August 17, 1844
December 12, 1913
Emperor Menelik II, born Sahle Miriam, was the visionary ruler who transformed Ethiopia into a modern empire while preserving its independence. Crowned King of Shewa in 1865 and Emperor in 1889, he famously defeated Italian colonial forces at the Battle of Adwa in 1896—the first African victory over European colonialism. Menelik expanded Ethiopia’s territory, established Addis Ababa as the capital, and pioneered infrastructure projects like railways and telegraph lines. His reign marked Ethiopia’s emergence as a sovereign African power during the Scramble for Africa."
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