UCI-Ethiopian_Imperial-Orders-Decorations-Medals-and-Honours-of-Ethiopia

UCI ~ I See You

The Imperial Orders, Decorations, Medals and Honours of Ethiopia
Source: The Crown Council of Ethiopia Website

The-Order-of-Solomon

The Order of Solomon

SolomonCollar.JPG

The Order of Solomon was established initially as a collar by Ras Tafari Makonnen in 1922 — whilst he was still Regent under
Empress Zauditu — “to be awarded to foreign Kings who had the rank according to Emperor”(3). But it seems likely that the collar
was not awarded until after his coronation as Emperor in 1930. The Collar was originally envisaged by Emperor Haile Selassie, it is
believed, as the highest rank of the Order of Solomon’s Seal, created by Emperor Yohannes IV in 1874, which was itself often
referred to as “the Order of Solomon”, but became a separate order which was awarded only rarely.

The Order was originally referred to as “The Cross of Solomon”, and even during Menelik’s reign was in five classes plus “une
categorie spéciale”, according to authoritative accounts published in 1913.(4) French explorer Dr George Montandon, a graduate
of the Société de Geographie of Paris, had spent two years in Ethiopia’s Ghimirra region, in the country’s south-west, and had
extensively documented a wide range of natural and cultural phenomena. His paper, like many published by the French, provides
detailed and scholarly background on Ethiopian history and geography not published in any other language. Dr Montandon said
that Emperor Yohannes created the order of the “Cross of Solomon” possibly at the instigation of his Italian counsellor, Sr Naretti,
and that he had created it in three classes, initially. These were, initially, the Premier (or First) Grade (Fitagnia Maëreg ^); the
Second Grade (Houlatagnia Maëreg ^); and the Third Grade (Sostagnia Maëreg ^).

The idea for a Grand Collar of the Grand Cross Order of the Cross of Solomon, specifically designed to be given to foreign monarchs,
came, according to Montandon’s 1913 paper, from Sir J. L. Harrington, the British Minister to Ethiopia [“Vers cette même époque
fut adoptée, sur les conseils de Sir J. L. Harrington, Ministre d’Angleterre, une catégorie spéciale de la grand croix de Salomon, la
grand’croix avec grand cordon vert, uniquement destinée aux souverains.”(5)

The concept and design of this order may have been influenced by its Savoyard counterpart, the Order of the Annunziata, which the
Emperor Haile Selassie held from King Victor Emannuel III. Paris jeweller Arthus-Bertrand has apparently been the principal
maker of this Order.

The Order of Solomon is limited to the Emperor, Empress, Crown Prince, Crown Princess, President of the Crown Council, and
Viceroy of Ethiopia, and reigning monarchs of any religion. Having said that, Le’ul Ras Kassa Hailu, President of the Crown Council
(1941-1957) was the only Ethiopian apart from Alga-Worrach Asfa Wossen (later Emperor Amha Selassie I), Prince Makonnen and
Princess Tenagne Work to be awarded the “Collar of the Seal of Solomon”. The Le’ul Ras was given the honour in 1955.(6)

Recipients have included Shah Reza Pahlavi of Iran, and Emperor Hirohito of Japan. The Order was also bestowed, in 1945, on King
Gustav V, of Sweden, and on Swedish Crown Prince (as he then was) Gustaf Adolf.(7)

SolomonStarNew.JPGSolomonStarFirst.JPGKing George V, of the United Kingdom, also received the Collar, in 1935, and his
particular example of the Order’s chain, medal and star is illustrated in the book, Royal Insignia.8 The chain has 44 square links of
gold set with a Star of David, surrounded by a filigree border. The suspension is set with a square-cut ruby. On 11 squares, the Ge’
ez inscription says: Amlakäna Haylenä Wäsawannä (^ Our God, Our Strength, Our Protector). The badge shows crowned Lions of
Judah supporting a Star of David with cross within, under an Imperial Ethiopian crown. Left this is a gold badge, the tips set with
eight pear-shaped diamonds, four emeralds and three rubies. In the centre, on two oval platinum plates: on the left, a pictorial
representation of the phrase from Psalms 6(8), “Ethiopia shall reach her hand unto God” (^) with the text in Ge’ez around it to the
left; on the right platinum plate is an illustration of the Queen of Sheba meeting King Solomon, with the inscription “The Queen of
Sheba Came to Hear Solomon’s Wisdom” (^) around it to the right. The two ovals are themselves surrounded by two branches of
palm leaves.(9) The breast star is the same as the badge, but without the suspension device.

The Order presented to King George V may have been the most ornate example produced. There are a number of variations of it,
and there is some suggestion that it had been intended that the star and badge were to have been (and in some cases may have
been) the same as what is now referred to as the Order of Solomon’s Seal [see below], the sister order. However, the insignia
evolved very differently in the Order of Solomon’s Seal.

British sovereigns King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II have also received the Order, as did Queen Juliana of the Netherlands.

Holders of the Order may identify themselves with the use of the post-nominal initials KS or DS (Knight or Dame of the Order of
Solomon).

