Haile Selassie was the emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974 and is considered God incarnate by the Rastafarianism Movement.

1. Born: July 23, 1892
2. Died: August 27, 1975
3. Married: Empress Menen Asfaw
4. Also known as H.I.M., Jah, Jah Rastafari, and the Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah
5. Named "Person of the Year" by Time Magazine in 1936 for his resistance to Italian invasion

Born in 1892 as Tafari Makonnen, Haile Selassie became the "King of Kings of Ethiopia" in 1930. Almost immediately upon taking power, the Ethiopian king faced an invasion of his country from a Fascist Italy led by Benito Mussolini. Selassie became an instant international icon for standing up to Italy in the conflict, even though the technologically advanced Italian military easily defeated the Ethiopian Army and sent the King into exile. Haile Selassie returned from exile in 1941 and throughout the rest of his life, he was seen as a source of stability on the African continent. In 1974, the King was deposed and in 1975, while in prison, he died, supposedly of "respiratory failure" as a result of a prostate operation.

• 1892: July 23, Haile Selassie is born Tafari Makonnen

• 1911: April 11, Haile Selassie is made Governor of Harar

• 1911: August 3, Selassie marries Menen Asfaw

• 1916: Selassie become the de facto ruler of Ethiopia

• 1928: Haile Selassie is crowned king and emperor of Ethiopia

• 1931: July 16, The first constitution of Ethiopia is introduced

• 1935: October, Italy invades Ethiopia

• 1936-1941: Selassie lives in exile

• 1941: January 18, As part of the East Africa Campaign, Selassie marches into Ethiopia and regains power

• 1960: December 13, A failed coup marks a period of increasing radicalization, especially among students

• 1963: Selassie presides over the first meeting of the Organization of African Unity

• 1972-1973: Famine in Wollo kills an estimated 200,000 Ethiopians

• 1974: September 12, A group of low-ranking military officers depose Selassie

• 1975: August 27, Haile Selassie dies

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