African Women

{"totalPages":"1","currentPage":"1","nextPage":"","search":"","tag":"","indexPage":"",
"askLabel":"Ask me anything",
"submitLabel":"Submit",
"searchLabel":"Search",

"posts":{
"11504511448":{"id":"11504511448","date":"2011-10-15","noteCount": "81 notes","url":"http://afrikanwomen.tumblr.com/post/11504511448/empress-zewditu-of-ethiopia-empress-zewditu-was","rebloggingUrl":"http://www.tumblr.com/reblog/11504511448/8jOcuzTc","reblog":"","hasTags":"true",
"tags":[{"tagUrl":"http://afrikanwomen.tumblr.com/tagged/africa/chrono","tag":"africa"},{"tagUrl":"http://afrikanwomen.tumblr.com/tagged/ethiopia/chrono","tag":"ethiopia"},{"tagUrl":"http://afrikanwomen.tumblr.com/tagged/empress/chrono","tag":"empress"},{}],"tagCaption":"Tags","permalinkPage":"true","notesUrl":"http://afrikanwomen.tumblr.com/notes/11504511448/X7xCFDZnT",

"type":"photo","body":"%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEmpress%20Zewditu%20of%20Ethiopia%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EEmpress%20Zewditu%20was%20the%20daughter%20of%20Emperor%20Menelik%20II%2C%20by%20Woizero%20Abechi%2C%20a%20woman%20of%20mid-level%20nobility%2C%20born%20shortly%20after%20Menelik%20returned%20to%20Shewa%20following%20his%20captivity%20at%20Magdalla.%20Woizero%20Abechi%20died%20while%20Zewditu%20was%20still%20a%20very%20young%20child%2C%20so%20Zewditu%20was%20raised%20by%20her%20father%2C%20in%20the%20care%20of%20nannies%2C%20and%20was%20closer%20to%20him%20than%20any%20other%20person.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EZewditu%20also%20had%20a%20half%20sister%2C%20Woizero%20Shewaregga%20Menelik%2C%20the%20mother%20of%20Lij%20Eyasu%2C%20and%20a%20half%20brother%2C%20Prince%20Asfaw%20Wossen%20Menelik%2C%20who%20died%20in%201888%20while%20still%20a%20child.%20She%20was%20often%20refered%20to%20by%20her%20close%20relatives%20by%20the%20nickname%20of%20%E2%80%9CMamite%E2%80%9D%20which%20translates%20to%20%E2%80%9CBaby%E2%80%9D.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EUnlike%20most%20of%20the%20rest%20of%20the%20Shewan%20aristocracy%2C%20Zewditu%20had%20very%20good%20relations%20with%20Empress%20Taitu.%20Although%20Taitu%20was%20brusque%2C%20and%20a%20stern%20mistress%20of%20Menelik%E2%80%99s%20household%2C%20Zewditu%20had%20deep%20affection%20for%20her%20step-mother.%20Taitu%20returned%20Zewditu%E2%80%99s%20affection%2C%20although%20often%20dispairing%20of%20her%20behavior.%20She%20believed%20that%20Zewditu%20was%20overly%20familiar%20with%20the%20palace%20serving%20maids%20saying%20%E2%80%9CIt%E2%80%99s%20imposible%20to%20separate%20Mamite%20from%20the%20servants%E2%80%9D.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EShe%20often%20scolded%20her%20for%20not%20maintaining%20the%20dignity%20of%20a%20daughter%20of%20the%20House%20of%20Solomon.%20Zewditu%20had%20earned%20a%20reputation%20of%20kindness%20and%20completely%20lacked%20the%20haughty%20and%20imperious%20attitude%20of%20her%20step-mother%20and%20other%20female%20relatives.%20Zewditu%20treated%20everyone%20with%20the%20same%20sweet%20friendliness%20whether%20they%20were%20royalty%20or%20simple%20servants.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EUnderlying%20these%20traits%20was%20a%20truely%20innocent%20naivete%20that%20endeared%20her%20to%20many%2C%20but%20would%20perhaps%20be%20a%20drawback%20to%20her%20eventually.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EZewditu%20was%20married%20in%201882%20at%20the%20age%20of%209%20to%20Ras%20Araya%20Selassie%20Yohannis%2C%20son%20and%20heir%20of%20Emperor%20Yohannis%20IV%2C%20in%20order%20to%20cement%20the%20agreement%20between%20her%20father%20and%20the%20emperor%20when%20Menelik%20%28then%20king%20of%20Shewa%29%20submitted%20to%20Yohannis.%20However%2C%20Ras%20Araya%20Selassie%20died%20in%201888%2C%20and%20Zewditu%2C%20who%20had%20not%20produced%20any%20children%20returned%20to%20Shewa.