The-Order-of-Solomons-Seal

The Order of Solomon’s Seal

The Order of Solomon’s Seal (sometimes referred to as the “Order of King Solomon’s Seal”(10) or the “Order of the Seal of
Solomon” or the “Order of the Crown of Solomon”(11), and earlier — before the current collar Order of Solomon came into being
— just as the “Order of Solomon”) was founded by Emperor Yohannes IV in 1874, as noted above [see The Order of Solomon]. The
insignia comprised a badge and star. The badge — a combination of a cross and a star of David — is a pendant from an emerald
green moiré sash. This sash is the same as for the Order of Solomon, but with the different insignia (badge) and star. The star,
badge and sash of Solomon’s Seal are below. Paris jeweller Arthus-Bertrand has been the principal maker of the Order, although it
was also made by the Addis Ababa-based crown jeweller, B. A. Sevadjian, which, after several generations of work on Imperial
Orders and artefacts, was reportedly taken over by the State during the current interregnum.

Eisenhower.JPG

The Order of Solomon’s Seal was frequently worn by Ethiopian sovereigns. Originally it was reserved for members of the Imperial
Family, heads of foreign states, and to individuals who had rendered particularly meritorious service to the Throne.(12) Among
the foreign heads of state to receive the Order was King Paul of Greece, who was invested with it in 1959 during the visit of
Emperor Haile Selassie to Greece.(13) The Order was bestowed on princes of the dynasty and foreign princes. It was also always
bestowed on the Abuna of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and very occasionally on international figures, including US President
Dwight Eisenhower, of the United States, and Earl Mountbatten of Burma. The Order was presented in its original form — that is,
the design instituted by its founder, King Yohannes IV — to King Edward VII of the United Kingdom. The Order in its original form
had also been bestowed upon Queen Victoria in 1897 for her Diamond Jubilee.

SolomonsSeal.JPG

President Eisenhower is shown at left wearing the Order of Solomon's Seal, and carrying a traditional Ethiopian shield and spear.
With him is the famous Ethiopian statesman, Ras Imru, a cousin and close friend of the Emperor, who served as Ambassador to
India and the U.S., and was also a member of the Crown Council.

The Order of Solomon’s Seal was frequently worn by Ethiopian sovereigns. Originally it was reserved for members of the Imperial
Family, heads of foreign states, and to individuals who had rendered particularly meritorious service to the Throne.(12) Among
the foreign heads of state to receive the Order was King Paul of Greece, who was invested with it in 1959 during the visit of
Emperor Haile Selassie to Greece.(13) The Order was bestowed on princes of the dynasty and foreign princes. It was also always
bestowed on the Abuna of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and very occasionally on international figures, including US President
Dwight Eisenhower, of the United States, and Earl Mountbatten of Burma. The Order was presented in its original form — that is,
the design instituted by its founder, King Yohannes IV — to King Edward VII of the United Kingdom. The Order in its original form
had also been bestowed upon Queen Victoria in 1897 for her Diamond Jubilee.

The President's Order of Solomon's Seal is shown above.

Emperor Haile Selassie in 1930 instituted the collar to the order as the highest form of honour in the Imperial pantheon.(14) [See
The Order of Solomon, above.] This then became the separate Order of Solomon, as noted. Even so, there was often confusion and,
indeed, a lack of official clarity in the distinction between the Order of Solomon and the Order of Solomon’s Seal even in the 1930s.
And today, the Paris jeweller, Arthus-Bertrand, refers to the Solomon’s Seal order as the “Crown of Solomon”. In 1936, the two
orders were listed together, with the order being in a total of five grades: the Collar of Solomon (the Chain; now the Order of
Solomon); Grand Cordon (or Grand Cross) of Solomon with Plaque; Grand Officer of (the Order of) Solomon; Commander of (the
Order of) Solomon; and Knight or Chevalier of (the Order of) Solomon.(15) However, the Order today is awarded only in the one
grade: that of Knight Grand Cross.(16)

Holders of the Order may identify themselves with the use of the post-nominal initials KSS (Knight of the Order of Solomon’s Seal)
or DSS (Dame of the Order of Solomon’s Seal).

The-Order-of-The-Queen-of-Sheba

The Order of the Queen of Sheba

The Order of the Queen of Sheba was established in 1922 during the reign of Empress Zauditu and the Regency of Ras Tafari, but
does not appear to have been awarded — or was, at least, little used — until the coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie I in 1930.
The Order was originally intended for royal ladies.

ShebaCollar.JPG

“We... had an order with a gold chain made called ‘The Queen of Sheba Order’ which is awarded to the Queen Consort and to
foreign queens,” Emperor Haile Selassie said in his memoirs.(17) However, by l950, the Order was being conferred on presidents
and prince consorts, usually with a special collar chain. Recipients of the Order with collar include HM Queen Mary (wife of King
George V, of the United Kingdom) in 1935, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh of the United Kingdom, President Charles De Gaulle of
France, President Dwight D. Eisenhower of the United States, and Emperor Bokassa of Central African Empire. Queen Frederica, of
Greece, was invested with the Grand Cross of the Order in 1959, during Emperor Haile Selassie’s visit to Greece.(18) HRH Prince
Mohamed bin Talal, of Jordan, was invested with the Order by Emperor Haile Selassie. Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands received
the Order with Collar.

