Career Timeline of Haile Selassie: Major Achievements and Milestones

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 16, 2026

How Haile Selassie built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Haile Selassie I served as the Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974. A defining figure of the 20th century, he gained international prominence for his opposition to the Italian fascist invasion during the 1930s and his eloquent plea for collective security before the League of Nations. Domestically, he modernized Ethiopia, introduced the nation's first written constitution, and played a pivotal role in the formation of the Organization of African Unity. However, his long reign was marked by significant challenges, including internal unrest, land reform failures, and economic issues, which ultimately led to a military coup in 1974. Beyond politics, he is revered as a messianic figure in the Rastafari movement, which considers him the living embodiment of God. His legacy remains deeply complex, balancing his status as a champion of African independence against the authoritarian nature of his later rule.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

November 1905: Appointment as Dejazmatch of Gara Mulatta

On 1 November 1905, at the age of 13, Tafari was appointed by his father as the Dejazmatch of Gara Mulatta, a position of nobility equivalent to a count.

November 1905: Tafari Appointed Dejazmach

On November 1, 1905, at the young age of 13, Tafari Makonnen was bestowed with the title of Dejazmach, a position of leadership roughly equivalent to a count, as he began his ascent into his future royal role.

1906: Appointment as Governor of Selale

In 1906, Tafari was appointed to the governorship of Selale, a region of minor significance that allowed him the time and space to pursue his ongoing educational studies.

1907: Appointment as Governor of Sidamo

Building on his previous administrative role, Tafari was appointed to govern a portion of the Sidamo province in 1907.

1910: Tafari Appointed Governor of Harar

During the final illness of Menelik II in 1910, Tafari (later Haile Selassie) was appointed as the governor of Harar to address the ineffective administration previously overseen by Dejazmach Balcha Safo.

1911: Tafari's Continued Tenure in Harar

By 1911, Tafari was firmly established in his role as the governor of Harar, a position granted to him during the transition period following the reign of Empress Taytu Betul.

1913: Lij Iyasu becomes the designated emperor

In 1913, Lij Iyasu was appointed as the designated but uncrowned emperor of Ethiopia, a position he held until 1916.

September 1916: Proclaimed Crown Prince and Regent

On 27 September 1916, Tafari was proclaimed Crown Prince and heir apparent to the Ethiopian throne, while also being appointed as the Regent Plenipotentiary.

1916: Appointment as Regent Plenipotentiary

Beginning in 1916, Haile Selassie I, then known as Lij Tafari, rose to political prominence by serving as the Regent Plenipotentiary (Enderase) under Empress Zewditu.

February 1917: Coronation of Empress Zewditu

On 11 February 1917, Empress Zewditu was officially crowned as the monarch of Ethiopia. During this coronation, she pledged to rule with justice alongside her regent, Tafari, who took on the responsibilities of daily administration while Zewditu retained the authority to arbitrate between competing political factions.

February 1917: Crowned as Le'ul-Ras

On 11 February 1917, Tafari was crowned Le'ul-Ras, a title equivalent to a royal duke, and began to be referred to as Ras Tafari Makonnen.

1923: Admission of Ethiopia to the League of Nations

In 1923, Haile Selassie facilitated Ethiopia's entry into the League of Nations by making a formal commitment to abolish the practice of slavery within his country.

1924: Diplomatic Tour of Europe and the Middle East

In 1924, Ras Tafari embarked on an extensive diplomatic tour across Europe and the Middle East, visiting cities including Paris, London, and Jerusalem to advocate for Ethiopian access to the sea. Although his primary goal was not achieved, the 1924 tour allowed him to study European infrastructure and implement cautious modernization reforms that prioritized local ownership to prevent economic imperialism.

1928: Consolidation of Power over Sidamo Province

In 1928, Tafari faced a direct challenge to his authority from the governor of Sidamo, Dejazmach Balcha Safo, who arrived in Addis Ababa with an armed force to protest new administrative regulations and revenue policies. On 18 February 1928, Tafari maneuvered to neutralize the threat by using Ras Kassa Haile Darge to bribe Balcha Safo's army and subsequently removed Balcha Safo from his governorship, replacing him with Birru Wolde Gabriel.

1928: Conferral of the title Negus

In 1928, despite Empress Zewditu's original plan to grant him the throne of Shewa, Tafari was instead conferred the title of Negus, or King, without a specific geographical designation due to opposition from provincial rulers.

November 1930: Coronation of Haile Selassie I

On November 2, 1930, following the death of Empress Zewditu, Tafari Makonnen ascended to the throne as the Negusa Nagast (King of Kings) and adopted the regnal name Haile Selassie I, signifying 'Power of the Trinity'.

1930: Ascension to the Imperial Throne

In 1930, Haile Selassie I transitioned from his role as Regent Plenipotentiary to become the Emperor of Ethiopia, a position he would hold until 1974.

1930: Adoption of Regnal Name

In 1930, Lij Tafari Makonnen adopted the name Haile Selassie as his official regnal name, which had originally been given to him during his infant baptism.

1931: Introduction of the 1931 Constitution

In 1931, Haile Selassie implemented a new constitution as part of his broader efforts to modernize the political and social structures of the Ethiopian Empire.

1942: Abolition of Slavery

As part of his ongoing social reform initiatives, Haile Selassie officially abolished the practice of slavery in Ethiopia in 1942.

1950: Establishment of the Federation of Ethiopia and Eritrea

The United Nations General Assembly established the Federation of Ethiopia and Eritrea in 1950, a geopolitical arrangement that Haile Selassie would later dissolve to annex Eritrea as a province.

1963: Formation of the Organisation of African Unity

In 1963, Haile Selassie presided over the creation of the Organisation of African Unity, the predecessor to the African Union, and became its inaugural chairman.

1974: The Overthrow of Haile Selassie

In 1974, Haile Selassie was deposed from power following a series of popular uprisings and a coup d'état orchestrated by the Derg, a military junta that subsequently established a Marxist–Leninist state in Ethiopia.