1. Ras Desta Damtew KBE was an Ethiopian noble, army commander and a son-in-law of Emperor Haile Selassie I He is known for his leadership in the Ethiopian Army during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.
17 Facts About Desta Damtew
1. 2.
Desta Damtew was executed on 24 February 1937, by the Italian Armed Forces shortly after Ethiopia's loss in the war.
3.
In 1896, Fitawrari Damtew Ketena was killed at the Battle of Adwa.
4.
Desta Damtew went on to serve in the Dowager Empress Taitu's household at the Palace on Mt.
5.
In 1916, Desta Damtew supported Tafari Makonnen against Lij Iyasu.
6.
In 1920, Desta Damtew was in the party that captured Lij Iyasu.
7.
In 1924, Desta Damtew married Tafari Makonnen's daughter Leult Tenagnework Haile Selassie.
8.
Desta Damtew had the soft, almost inaudible voice of the aristocratic Amhara.
9.
Desta Damtew was considered a genius by many of his advisors and fellow-soldiers.
10.
Desta Damtew was educated in Ethiopia, Britain and Switzerland and spoke fluent Amharic, English, French, German and Italian, among other languages.
11.
In 1933, Ras Desta Damtew traveled to America to return the visit of the United States representative to the coronation of Haile Selassie.
12.
Desta Damtew arrived in New York and was greeted with royal honours, later lunching with President Roosevelt.
13.
In 1935, Ras Desta Damtew commanded troops along the southern border of Ethiopia during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War.
14.
Desta Damtew retreated back to his administrative center at Irgalem, where with the help of Dejazmach Gabremariam he reorganized his surviving supporters to resist the Italian advance.
15.
Desta Damtew continued to resist the Italians after the Emperor left the country.
16.
Wounded, Ras Desta Damtew managed to escape, only to be caught and executed on 24 February 1937 near his birthplace by Tigrayan banda, under the command of Italian officers.
17.
Desta Damtew's family demanded the return of the medal to Ethiopia for display at the National Museum of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.