The Collar of the Order of the Queen of Sheba in gold, is shown above.

ShebaSash.JPG

The sash, star and badge of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Order of the Queen of Sheba is illustrated to the right, in a photograph
supplied by Spink, the Queen’s medallists, of London. Spink has made the order, although Arthus-Bertrand has also made it.
Significantly, however, new copies of the set have recently appeared at auctions, marked as having been made by the original
manufacturer, B. A. Savadjian, in Addis Ababa. The coloured enamelling (noted below) has been absent from the insignia of these
sets. This modification was not authorised. It is believed that either incomplete insignia were obtained from Sevadjian’s facilities
during the civil war, or from Imperial stores, and never completed. Alternately, it is possible that the original Sevadjian dies have
been obtained illegally as a result of the upheaval of the civil war, and that counterfeit copies are being produced.

US President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Order of the Queen of Sheba may be viewed at The Eisenhower Foundation, in Abilene,
Kansas, in the US.

The Order continued to be conferred, as well, on female royalty: princesses of the Imperial Family and foreign princesses. In recent
years, the Sheba has been given to dignitaries of the level of Governor-General in some Commonwealth states.

The order today comes in one class, and the insignia comprises a Star of David around a bust of the fabled Queen, enamelled in
emerald and amethyst colours. The sash is deep violet with border stripes of emerald green.

Before World War II, the Order was listed fifth in order of precedence, after the Orders of Solomon (which subsequently became
two separate orders), the Trinity, Menelik II, and the Star of Ethiopia. Today, it clearly ranks third in precedence after the Order of
Solomon and the Order of Solomon’s Seal. As well, when it was created, the Order of the Queen of Sheba was issued in five grades:
Grand Cordon (or Grand Cross) of the (Order of the) Queen of Sheba; Grand Officer; Commander; Officer; and Member or Chevalier.
(19) No records can at present be obtained as to whether the Order was ever presented in other than the Grand Cross form, but it
is possible that some records still exist in the archives which remain inaccessible in Addis Ababa.

It is possible that the Order of the Queen of Sheba may have had its origins in, or taken inspiration from, the Ethiopian Order of the
Red Cross, founded by the Empress-consort (Itegé Taitu) in 1901-1902.(20) The insignia of the Order of the Red Cross was, like the
Order of Solomon, based on the Star of David (two overlapping triangles), although the Red Cross was in silver; the Sheba in gold.
The Order of the Red Cross had the red cross of St. George superimposed upon it; the Sheba has the visage of the Queen of Sabæ
superimposed.(21)

Holders of the Order of the Queen of Sheba may use the post-nominal initials GCQS (Grand Cross of the Order of the Queen of
Sheba).

The-Order-of-The-Holy-Trinity

The Order of the Holy Trinity

The Order of the Holy Trinity was established by Emperor Haile Selassie I in 1930 for his coronation. The Order was generally
limited to the nobility, high clergy and a handful of courtiers.

Trinity.JPG

The Order of the Trinity appears to have been awarded to some of the Ethiopian regiments which resisted the occupation of 1936-
41 and who took part in the liberation of the country; banners of some regiments have been decorated with the cross of the Order
and can be viewed at the Trinity Cathedral in Addis Ababa. Werlich, in his Orders and Decorations of All Nations, noted that the
Order was “for outstanding service, civil or military, to the throne”, and that the Order could be awarded to foreigners.(22)

The Order was originally created in five grades: Knight Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer and Member (or Chevalier).
(23) The Crown Council has restored the Order to a one grade honour: that of Knight Grand Cross, with the addition of a Grand
Collar in certain extraordinary circumstances. The London medallists, Spink & Co., and Paris jewellers Arthus-Bertrand, make the
order, although Bertrand is the only maker of the lapel rosettes of the Order.

The Order is bestowed by the Crown on very distinguished individuals, Ethiopian and foreign, who have served the Council in a
variety of rôles as Special Advisors and as Envoys. The Order has also been given to Chamberlains and Chancellors of Royal
Houses. The post-nominal identifying initials for this order are GCHT. Holders of the Grand Collar append an asterisk to the initials
— GCHT* — to signify the additional honour.

Recent foreign recipients of the Trinity — after the revolution — include, for example, Gen. William Westmoreland, the US military
leader who led US forces during the Vietnam War. He was a close friend of Emperor Haile Selassie. whom he visited in Ethiopia in
1971 as his guest. He was installed in 1998 as Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Holy Trinity. Among the recent conferrals of
Knight Grand Cross of the Holy Trinity with Grand Collar was, in 1998, the Afe-Negus of Ethiopia, Teshome Haile Mariam, who
served as Afe-Negus to HIM Emperor Haile Selassie I and HIM Emperor Amha Selassie I, and subsequently to the Crown Council of
Ethiopia, from its reconstitution in 1993. He was a former Chief Justice of Ethiopia and Ambassador to the United States. As well,
noted Ethiopian-born British explorer Sir Wilfred Thesiger, KBE, DSO, CSE, who had received the Commander of the Order of the
Star of Ethiopia at the Coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie in 1930, was in 1998 made Knight Grand Cross of the Holy Trinity with
Grand Collar. HIH Grand Duke George of Russia received the GCHT with Grand Collar in 1998.

