Taytu Betul

Taytu Betul was born around 1851 in Semien, in northern Ethiopia, into a noble family that claimed descent from the Solomonic dynasty through Emperor Susenyos I. Her father was Ras Betul Haile Maryam, and her uncle Wube Haile Maryam governed Semien and Tigray. She received a church education and was known for her intellect, including her skill in qene, the Ethiopian tradition of poetry, and she was baptised Welete Mikael.

She had been married several times before she married King Menelik of Shewa, and became his third wife and queen consort. Menelik became Emperor of Ethiopia, and Taytu was crowned empress in 1889. Together, in 1886, they founded the new capital, Addis Ababa, which is today one of Africa's great cities.

Taytu is best remembered for her part in the confrontation with Italy. In 1889 Menelik signed the Treaty of Wuchale, which in its Italian version implied that Ethiopia was an Italian protectorate. When the deception came to light, Taytu was among the strongest voices against it, and tradition says she tore up the treaty. She was reported to have told the Italians that they wanted other countries to see Ethiopia as their protégé, but that this would never be.

When Italy invaded in 1895, the empress marched north with the emperor and the army. At the siege of Mek'ele she is said to have suggested cutting off the water supply of the fort where the Italians sheltered, and at the Battle of Adwa on 1 March 1896, which ended in the defeat of Italy and the preservation of Ethiopian independence, she commanded a contingent of cannoneers. Adwa remains the most famous victory of an African army over a European colonial power.

After the emperor suffered strokes from 1906, Taytu became the dominant political figure at court, which caused deep resentment among officials, and in 1910 she was pushed from power. Menelik died in 1913, and she was sent to the old palace at Entoto, near Addis Ababa. Her stepdaughter Zewditu, who had always been close to her, invited her to live with her. She asked to be allowed to end her days at Gondar, but was refused, and died on 11 February 1918, and was buried beside Menelik at the Ba'eta Le Mariam monastery.