Wolde Selassie

Who was Wolde Selassie?

Wolde-Sillasie He was an Overlord of Tigray-Mereb Milash and a Ras Bitwoded of Ethiopia. He was the second son of Dejazmach Kefla Iyasus Amdamikael, hereditary chief of Enderta. In his "Life in Abysinia" book, the 19th century British traveler Mansfield Parkyns writes that, "the family of Dejazmach Kefla Iyasus and Wolde-Sillasie were of distinguished origin and came from Antalo in Enderta of which place they were chiefs." His brothers included Dejazmach Bilaten-Geta Mennase Kefla Iyasus and Dejazmach Debbab Kefla Iyasus who is the great grandfather of Emperor Yohannes IV. And his wives included Mentewab, the sister of Emperor Egwale Seyon; and Sahin, the daughter of Emperor Tekle Giyorgis I.

John J. Halls, in his Life and Correspondence of Henry Salt, preserves a description of this powerful warlord, as "small in stature, and delicately formed, quick in his manner, with a shrewd expression, and considerable dignity in his deportment." Nathaniel Pearce also notes that Ras Wolde was an avid chess player, and "would play at from morning till night".