The-Order-of-Emperor-Menelik-II

The Order of Emperor Menelik II

The Order of Emperor Menelik II was founded in 1924 by the Regent, Ras Tafari Makonnen, during the reign of Empress Zauditu,
and is one of the most attractive of the Imperial Orders. It is also sometimes referred to as “The Order of the Lion of Judah”(24) or
as “The Order of the Ethiopian Lion”; indeed, these names appear to have applied to what was essentially one comprehensive
honour. In 1996, the Crown Council decided to end this anomaly by establishing two separate Orders with distinct insignia and
ribands: the old insignia designated for Menelik and the new design for the Lion. Thus both Orders (Emperor Menelik II and the
Ethiopian Lion) can be said to have been founded in 1924 with modification into two Orders in 1996. Arthus-Bertrand, in Paris, has
traditionally made the Order, while Spink, in London, has made the Order of the Ethiopian Lion.

Menelik.JPG

The Order has always been in five grades of Knight Grand Cross, Knight Commander, Commander, Officer and Member, and is
made by the Paris firm of Arthus-Bertrand. It is probable that the design of the Order was influenced by the Montenegrin Order of
Danilo which had passed into abeyance with the fall of the kingdom and its absorption into the United Kingdom of Yugoslavia. This
Order was also made by Arthus-Bertrand in Paris.

The Order of Menelik II (left), created by the then-Regent, Ras Tafari Makonnen, in 1924 in honour of the late Emperor, was, with
the Trinity created at the same time, an "order of very high rank", according to Emperor Haile Selassie's memoirs.

The Order of Menelik was sparingly awarded in the higher grades: senior officers of the armed forces and high court officials were
fortunate to retire with a Grand Cross of the Order and it may have been the highest Order available to prime ministers. It is known
to have been presented to, among others, Prince Bertil, of Sweden, in 1945.(25)

The green and red enamel cross depicts the Ethiopian Lion and is suspended from a yellow riband bordered with the Ethiopian
tricolour of green, yellow and red. Around the Imperial Lion are the words in Ge‘ez: Mo’a Anbasa Z. Y. (^), an abbreviation for the
phrase “The Lion of the Tribe of Judah hath conquered”: Mo’a Anbessa Zemene Gede Yehuda (^) which appears on the Imperial
Crest, the Crown Council Crest, and on the Throne of Solomon itself.

The various grades of the Order are represented by the use of the following post-nominal initials: GCEM (Grand Cross), GOEM
(Knight Commander), CEM (Commander), OEM (Officer), and MEM (Member).

The-Order-of-Emperor-Haile-Selassie-I

The Order of Emperor Haile Selassie I

The Crown Council established the Order of Emperor Haile Selassie I to commemorate the anniversary of His Imperial Majesty’s
One Hundredth Birthday, which occurred July 23, 1992. The Order may be conferred with Grand Collar. The Order is primarily
intended to recognise outstanding Pan-Africanists and contributors to Pan-African heritage, and ranks equally with the Order of
the Menelik II in precedence. In particular, the Order has been conferred on African kings and presidents and on African and
Caribbean prime ministers.

The insignia comprises a cross potent bearing a full colour portrait of Emperor Haile Selassie and is pendant from a sky blue sash
bordered in the Ethiopian tricolour of green, yellow and red.

The internationally acclaimed musician Bob Marley (Birhane Selassie) received the Order posthumously, along with the title of
bitwoded, the equivalent of the rank of Count in court circles.

Holders of the Grand Collar rank of the Order may use the post-nominal initials GCHS; holders of the normal rank of the Order may
use the post-nominal initials OHS.

The-Order-of-The-Ethiopian-Lion

The Order of the Ethiopian Lion

LionOrder.JPG

The Order of the Ethiopian Lion has its origins in the Order of Menelik II and acquired Insignia of its own in March 1996 on the one-
hundredth anniversary of the Victory of Adwa. The Order may be said to rank equally with the Order of Emperor Menelik II, from
which it derived, and the Order of Haile Selassie I.

The Order comprises five grades: Knight Grand Cordon, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer and Member. The Order is bestowed for
distinguished and meritorious service to the Crown Council and is under the personal Grand Mastership of Prince Ermias Sahle-
Selassie Haile-Selassie. The Order has been accorded to Christians and Moslems and thus departs from most other Imperial Orders
in that there is no overt religious symbolism. Ambassadors, Ministers, Staff Officers, Academicians and other professionals have
received the Order with a preponderance of conferrals to Africa, the Caribbean and Middle East.