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERas%20Araya%20had%20fathered%20a%20son%2C%20Gugsa%2C%20by%20another%20woman.%20Zewditu%20maintaied%20very%20warm%20relations%20with%20her%20father-in-law%20who%20was%20very%20fond%20of%20Zewditu.%20Yohannis%20IV%20was%20very%20angered%20when%20Zewditu%E2%80%99s%20father%20rebled%20against%20him%20shortly%20after%20the%20death%20of%20Ras%20Araya%20Selassie.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EZewditu%2C%20upon%20recieving%20news%20that%20her%20father%20had%20rebled%20agains%20the%20emperor%2C%20is%20said%20to%20have%20wept%20bitterly%2C%20saying%20%E2%80%9CMy%20father%20and%20the%20Emperor%20would%20never%20have%20quarelled%20if%20only%20my%20husband%20had%20lived.%E2%80%9D%20When%20the%20Emperor%E2%80%99s%20informants%20told%20Yohannis%20IV%20of%20Zewditu%E2%80%99s%20comments%2C%20he%20was%20much%20moved%2C%20and%20had%20her%20summoned%2C%20and%20the%20two%20of%20them%20wept%20over%20the%20cruel%20fate%20of%20Ras%20Araya%20together.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20Emperor%20then%20returned%20Zewditu%20to%20Shewa%2C%20eventhough%20her%20father%20was%20still%20defying%20him%2C%20along%20with%20a%20huge%20gift%20of%20cattle%20and%20property%20in%201889.%20Emperor%20Yohannis%20IV%20continued%20to%20hold%20Zewditu%20in%20deep%20affection%20until%20his%20death.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EZewditu%20did%20not%20stay%20a%20widow%20for%20long.%20In%201891%2C%20Zewditu%20married%20Dejazmatch%20Gwangul%20Zegeye.%20The%20marriage%20was%20short%20lived%2C%20not%20more%20than%20a%20few%20months%2C%20but%20Zewditu%20did%20have%20a%20daughter%20by%20him%2C%20who%20died%20in%201895%20at%20the%20age%20of%204.%20Zewditu%20then%20married%20Wube%20Atnaf%20Seged%2C%20an%20unhappy%20marriage%20that%20ended%20in%20divorce%20after%20two%20and%20a%20half%20years.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%201900%2C%20at%20the%20suggestion%20of%20her%20step-mother%2C%20Zewditu%20married%20Ras%20Gugsa%20Welle%2C%20son%20of%20Ras%20Welle%20Bitul%20and%20nephew%20of%20Taitu.%20Ras%20Welle%20was%20ruler%20of%20Simien%20and%20Yejju%20and%20younger%20brother%20of%20Empress%20Taitu%20Bitul.%20This%20marriage%20bound%20the%20princess%20even%20more%20closely%20to%20her%20stepmother%2C%20and%20the%20marriage%20proved%20to%20be%20a%20generaly%20happy%20one.%20Zewditu%20had%20no%20children%20who%20survived%20to%20adulthood.%3C%2Fp%3E","photo":"http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lt4ya8Ffzj1r4uaujo1_250.jpg","photoSmall":"http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lt4ya8Ffzj1r4uaujo1_75sq.jpg","photoLarge":"http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lt4ya8Ffzj1r4uaujo1_250.jpg","downloadCaption":"Download","photoAlt":"Empress%20Zewditu%20of%20Ethiopia%0AEmpress%20Zewditu%20was%20the%20daughter%20of%20Emperor%20Menelik%20II%2C%20by%20Woizero%20Abechi%2C%20a%20woman%20of%20mid-level%20nobility%2C%20born%20shortly%20after%20Menelik%20returned%20to%20Shewa%20following%20his%20captivity%20at%20Magdalla.%20Woizero%20Abechi%20died%20while%20Zewditu%20was%20still%20a%20very%20young%20child%2C%20so%20Zewditu%20was%20raised%20by%20her%20father%2C%20in%20the%20care%20of%20nannies%2C%20and%20was%20closer%20to%20him%20than%20any%20other%20person.%0AZewditu%20also%20had%20a%20half%20sister%2C%20Woizero%20Shewaregga%20Menelik%2C%20the%20mother%20of%20Lij%20Eyasu%2C%20and%20a%20half%20brother%2C%20Prince%20Asfaw%20Wossen%20Menelik%2C%20who%20died%20in%201888%20while%20still%20a%20child.%20She%20was%20often%20refered%20to%20by%20her%20close%20relatives%20by%20the%20nickname%20of%20%26ldquo%3BMamite%26rdquo%3B%20which%20translates%20to%20%26ldquo%3BBaby%26rdquo%3B.%0AUnlike%20most%20of%20the%20rest%20of%20the%20Shewan%20aristocracy%2C%20Zewditu%20had%20very%20good%20relations%20with%20Empress%20Taitu.