Emperor Haile Selassie,

Emperor Haile Selassie, when he came to the Throne in 1930 after many years as Regent and two years as Negus, was already filled with the zeal to reform and modernise. He, unique among Ethiopian rulers for almost two millennia, had been exposed to the outside world, and had received as strong an education in Western culture and society as he had in Ethiopian traditions.
And it was he who attempted to blend historically-respected traditions of society and military management into a 20th Century, international context. For this reason, ancient military titles, such as meridazmatch, gerazmatch and dejazmatch, are retained, not to interfere with modern practices, but as a reminder of Ethiopias uniqueness. Indeed, unlike the aristocratic titles of military and governmental leadership in Europe – such as count, baron, etc. — the Ethiopian titles of Ras, Meridazmatch and Gerazmatch retained their direct functional relevance well into the 20th Century. We have seen Rases and Dejazmatches fighting in traditional military capacities well into this Century; indeed into World War iI and beyond.

Ras Tafari pictured with baby Asfa Wossen

Ethiopia Reaches Her Hand Unto God
Gregory R.Copley
Pages 82-83

Ethiopia

RasTafari

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