London medallist Spink has made the Order, although it is now made by the Crown Medallist, Bezant.
The Insignia depicts the Lion of Ethiopia on a circular shield which in turn is engraved with rays of the sun. The Julian calendar (ie:
Ethiopian calendar) dates “1889” and “1933” (equivalent to the Gregorian calendar dates 1896 and 1941) appear in Amharic
below the lion, commemorating two years when Ethiopia resisted European colonialism. On the original striking of the Order, the
dates appeared with the Gregorian calendar dates in Western script. The Imperial Crown is attached to the badge by way of an
enamelled bow in the colours of the Ethiopian tricolour. The ribbon is a rich hue of salmon pink with the tricolour of green, gold
and red in the centre.

It is interesting to note that the Imperial Lion appears on the Imperial Order of the Lion facing left, instead of the more customary
right-facing position. This is to indicate that the Order, although it had its origins in the Order of Emperor Menelik II, was given its
independent status when the Crown was in exile. The left-facing lion is meant to show that the Order was created when Ethiopia
was in a condition of adversity and distress, and it honors those who fought for Ethiopia’s reconstruction and resurrection during
this period.

Holders of the order may identify their award with the use of the following post-nominal initials: GCEL (Knight Grand Cordon);
GOEL (Grand Officer); CEL (Commander); Officer (OEL); and Member (MEL).

The-Star-of-Ethiopia

The Order of the Star of Ethiopia

StarofEthiopiaComman.GIF

The Order of the Star of Ethiopia was founded by Emperor Menelik II in 1884-85, in his capacity as Negus of Shoa,(26) and before
he became Emperor of Ethiopia (in 1889). It is one of the older awards in the Imperial pantheon. It was originally awarded,
according to Montandon, in five levels, plus une catégorie speciale. However, at that time, it was listed as being in three classes,
with two sub-grades. The First Class was the Grand Cross; the Second Class grade of Grand Officer was Second Class avec plaque;
the Second Class grade of Commander, was without the plaque; the Third Class grade of Officer was with rosette; the Third Class
grade of Chevalier (or Member, in the English parlance) was without the rosette. It would seem that there was a conscious effort at
the time to emulate the French structure as indicated by the Legion d’Honneur.

Domenico Guadagnini, in his Storia degli Ordini Vigenti ed Estinti, noted that the five grades of the Order were named as: Negus
(Knight Grand Cross, for sovereigns); Ras (Knight Grand Officer, for princes); Dje Asmache (Knight Commander); Kague Asmache
(Knight Officer); and Gra Asmache (Knight) [Guadagnini’s spellings]. He also noted that the insignia of a Knight Officer, worn on the
breast, showed a five-pointed star, joined across the bottom, similar to the emblem in the medal of the rank of Member of the
Order today, but without the circular medal surrounding it. The insignia for Knight Officer was suspended from what he called “a
characteristic Ethiopian coronet” which was, in fact, a Europeanised coronet, with the riband attached through a loop atop the
coronet. The insignia of a Knight Commander, suspended from a neck riband, showed an eight-pointed star in white gold, again
surmounted by the coronet and a loop for the riband.(27) It seems likely that the Order was originally given to Ethiopian recipients
in the ranks suggested by Guadagnini, although the protocol and the insignia have changed somewhat today. The medal for the
grade of Member of the Order of the Star (shown below) is far more simple than before. The Knight Grand Cross version, shown
below, which was the one awarded to the Duke of Harar, is, although now Westernised, far more elaborate, of a pattern similar to
the original design. The Grand Cross level uses the much more complex star as its motif.

Star of Ethiopia: rank of Commander. (right)

Cordon.JPG

The Order of the Star, sometimes referred to as the Order of the Star of Honour of Ethiopia, has been awarded sparingly, but to
notable Imperial and military figures, such as HH Prince Ras Kassa Hailu, a lifelong friend of Emperor Haile Selassie and a key
figure in the Imperial Ethiopian Army, who was presented the Order in its highest form of Knight Grand Cross and Collar; and HH
Prince Ras Asserate Kassa, who served as a Colonel in the Imperial Army, as governor-general of various regions, and as Vice-
President and President of the Senate (awarded the Order of Knight Grand Cross of the Star of Honour).(28)

The Cordon (Sash) and Star of the Order of the Star of Honour of Ethiopia. This example (left) was presented to HIH the First Duke
of Harar.

StarofEthiopia2.JPG

Recipients of the Grand Cross of the Order included Ambassador Phaidon Anninos-Kavallieratos, the Greek Chief of Protocol, and
Amb. Panayotis Rellas, Greek Ambassador to Addis Ababa, during the visit by Emperor Haile Selassie to Greece in 1959.(29)
Earlier, in 1955, four Greek officials, three of them from the Army, were made Officer, Commander and Knights, respectively of the
Order.

In recent years, since the revolution, the Order of the Star has continued to be awarded, including the Award to Maj.-Gen. Stanhope
S. Spears, for example, of the United States, for his efforts to aid the cause of the Crown.
The Order still comprises five grades: Knight Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer and Member. It is no longer awarded
with Collar. In its earlier incarnations, under Emperors Menelik and Haile Selassie, some Grand Crosses were jewel embellished
when given to foreign dignitaries. Arthus-Bertrand, in Paris, currently makes the Order.

