1. Sahle Selassie was the King of Shewa from 1813 to 1847.
16 Facts About Sahle Selassie
1. 2.
Sahle Selassie was the great-grandfather of Haile Selassie, the last Emperor of Ethiopia.
3.
Once securely in control, Sahle Selassie turned his attention to the rebels.
4.
Sahle Selassie used diplomacy to win over the Abichu Oromo, who badly needed his help against their neighbors the Tulama Oromo, whom he defeated in the early 1820s.
5.
Sahle Selassie followed this victory by rebuilding Debre Berhan, which had been burned in an Oromo raid, as well as a number of other towns and consolidated his hold by founding a number of fortified villages, like Angolalla.
6.
Sahle Selassie extended the frontier of Shewa into Bulga and Karayu, to the southeast into Arsi, and as far south as the territories of the Gurage.
7.
About the time Sahle Selassie put down this rebellion in 1834 or 1835, a drought afflicted Shewa for two years, killing most of the domestic animals and bringing famine to his people.
8.
Sahle Selassie responded to the famine by opening the royal storehouses to the needy, endearing himself to his people.
9.
The famine came to an end in time for Medoko to rise again in rebellion, and although the general was quickly crushed, Sahle Selassie was then confronted by a crisis in the local church.
10.
About the time Sahle Selassie put down this rebellion in 1834 or 1835, a drought afflicted Shewa for two years, killing most of the domestic animals and bringing famine to his people.
11.
Sahle Selassie responded to the famine by opening the royal storehouses to the needy, endearing himself to his people.
12.
The famine came to an end in time for Medoko to rise again in rebellion, and although the general was quickly crushed, Sahle Selassie was then confronted by a crisis in the local church.
13.
Sahle Selassie's reforms extended beyond criminal law and included administrative reforms.
14.
Sahle Selassie developed a new structure of taxation that was not only fairer to his subjects but brought in a more substantial and reliable revenue; it is estimated that around 1840 his revenue in cash alone was between 80,000 and 300,000 Maria Theresa Thalers.
15.
Sahle Selassie worked to modernize his country, and like his contemporaries Goshu of Gojjam and Wube Haile Maryam of Tigray, he made contacts with European countries like France and Great Britain in hope of gaining craftsmen, educators, and above all firearms.
16.
Sahle Selassie signed treaties of friendship with both France and Great Britain.