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See above. Obviously by the 1900s Ethiopia was unified, but already outstripped technologically by most of the modern world. It had very little in the way of precious goods to fund a serious industrialization effort and was fragmented politically and dynastically, paving the way for an Italian occupation.

So before 1900 then.

Menelik II seems to me like a suitable initial look as the Emperor who had repelled the Italian invasion. He was anti-slavery, favored strong ties to Russia and introduced Western influences and technology into his nation. He founded the capital of Addis Ababa, centralized Ethiopia and was the last Emperor to claim a direct, unbroken male descent from King Solomon and Queen Sheba. However, he fathered no legitimate sons, and his daughter Zewditu ruled Ethiopia before her kinsman Haile Selassie succeeded to the throne of Ethiopia.

So perhaps earlier? Between the mid-1700s and mid-1800s, there was a period of 80 or so years known as the Age of Princes. It was Ethiopia's "Sengoku Jidai", where the various petty kings and princes of the land competed to control and crown puppet Emperors. No less than twenty-three emperors were crowned during this span, with many repeatedly deposed and crowned. It was ended by Kassa Hailu – better known as Tewodoros II - who won the throne and was crowned as Emperor at the end of the period. Perhaps if an earlier candidate won the throne and centralized power, Ethiopia might have been better able to remain a powerful and relevant player in the events to come?

Or would it need to be even earlier, like as far back as the death of Iyasu the Great?
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