The design of the Order is in the Ethiopian traditional filigree pattern, based on the shield. The Order has never been enamelled,
and some original pieces were solid gold. The Order was originally made in Ethiopia by B. A. Sevadjian of Addis Ababa. During the
Emperor’s exile in England, the Order was made by Mappin & Webb (1936-41) in London.

The-Order-of-The-Star-of-Ethiopia-in-the-rank-of-
Member-of-The-Order

The design of the Order is in the Ethiopian traditional filigree pattern, based on the shield. The Order has never been enamelled,
and some original pieces were solid gold. The Order was originally made in Ethiopia by B. A. Sevadjian of Addis Ababa. During the
Emperor’s exile in England, the Order was made by Mappin & Webb (1936-41) in London.

StarofEthiopia.JPG

The riband of the Order is in equal thirds of the tricolour: (from right) red, yellow and green. The original riband, when the order
was created, was in equal vertical stripes of blue, yellow, green and red,(30) but were replaced, probably before the turn of the
century, by the national tricolour.
Sir Wilfred Thesiger received the Order with the rank of Commander from Emperor Haile Selassie in 1930, when he attended the
coronation.

Emperor Amha Selassie I awarded the Order of the Star quite liberally during the 1980s.

Holders of the various grades of the Order may identify themselves by the use of the post-nominal initials: GCSE (Grand Cross),
GOSE (Grand Officer), CSE (Commander), OSE (Officer), MSE (Member).

The Order of the Star of Ethiopia in the rank of Member of the Order (MSE) (pictured above).

The Military Medal of Merit of the Order of St. George

Military and civil decorations within the Imperial gift

The Military Medal of Merit of the Order of St. George

The Military Medal of Merit of the Order of St. George, sometimes referred to merely as the Military Medal of St. George, or the
Medal of Merit of St. George, is the premier decoration for military service available to the Crown. The Military Medal of Merit
replaces, and basically grew out of, the Military Medal of Menelik II, created in 1901-1902 by Emperor Menelik II. It was worn by
the first Duke of Harar first in order of precedence of his medals, followed by the Distinguished Military Medal of Haile Selassie the
First [see below]. The Duke’s decoration was the result of his extensive and highly successful military service against the Italians
during the 1935-1941 War. He received the decoration twice (hence the bronze palm leaf on the riband).

The Crown Prince at the time (later Emperor Amha Selassie I), Asfa Wossen, also received the Military Medal of Merit of the Order
of St. George, which he wore 10th in order of precedence on his riband bar, wearing the Distinguished Military Medal of Haile
Selassie the First in eighth place.

It is not known whether the medal was ever awarded to any foreign nationals, but under the Chancery rules, there is nothing which
precludes this. The Military Medal of Merit of the Order of St. George is for outstanding military service, including acts of extreme
gallantry or for distinguished leadership during hostilities, and is awarded very rarely. None have been issued since the death of
Emperor Haile Selassie.

The medal is bronze in the form of a trilobe, with the obverse showing St. George slaying the dragon, surrounded by text in Ge’ez.
The medal is linked by a Trinity (three-pointed) star to a loop which attaches to a riband which is broken horizontally into two
equal colours. Where a “bar” is awarded to the medal — that is, the recipient is awarded the medal for a second time — a bronze
palm leaf is afixed to the riband at the joining point of the two colours. Holders of the decoration may use the post-nominal initials
MMM.

The-Order-of-The-Star-of-Ethiopia-in-the-rank-of-
Member-of-The-Order

The-Distinguished-Military-Medal-of-Haile-Selassie-the-First

The Distinguished Military Medal of Haile Selassie the First

The Distinguished Military Medal of Haile Selassie the First, sometimes known as the Medal of Merit of Haile Selassie the First, was
created by the Emperor during the campaign against the Italians who had overrun Ethiopia from October 3, 1935, to 1941. The
decoration was presented to Ethiopians and, on rare occasions, to foreigners who fought in the campaigns for Ethiopia’s freedom.
The medal was awarded for both single acts of extreme gallantry and for protracted military service of a distinguished nature.

The medal is bronze in the form of a trilobe, with the obverse showing a traditional portrait of Emperor Haile Selassie wearing the
Ethiopian Crown, and with the inscription in Ge’ez “Haile Selassie the First”. The reverse has the three-pointed Star of the Trinity
surmounting a pair of crossed batons, and the medal’s shape — like three overlapping circles — is designed to accommodate that.
The 32mm wide riband is attached to the medal by a ring atop a horizontal oval laurel wreath. The riband itself is pale green in the
top half and red in the lower half. A second award of the medal was signified by the addition of a palm leaf in bronze, placed
horizontally across the riband where the red and green meet.