%20Although%20Taitu%20was%20brusque%2C%20and%20a%20stern%20mistress%20of%20Menelik%26rsquo%3Bs%20household%2C%20Zewditu%20had%20deep%20affection%20for%20her%20step-mother.%20Taitu%20returned%20Zewditu%26rsquo%3Bs%20affection%2C%20although%20often%20dispairing%20of%20her%20behavior.%20She%20believed%20that%20Zewditu%20was%20overly%20familiar%20with%20the%20palace%20serving%20maids%20saying%20%26ldquo%3BIt%26rsquo%3Bs%20imposible%20to%20separate%20Mamite%20from%20the%20servants%26rdquo%3B.%0AShe%20often%20scolded%20her%20for%20not%20maintaining%20the%20dignity%20of%20a%20daughter%20of%20the%20House%20of%20Solomon.%20Zewditu%20had%20earned%20a%20reputation%20of%20kindness%20and%20completely%20lacked%20the%20haughty%20and%20imperious%20attitude%20of%20her%20step-mother%20and%20other%20female%20relatives.%20Zewditu%20treated%20everyone%20with%20the%20same%20sweet%20friendliness%20whether%20they%20were%20royalty%20or%20simple%20servants.%0AUnderlying%20these%20traits%20was%20a%20truely%20innocent%20naivete%20that%20endeared%20her%20to%20many%2C%20but%20would%20perhaps%20be%20a%20drawback%20to%20her%20eventually.%0AZewditu%20was%20married%20in%201882%20at%20the%20age%20of%209%20to%20Ras%20Araya%20Selassie%20Yohannis%2C%20son%20and%20heir%20of%20Emperor%20Yohannis%20IV%2C%20in%20order%20to%20cement%20the%20agreement%20between%20her%20father%20and%20the%20emperor%20when%20Menelik%20%28then%20king%20of%20Shewa%29%20submitted%20to%20Yohannis.%20However%2C%20Ras%20Araya%20Selassie%20died%20in%201888%2C%20and%20Zewditu%2C%20who%20had%20not%20produced%20any%20children%20returned%20to%20Shewa.%0ARas%20Araya%20had%20fathered%20a%20son%2C%20Gugsa%2C%20by%20another%20woman.%20Zewditu%20maintaied%20very%20warm%20relations%20with%20her%20father-in-law%20who%20was%20very%20fond%20of%20Zewditu.%20Yohannis%20IV%20was%20very%20angered%20when%20Zewditu%26rsquo%3Bs%20father%20rebled%20against%20him%20shortly%20after%20the%20death%20of%20Ras%20Araya%20Selassie.%0AZewditu%2C%20upon%20recieving%20news%20that%20her%20father%20had%20rebled%20agains%20the%20emperor%2C%20is%20said%20to%20have%20wept%20bitterly%2C%20saying%20%26ldquo%3BMy%20father%20and%20the%20Emperor%20would%20never%20have%20quarelled%20if%20only%20my%20husband%20had%20lived.%26rdquo%3B%20When%20the%20Emperor%26rsquo%3Bs%20informants%20told%20Yohannis%20IV%20of%20Zewditu%26rsquo%3Bs%20comments%2C%20he%20was%20much%20moved%2C%20and%20had%20her%20summoned%2C%20and%20the%20two%20of%20them%20wept%20over%20the%20cruel%20fate%20of%20Ras%20Araya%20together.%0AThe%20Emperor%20then%20returned%20Zewditu%20to%20Shewa%2C%20eventhough%20her%20father%20was%20still%20defying%20him%2C%20along%20with%20a%20huge%20gift%20of%20cattle%20and%20property%20in%201889.%20Emperor%20Yohannis%20IV%20continued%20to%20hold%20Zewditu%20in%20deep%20affection%20until%20his%20death.%0AZewditu%20did%20not%20stay%20a%20widow%20for%20long.%20In%201891%2C%20Zewditu%20married%20Dejazmatch%20Gwangul%20Zegeye.%20The%20marriage%20was%20short%20lived%2C%20not%20more%20than%20a%20few%20months%2C%20but%20Zewditu%20did%20have%20a%20daughter%20by%20him%2C%20who%20died%20in%201895%20at%20the%20age%20of%204.%20Zewditu%20then%20married%20Wube%20Atnaf%20Seged%2C%20an%20unhappy%20marriage%20that%20ended%20in%20divorce%20after%20two%20and%20a%20half%20years.%0AIn%201900%2C%20at%20the%20suggestion%20of%20her%20step-mother%2C%20Zewditu%20married%20Ras%20Gugsa%20Welle%2C%20son%20of%20Ras%20Welle%20Bitul%20and%20nephew%20of%20Taitu.%20Ras%20Welle%20was%20ruler%20of%20Simien%20and%20Yejju%20and%20younger%20brother%20of%20Empress%20Taitu%20Bitul.%20This%20marriage%20bound%20the%20princess%20even%20more%20closely%20to%20her%20stepmother%2C%20and%20the%20marriage%20proved%20to%20be%20a%20generaly%20happy%20one.%20Zewditu%20had%20no%20children%20who%20survived%20to%20adulthood."

 },
"":{} }}