The original crown worn by Empress Menen Asfaw during her 1930 coronation currently resides in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. She pledged the heirloom to the Virgin Mary during the Italian occupation of Ethiopia, seeking the country’s liberation, and fulfilled the promise upon her husband's return to power in 1941.
Early Life and Marriages
Born in Ambassel in the Wollo Province on 25 March 1889, Menen was the daughter of Asfaw, Jantirar of Ambassel, and Woizero Sehin Mikael. Before her union with Tafari Makonnen, she entered into two previous marriages as was customary for noble families of the era. Her first husband was Dejazmach Ali Mohammed, with whom she had two children, Belaynesh and Asfaw Ali. Following their divorce, she married Dejazmach Amede Ali Aba-Deyas, and they had two children, Desta and Gebregziabiher Amede. After her second husband died, familial arrangements linked her to Ras Leul Sagad, but this association ended when she was sent to Harar to marry Dejazmach Tafari Makonnen.
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Upon the elevation of her husband to Emperor Haile Selassie I, Menen served as Empress consort. She maintained a high profile in social development, focusing specifically on education and health. She established the Empress Menen School for Girls in Addis Ababa, which provided modern boarding and day education for students from across the empire. Her patronage extended to the Ethiopian Red Cross and the Jerusalem Society, the latter facilitating pilgrimages to the Holy Land. A staunch adherent of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, she funded the construction and renovation of various religious sites, including the Kidane Mehret Church on Mount Entoto and the St. Raguel Church in the Merkato district.
Political Influence and Final Years
While she avoided public involvement in government policy, Menen acted as a trusted advisor to her husband behind the scenes. Her later life was marked by the 1960 coup attempt against the Emperor, during which she was held under house arrest at her villa. Despite the controversy surrounding the involvement of the Crown Prince during this event, she remained devoted to her family. Following a period of failing health, she died on 15 February 1962. She was interred within the crypt of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Addis Ababa.
Fast facts
- Born: 25 March 1889, Ambassel
- Died: 15 February 1962, Addis Ababa
- Religion: Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
- Burial site: Holy Trinity Cathedral
- Notable honor: Royal Order of the Seraphim
- Husband: Emperor Haile Selassie I
- Primary cause: Women's education and welfare
Questions readers ask
Did the Empress participate in direct political governance?
No, she avoided public political stances, preferring to serve as a private advisor to the Emperor.
Where did the Empress spend her years during the Italian occupation?
She lived in exile from 1936 to 1941, during which time she undertook various pilgrimages to holy sites in Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon.
