04/11/2023
Haile Selassie I, Last Emperor of Africa, Ethiopia
On Sunday, November 2, 1930, ascending officially to the throne 7 months after the death of Empress Zaouditu on April 2, the 38 years old Ras Tafari Makonnen was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia, taking the name Haile Selassie I, which means “Power of the Trinity.” Though taking place in the twentieth century, the ceremony reached back thousands of years, as Ethiopia’s Menelik dynasty descended from Solomon, the ancient king of Israel, and Makeda the Queen of Sheba, one of his wives according to the tradition.
To prepare for the coronation, 7 groups of 7 priests gathered in the 7 corners of the national cathedral and chanted for 7 days and 7 nights psalms written by King David. On the morning of the coronation, priests chanted and drummers drummed. Then, the Emperor, wearing white silken robes, marched solemnly into the cathedral behind attendants waving incense burners.
He took his seat on the Imperial Throne, and the Abuna Kyrillos, the highest official in the Ethiopian Tawahedo Church presided. After the Emperor pledged to carry out his royal duties, he received the 7 symbols of his office—a golden sword, a scepter of ivory and gold, the orb, a diamond-encrusted ring, two traditional lances filigreed in gold, the imperial vestments, and finally the crown. Each item was accompanied by an anointing with 7 differently-scented oils. After this, the new monarch and his consort were taken on a tour of the Cathedral of St. George, then escorted outside by a procession of notables carrying palm branches and chanting: "Blessed be the King of Israel"
Ethiopian tradition required the Emperor's consort to be crowned at the palace, three days after the coronation. However, Haile Selassie broke with this precedent and had his wife crowned (but not anointed) in the Cathedral with him.