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Kassa Hailu crowned Tewodros II, Emperor of Ethiopia

When
1855
Where
Church of Derasge Maryam
Episodes
1

Kassa Hailu, a warrior from Qwara, rose through the decentralized Zemene Mesafint to become Emperor Tewodros II. His coronation occurred on February 11, 1855, at Derasge Maryam, following his victory over Dejazmatch Wube. This event marked the end of the Era of the Princes and the beginning of modern Ethiopia.

Episodes

  1. 11 February 1855 · Church of Derasge MaryamCoronation at Derasge

    Kassa Hailu was crowned Emperor Tewodros II by Abuna Salama III at Derasge Maryam on February 11, 1855, following his victory over Dejazmatch Wube.

Background and detail

Background. Kassa Hailu was born into a country rife with civil war during the Zemene Mesafint. He defeated many regional noblemen and princes before becoming emperor. His ambitions were not those of the regional nobility, and he sought to reunify the Empire. The British Consul Walter Plowden recognized his rising star as a freelance warrior from Qwara.

Rise to Power. Kassa rebelled against Ras Ali in 1852, winning victories at Gur Amaba, Takusa, Ayshal, and Amba Jebelli. He refused to acknowledge the restoration of Emperor Sahle Dengel. His decisive defeat of Dejazmatch Wube was the final step allowing him to take the kingly name Tewodros II, ending the decentralized era.

Coronation. Following the defeat of Dejazmach Wube, Kassa was crowned Emperor by Abuna Salama III in the church of Derasge Maryam on February 11, 1855. This event marked the beginning of modern Ethiopia and the end of the Zemene Mesafint, where regional warlords had previously fought for power.

People involved

Sources

  1. Tewodros II Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-26
  2. Ethiopian Empire Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-16

Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.