Emperor Haile Selassie wore the Distinguished Military Medal himself, ranking it sixth in order of precedence after the great State
orders (Solomon’s Seal, the Queen of Sheba, the Holy Trinity, the Menelik II, and the Star), a real indication of the value of the
DMM. His son, as Crown Prince Asfa Wossen, wore the DMM in eighth place on his riband bar.

The DMM continues to be a current decoration within the Imperial gift, although, at press time, the Crown Council had not
authorised the striking of a new batch of the medal. It is understood that such a striking was being considered to recognise those
Ethiopians who fought with great valour against the Dergue which overthrew Emperor Haile Selassie, while at the same time
maintaining the fight for Ethiopian unity.

The medal was originally struck by Mappin & Webb, in London. Dennis Gill’s otherwise outstanding book on the coinage of
Ethiopia shows the DMM without riband, incorrectly identifying it as “a bronze coronation medal” of Emperor Haile Selassie.(34)
Holders of the medal may use the post-nominal initials DMM.

The-Refugees-Medal

The-Centenary-of-the-Victory-of-Adwa-Medal

The-Medal-of-Scholarship

The-Distinguished-Military-Medal-of-Haile-Selassie-I

The-Star-of-Victory

The-Coronation-Medal-of-Emperor-Haile-Selassie-I

The-Haile-Selassie-I-Prize-Medal

Honours

National Honours

Grand Cordon of the Order of the Seal of Solomon

Refugee Medal (1944)

Jubilee Medal (1955)

Foreign honours

Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim (Kingdom of Sweden, 19 December 1959)

Knight Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum (Japan)

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the House of Orange
(Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Federal Republic of Germany)

Sash of the Order of the Aztec Eagle (United Mexican States, 1954)

Order of the Yugoslav Star, 1st class (21 July 1954)

Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of the Pioneers of Liberia
(Republic of Liberia)

The Gold Medal of Menelik II

The Gold Medal of Menelik II was one of the major medals which the Crown could dispense, and was listed as a current decoration
in 1936.(35) However no record of its award can be found in recent years, and the Crown Council has no plans at this time to issue
this decoration. It was, however, a very senior decoration, ranking just behind the two major military gallantry awards.

The Gold Medal of Haile Selassie I

The Gold Medal of Haile Selassie I was created by Emperor Haile Selassie I to provide a (then) current senior decoration of the
same rank as the Gold Medal of Menelik II. The Gold Medal was listed as a current decoration in 1936.(36) It was awarded
sparingly, however. For example, it was awarded to the first Duke of Harar, who was extremely active in military operations
against the Italian invaders (1935-1941), but the same medal was not given to his older brother, Crown Prince Asfa Wossen, who
was also active in this campaign.

The Silver Medal of Menelik II

The Silver Medal of Menelik II was one of the significant decorations within the Crown’s gift, theoretically ranking just behind the
Gold Medal of Haile Selassie I (after that medal was introduced during the reign of Haile Selassie).(37) There is no record,
however, that a recipient would be likely to receive both the Menelik and the Haile Selassie medals, so the matter of precedence
scarcely, if ever, would arise. When it was originally created, it was to rank second to the Menelik II Gold Medal [see above]. No
recent awards have been made of this decoration, and the Crown Council currently has no plans to re-issue it.

The Silver Medal of Haile Selassie I

The Silver Medal of Haile Selassie I was created as the second tier of the Gold Medal of Haile Selassie I, in the same manner as the
Gold and Silver Medals of Menelik II were created [see above]. It was listed in 1936 as one of the current decorations of the Crown.
(38) There are no records currently available to indicate who may have received this decoration. The Medal, like its counterpart
Gold Medal and the Gold and Silver Medals of Menelik II, is still a current and valid decoration. However, the Crown Council has no
plans at this stage to award this decoration.

The Lalibela Cross

The Lalibela Cross was established on July 23, 1997, as a special award to recognise service to Ethiopia, for charitable endeavours
and volunteer work in fields such as health, education, food and agriculture.

The Cross is simple in design, of polished silver and silver gilt and is suspended from a burgundy riband with a gold stripe down
the centre.

Recipients of the Medal may use the post-nominal initials LC.

The Refugees’ Medal

RefugeesMedal.JPGThe Refugees’ Medal was created by Emperor Haile Selassie I during or following the Italian invasion of
Ethiopia (1935-1941), and was intended to acknowledge those who had assisted the enormous number of refugees which that war
created. The first Duke of Harar was actively involved in repelling the Italians and worked strenuously to assist the Ethiopians
displaced by the war, and was, as a result, awarded the Refugees’ Medal no less than five times.(39)

The Refugees’ Medal is a bronze circular medal about 35mm in diameter, showing on its face Emperor Haile Selassie I, bareheaded,
in a circle above the three-pointed Trinity star (sometimes called the Bethlehem star), with an inscription in Amharic on each side.
The date “1935” is shown on the obverse, along with the words in Amharic: “The star led them”. The reverse shows five lines of
Amharic: “Hope established in faith is a proven instrument of victory”. The riband is a bright, dark blue with the Ethiopian tricolour
of green, yellow and red running narrowly down each side, with the green outermost.(40) Subsequent awards of the medal to the
same recipient are indicated by the addition of a bronze palm leaf across the riband. The medal is a current decoration within the
Crown’s gift, although no recent issuances have been made of it. Given the refugee problems caused by the coup d’etat of the
Dergue in 1974, and the subsequent civil war and the 1998 war with Eritrea, the Crown Council feels that it would be appropriate
to re-issue the Refugees’ Medal to recognise recent outstanding efforts on behalf of displaced peoples.(41) The medal carries no
post-nominal initials.
The Refugees' Medal is pictured left.

