison as the matriarch of the Imperial house. Princess Tenagnework died on April 6, 2003 at her home in Addis Ababa and was buried at Holy Trinity Cathedral on April 12.