Menelik ii of ethiopia biography graphic organizer

At the height of his internal power and external prestige, the process of territorial expansion and creation of the modern empire-state was largely completed by The Ethiopian Empire was transformed under Menelik: the major signposts of modernisation were put in place, with the assistance of key ministerial advisors. Externally, Menelik led Ethiopian troops against Italian invaders in the First Italo-Ethiopian War ; following a decisive victory at the Battle of Adwa , recognition of Ethiopia's independence by external powers was expressed in terms of diplomatic representation at his court and delineation of Ethiopia's boundaries with the adjacent kingdoms.

Later in his reign, Menelik established the first cabinet of ministers to help in the administration of the empire, appointing trusted and widely respected nobles and retainers to the first ministries. Early in the subsequent campaigns, Haile Malakot died, and Menelik was captured and taken to the emperor's mountain stronghold, Amba Magdela. Still, Tewodros treated the young prince well, even offering him marriage to his daughter Altash Tewodros, which Menelik accepted.

Ato Bezabeh in turn rebelled against the emperor and proclaimed himself Negus of Shewa.

What remains is Hoffman Philip's biography describing the court of Menelik II. Self-published and limited to copies, it exists as the.

Although the Shewan royals imprisoned at Magdela had been largely complacent as long as a member of their family ruled over Shewa, this usurpation by a commoner was not acceptable to them. They plotted Menelik's escape from Magdela; with the help of Mohammed Ali and Queen Worqitu of Wollo , he escaped from Magdala on the night of 1 July , abandoning his wife, and returned to Shewa.

Enraged, Emperor Tewodros slaughtered 29 Oromo hostages and then had 12 Amhara notables beaten to death with bamboo rods. Bezabeh's attempt to raise an army against Menelik failed; thousands of Shewans rallied to the flag of the son of Negus Haile Melekot and even Bezabeh's own soldiers deserted him for the returning prince. Menelik entered Ankober and proclaimed himself Negus.

While Menelik reclaimed his ancestral Shewan crown, he also laid claim to the imperial throne, as a direct descendant male line of Emperor Lebna Dengel. However, he made no overt attempt to assert this claim at this time; Author Harold Marcus interprets his lack of decisive action not only to Menelik's lack of confidence and experience but that "he was emotionally incapable of helping to destroy the man who had treated him as a son.

When Tewodros died by suicide, Menelik arranged for an official celebration of his death even though he was personally saddened by the loss.