Preface
Preface
In the century after the year 1930 massive changes were in store for the ancient nation of Ethiopia. In this year the man who would come to be known as Haile Selassie assumed his imperial title, and inherited one of the longest lasting and proudest nations in Africa. Despite this prestige however the empire was considered by many in the international community to be something of a backwater, with ridiculously low literacy, a backwards feudal economy, and a severe lack of infrastructure.But Selassie was determined to reform Ethiopia to the standards of the rest of the world, to truly bring Ethiopia the glory it once possessed. He started several ambitious programs of modernization. This began with the proclamation of constitution in 1931 that created a European style two chamber parliament, as well as weakening the feudal aristocracy. He also in a revolutionary move abolished slavery, leading to Ethiopia finally being accepted into the League of Nations, and hopefully the wider international community. He also initiated numerous public works projects and encouraged education and infrastructure development.
These hopes would be temporarily dashed however, when the Italian's under command of the fascist Benito Mussolini began to set their sites on Ethiopia. Angered at the dent in prestige their defeat at the battle of Adowa had caused, and hungry to create a vast African empire, Mussolini ordered an invasion in 1935. Selassie hoped to use his new League allies to end the invasion through diplomacy, but it was for naught as the league abandoned Selassie in his time of need. After 7 months of brutal fighting the Italians captured the city of Addis Ababa and began 5 years of occupation. The exiled emperor began petitioning various nations to help him free his beloved country, this would eventually bear fruit as in 1940 allied forces from British Sudan with the help of the remnants of the Ethiopian Army liberated Ethiopia from Italian rule and restored the Emperor to his rightful throne.
Despite the havoc caused by the Italians, the world war did yield some benefits to the Ethiopians. Notably in that it allowed the conquest of the former Italian colony of Eritrea. However in many ways this gift would become a curse as the years passed on with many Eritreans resenting the Ethiopian rule especially considering the religious divide between Ethiopian Christians, and Eritrean Muslims. In an attempt to end stop future violence from occurring in 1952 the United Nations proposed a federation between Ethiopia and Eritrea, a compromise which was accepted if temporarily.
In the 50s the reforms continued especially as Ethiopia after millenia of isolation was finally opening itself up to the world. Ethiopia began to move closer to the West especially America, who in 1953 signed a mutual defense pact with Ethiopia. Selassie also on the advice of the West created a new constitution in 1955 with western advisors specifically advising certain components of it. This new constitution expanded the rights of individual Ethiopians, and added many elements of modern western governments, with the notable exception of not limiting the Emperor's powers in any meaningful way. This modernization led to increase investment from the west and the economy began to prosper to a degree. But it was not to last as with the coming of the 60s a dark cloud would come over the empire.
This darkness would initially take the form of an attempted military coup by a disgruntled military officer in 1960, who wished to deal with deep rooted social and economic issues in Ethiopia. The coup failed, but would serve as a harbinger for events to come.
In the 1960s resentment against the imperial government began to grow among the middle and intellectual classes who noted the lack of economic and educational reform leading to Ethiopia being one the most illiterate and least developed nations in the world. Many also found the concept of the monarchy to be antiquated and clashed with their conceptions of modern government. Student specifically began to speak out the government leading to mass riots in 1969, an event which greatly saddened the aging Emperor, who viewed himself as a paternal figure to his people. A troubling instance of soviet agents spreading communist propaganda through several universities in Ethiopia also led many in the government to fear that their people were becoming increasingly influenced by socialist thought.
Tensions in Ethiopia intensified, as well in the 60s especially after government dissolved the ten year old federation in 1962 and formally annexed Eritrea into the empire sparking mass armed conflict especially from the newly formed Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF). Nearly half of the Ethiopian armed forces were redirected to the Eritrean territory to put down the rebellion, but sporadic fighting would continue for years.
By the 70s things had gone from bad to worse for the Ethiopians. A massive drought began to affect the ethiopian highlands and with it widespread famine. At its peak estimates say it was killing as much as 500 people a day. The lack of government response led to even more resentment from the citizens. Economic issues began to rear their heads as well leading to massive strikes in urban areas. The feudal system of landholdings prevented the agricultural sector from developing either, with nobles still owning large pieces of land handed out to them by the government, further worsening the effects of the famine. And with all these issues falling on Ethiopia the aging emperor was becoming less and less equipped to deal with them as old age slowly withered away his mind and body. In 1973 the Emperor’s son and heir to the throne Amha Selassie was confronted with a massive stroke that required him to be shipped to Europe for treatment further degrading the people’s faith in the monarchy. This combined with a massive taxi driver protest over rising gas prices and another student riot made 1973 seem like the peak of instability. It became clear to the government that change was necessary in order to hold the country together.
Despite attempts to reform itself in 1974 the military officials of the nation began to conspire to save the country themselves… through force. In June 24th a number of military officials came together to form an organization called the Derg. They elected Mengistu Haile Mariam as the chairman and Major Atnafu Abate as Vice Chairmen. Both men with rather radical left leaning tendencies. They then began a process of slowly chipping away at the Selassie’s power before they finally deposed him on September 12th, officially ending the Empire in its current state. The Derg now in control of the country appointed Haile Selassie’s son Amha as a constitutional monarch, instead using the title king rather than emperor, in order to preserve legitimacy. The king of course had no real power.
The Derg then appointed the popular General Aman Andom as head of state, though they intended on being the true force behind Ethiopia from now on. Aman was a noted liberal, and was somewhat sympathetic to the monarchy as well as being a native Eritrean. All of these qualities led to constant clashes with the Derg especially over the matters of Eritrea itself and the potential execution of the dozens of former Imperial Government officials who had been arrested in the last year. These conflicts finally culminated in the Derg beginning a purge of units loyal to Amam and conspiring against him. Aman in response began attempting to build a base of support outside the Derg with other military officials and the people. On November 15th an argument with the Derg led to Aman resigning and retiring to his home. He then secretly began to call in his allies outside the Derg to potentially halt their increasing dictatorial nature. Realizing that Aman represented a legitimate threat to the Derg’s power Mariam sent a contingent of troops to arrest him. However they failed in their task and Amam managed to sneak into the countryside of northern Ethiopia, where he began consolidating his forces to overthrow the Derg and restore order to Ethiopia.
So thanks for reading the preface of what is going to become my first official timeline. The POD is that instead of Aman being killed by the Derg he was actually able to raise resistance against the organization creating an early Ethiopian Civil War. Im really excited to finally get into writing the actual alternate history stuff, after that legnthy OTL introduction. Anyways Id love to get some feedback, criticism is always accepted (Especially consdiering that this is my first timeline.
