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I created this discussion for an upcoming Ethiopia TL that I plan on writing.
Emperor Menelik II was the first Ethiopian Emperor to truly implement reforms and modernization in the Ethiopian Empire as he recognized the importance of westernization and needing to protect against the rapid European expansion in the Scramble for Africa. He also lead the Ethiopian Army to victory in the 1st Italo-Ethiopian War, delivering a decisive defeat to the Italians in the Battle of Adwa and securing not only international recognition but an empire as well. Unfortunately, his death in 1913 would lead to Ethiopia falling to different factions and succession struggles as a short civil war occurred in 1916 which led to his daughter Zawditu becoming Empress and Ras Tafari Makonnen as Prince Regent.
What if Emperor Menelik II had taken power earlier and was given a chance to begin implementing reform and modernization programs? What if he had lived longer to establish better structures for the long-term modernization of the Ethiopian Empire?