Start of a TL, more a rough draft. No PoD yet, all OTL. Might rewrite it after feedback.
A Ras Tafari less World
1. THE SUCCESSION OF MENELIK II
Emperor Menelik II
In 1909 the Negusa Nagast[FONT="][1][/FONT] Menelik II of Ethiopia faced a serious problems. Since he lacked a legitimate heir[FONT="][2][/FONT], he had to name his successor. He had initially hoped his distant cousin Ras Makonnen[FONT="][3][/FONT], one of the heores of Adwa would succeed him, but when Makonnen died in 1906 the succession was once again open. The emperor was also at the time suffering from syphilis, so naming a successor was an important matter indeed. According to sources in the court Menelik had mumbled the name Lij Iyasu to his wife, the empress Taitu, but no one else had heard it. Lij Iyasu, the son of Menelik’s daughter Shoagarad and the powerful Oromo ruler of Wollo; Ras Mikael, was thus named Menelik's successor. Iyasu, a young teenager was most known for being an adventurer and troublemaker. With the succession settled Menelik fell more ill, and empress Taitu assumed control of the court. Taitu legitimized her regime by citing a prophecy that Menelik would be succeeded by an empress. However a year in her regime, she was overthrown in a coup by the Imperial Guard, the regent Ras Tessema, Habte Giyorgis[FONT="][4][/FONT] and the powerful family of Ras Mikael. After the coup, the administration however faltered, the emperor was still sick, Iyasu was too young, and several aristocrats bid for power in the court. The powerful European Colonial Powers in the area: Italy, France and Britain all were frustrated that they had no idea who ruled Ethiopia. Meanwhile the borders became unsafe, and Ethiopian raiders raided for cattle and slaves both on their own side of the border and in neighbouring European Colonies, which further antagonized the Europeans. Soon it became clear that Iyasu himself had been raiding for slaves among the Gurage people, albeit on his own side of the border.
The empress Taitu
It was mostly thanks to his father, Ras Mikael, that Iyasu was not overthrown and the Menelikid dynasty continued. Menelik II was proclaimed dead in December 12 1913, and Iyasu acceded the throne as Iyasu V, starting one of the most troublesome eras in Ethiopian history. He again had his father to thank for his success. While the new emperor himself continued to roam free, Ras Mikael fought of two coup attempts only in 1913. It was no secret that the powerful ruler of Wollo would fight for his son’s throne.
[FONT="][1][/FONT] King of kings, emperor
[FONT="][2][/FONT] No sons with empress Taitu, several bastards though
[FONT="][3][/FONT] Father of Ras Tafari
[FONT="][4][/FONT] Powerful courtier in the Imperial Court, had started his carreer as a slave in Menelik’s household, but then climbed the ranks.
A Ras Tafari less World
1. THE SUCCESSION OF MENELIK II
Emperor Menelik II
In 1909 the Negusa Nagast[FONT="][1][/FONT] Menelik II of Ethiopia faced a serious problems. Since he lacked a legitimate heir[FONT="][2][/FONT], he had to name his successor. He had initially hoped his distant cousin Ras Makonnen[FONT="][3][/FONT], one of the heores of Adwa would succeed him, but when Makonnen died in 1906 the succession was once again open. The emperor was also at the time suffering from syphilis, so naming a successor was an important matter indeed. According to sources in the court Menelik had mumbled the name Lij Iyasu to his wife, the empress Taitu, but no one else had heard it. Lij Iyasu, the son of Menelik’s daughter Shoagarad and the powerful Oromo ruler of Wollo; Ras Mikael, was thus named Menelik's successor. Iyasu, a young teenager was most known for being an adventurer and troublemaker. With the succession settled Menelik fell more ill, and empress Taitu assumed control of the court. Taitu legitimized her regime by citing a prophecy that Menelik would be succeeded by an empress. However a year in her regime, she was overthrown in a coup by the Imperial Guard, the regent Ras Tessema, Habte Giyorgis[FONT="][4][/FONT] and the powerful family of Ras Mikael. After the coup, the administration however faltered, the emperor was still sick, Iyasu was too young, and several aristocrats bid for power in the court. The powerful European Colonial Powers in the area: Italy, France and Britain all were frustrated that they had no idea who ruled Ethiopia. Meanwhile the borders became unsafe, and Ethiopian raiders raided for cattle and slaves both on their own side of the border and in neighbouring European Colonies, which further antagonized the Europeans. Soon it became clear that Iyasu himself had been raiding for slaves among the Gurage people, albeit on his own side of the border.
The empress Taitu
It was mostly thanks to his father, Ras Mikael, that Iyasu was not overthrown and the Menelikid dynasty continued. Menelik II was proclaimed dead in December 12 1913, and Iyasu acceded the throne as Iyasu V, starting one of the most troublesome eras in Ethiopian history. He again had his father to thank for his success. While the new emperor himself continued to roam free, Ras Mikael fought of two coup attempts only in 1913. It was no secret that the powerful ruler of Wollo would fight for his son’s throne.
[FONT="][1][/FONT] King of kings, emperor
[FONT="][2][/FONT] No sons with empress Taitu, several bastards though
[FONT="][3][/FONT] Father of Ras Tafari
[FONT="][4][/FONT] Powerful courtier in the Imperial Court, had started his carreer as a slave in Menelik’s household, but then climbed the ranks.
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