Princess Ijigayehu Amha Selassie
Encyclopedia
Princess Ijigayehu Amha Selassie (known during her life as Her Imperial Highness Princess Ijigayehu Asfaw Wossen; died 1977) was the eldest child of Crown Prince Asfaw Wossen of Ethiopia
by his first wife, Princess Wolete Israel Seyoum
and was the granddaughter to Emperor Haile Selassie. Through her mother's family she was a great-great granddaughter of Emperor Yohannes IV. Princess Ijigayehu was married to Dejazmach Fikre Selassie Hapte Mariam, the heir to the old Welega
Kingdom of Leqa Naqamte, and brother to Woezero Atsede Habte- Mariam (wife of General Mulugeta Bulli) and Princess Mahisente Habte Mariam
(wife of Prince Sahle Selasse). Dejazmach Fikre Selassie and Princess Ijigayehu were the parents of six children, Prince Samson Fikre Selassie, Prince Bekere Fikre Selassie, Prince Yisehaq Fikre Selassie, Princess Rahel Fikre Selassie, Princess Aster Fikre Selassie and Princess Meheret Fikre Selassie (all created Princes and Princesses by their grandfather Emperor Amha Selassie while in exile).
Princess Ijigayehu notably accompanied her grandfather Emperor Haile Selassie on his state visit to Italy and also on his state visit to Malaysia.
Princess Ijigayehu was imprisoned with the rest of the Imperial family on September 11, 1974, the day before Emperor Haile Selassie was deposed by the Derg
. She died in early 1977 after medical neglect while still in prison. She was buried at the Ketchene Medhan Alem Church in Addis Ababa by her children and her mother who were under surveillance but not imprisoned. Early the following year, all her children, along with other children of the Imperial family, escaped from Ethiopia. Her husband remained imprisoned for 8 years and died in August 1996.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
by his first wife, Princess Wolete Israel Seyoum
Wolete Israel Seyoum
Princess Wolete Israel Seyoum , was the daughter of Leul Ras Seyoum Mengesha, Prince of Tigray, and great-granddaughter of Emperor Yohannes IV of Ethiopia. She was thus the sister of Leul Ras Mengesha Seyoum. She was first married to the much older Dejazmach Gebre Selassie Baria Gabr of Adwa by...
and was the granddaughter to Emperor Haile Selassie. Through her mother's family she was a great-great granddaughter of Emperor Yohannes IV. Princess Ijigayehu was married to Dejazmach Fikre Selassie Hapte Mariam, the heir to the old Welega
Welega Province
Welega was a province in the western part of Ethiopia, with its capital city at Nekemte. It was named for the Welega Oromo, who are the majority of the population within its boundaries....
Kingdom of Leqa Naqamte, and brother to Woezero Atsede Habte- Mariam (wife of General Mulugeta Bulli) and Princess Mahisente Habte Mariam
Mahisente Habte Mariam
Princess Mahisente Habte Mariam is the widow of Prince Sahle Selassie, youngest son of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. She is the daughter of Dejazmach Habte Mariam Gebre Igziabiher, heir to the former Welega Kingdom of Leqa Naqamte...
(wife of Prince Sahle Selasse). Dejazmach Fikre Selassie and Princess Ijigayehu were the parents of six children, Prince Samson Fikre Selassie, Prince Bekere Fikre Selassie, Prince Yisehaq Fikre Selassie, Princess Rahel Fikre Selassie, Princess Aster Fikre Selassie and Princess Meheret Fikre Selassie (all created Princes and Princesses by their grandfather Emperor Amha Selassie while in exile).
Princess Ijigayehu notably accompanied her grandfather Emperor Haile Selassie on his state visit to Italy and also on his state visit to Malaysia.
Princess Ijigayehu was imprisoned with the rest of the Imperial family on September 11, 1974, the day before Emperor Haile Selassie was deposed by the Derg
Derg
The Derg or Dergue was a Communist military junta that came to power in Ethiopia following the ousting of Haile Selassie I. Derg, which means "committee" or "council" in Ge'ez, is the short name of the Coordinating Committee of the Armed Forces, Police, and Territorial Army, a committee of...
. She died in early 1977 after medical neglect while still in prison. She was buried at the Ketchene Medhan Alem Church in Addis Ababa by her children and her mother who were under surveillance but not imprisoned. Early the following year, all her children, along with other children of the Imperial family, escaped from Ethiopia. Her husband remained imprisoned for 8 years and died in August 1996.