Ethiopian emperors
Sir: While agreeing with most of what my friend Rebecca Asrate Kassa wrote on Ethiopia (Letters, 6 July), I think she is not entirely right about Lij Iyassu, who in- cidentally was Menelik's grandson, not son; his father was Negus (King) Mikael of Woilo. Although remaining uncrowned, Lij Iyassu succeeded his grandfather in 1913, and is generally thought of as being de facto Emperor until his leanings to- wards Islam and general dissipation led to his deposition in 1916 in favour of Mene- lik's daughter, Empress Zawditu. Ras Tafari 'Makonnen, the future Emperor Haile Selassie, then became regent.
It was Rebecca's father, Ras Asrate, who once told me that his own father (and Rebecca's grandfather) Ras Kassa, who was Lij Iyassu's jailer, always treated him with the greatest possible respect. He would refuse to sit down in his presence until asked to do so three times, and in every way he behaved towards Iyassu as though he were an emperor, albeit an imprisoned one. This contrasts interesting- ly with his attitude towards the new regent and eventual emperor, which was to show only the reasonable politeness owed to an equal. For Kassa, too, had a claim to the throne which he never, however, put to the test.
Graham Tayar
25 Fortess Road, London NW5
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