The Emperor Haile Selassie I & Empress Menen Celebration Medal
The Emperor Haile Selassie I & Empress Menen Celebration Medal has been authorised for bestowal, during the interregnum, by
the President of the Crown Council (and in normal times by the Emperor) on any individual who has helped to maintain the legacy
of Their late Imperial Majesties. It is a re-issue of the Silver Jubilee Medal (1955) bearing the Emperor’s and Empress’s joint
portraits with the Jubilee Palace depicted on the reverse. The Medal is executed in sterling silver, and is made in Paris by Arthus-
Bertrand. The riband is dark violet moiré. The Award carries no post-nominal initials.

AdwaMedals1a.JPG

AdwaMedals1.JPG

AdwaMedals2.JPG

The Centenary of the Victory of Adwa Meda;: the example on the left shows the medal with the Royal riband; in the centre is the
medal with the Diplomatic riband. The reverse of the medal is shown on the right.

The Centenary of the Victory of Adwa Medal 1896-1996
The Adwa Centenary Medal was authorised by the Crown Council to commemorate the Victory of the Battle of Adwa of March 2,
1896, at which European colonialism was prevented from securing control over Ethiopia.

The Medal was authorised for bestowal beyond the centenary anniversary of March 2, 1996.

The Medal is gilded and bears the portrait of Emperor Menelik II wearing the Imperial crown. There are two ribands: Royal and
Diplomatic. The Royal Riband is purple with yellow borders whilst the Diplomatic Riband is in the Ethiopian tricolour with a
centre stripe of black. The reverse bears the Imperial Lion. The Royal Riband is restricted to members of the Imperial Family and
to foreign royalty and is violet with gold edges. Both ribands bear a circular Imperial Lion device which is bronze-gilded.

The first minting of the medal took place in 1996, when 150 were struck by Spink, in London. The second minting of the medal was
authorized by the Crown Council on the 103rd anniversary of the Battle, on March 2, 1999. With the second striking, however, a
significant change was made to the design on the medal: the Imperial Ethiopian Lion, which had been left-facing on the first
striking, was transformed to be right-facing on the 1999 striking.

The Centenary Medal has been bestowed on royalty, presidents, ministers, ambassadors, military officers and friends of Ethiopia
including African and Caribbean scholars and liberation fighters.

The Victory of Adwa medals are presented in person by the Chairman of the Crown Council, His Imperial Highness Prince Ermias
Sahle-Selassie Haile Selassie, grandson of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie; or by the Viceroy, His Imperial Highness
Prince Bekere Fikre-Selassie, great-grandson of Emperor Haile Selassie. On occasion, Adwa medals have been presented by the
Special Representative of the aforementioned princes, and the medal is presented in a navy blue and gold leather case. [See Adwa
page for a brief history of the Battle of Adwa.] The medal carries no post-nominal initials.

The Medal of Scholarship
ScholarshipMedal.JPGThe Medal of Scholarship, originated in 1959 by Emperor Haile Selassie, primarily to recognise teachers, has
been sustained by the Crown Council to recognise the achievement of Ethiopians, and those teaching in Ethiopia or involved in
Ethiopian scholarship, the arts or science.

The oval-shaped medal shows on its obverse centre an open book, with stems of corn or wheat on either side, and with a rising
sun above clouds situated above the book.(42) Surmounting this is a Crown topped with a small cross. An inscription in Amharic
surrounds the image: “Education is the laurel of the wise man”. At the foot of the obverse, in Amharic, is the date 1952 [Ethiopian
calendar]. The medal is joined to its riband by a small Imperial crown and fixed loop. The reverse features Amharic text around the
top of the Medal, saying “Emperor Haile Selassie I, and at its base the words, in Amharic, “Scholarship Medal” or “Teachers Medal”,
depending on the translation. Within the surrounding text is the three-pointed cross of the Trinity within a trilobe pattern. At the
base of the design, in Ge‘ez, are the words “Go and Teach”. The medal is in a silver finish, and the riband is light green with two
vertical stripes of rich purple. The award carries no post-nominal initials.

The Scholarship Medal pictured left.

The Royal Medal of the Lion

RoyalMedalofLion.JPG

The Royal Medal of the Lion is not connected with the Order of the Lion. The Medal is bestowed at the discretion of HIH Prince
Ermias Sahle-Selassie and is for loyal and faithful service to his person. As a result, the medal is not within the gift of the Crown
Council, but rather is a decoration awarded by Prince Ermias personally. His authority to issue medals stems from his function as
de facto guardian of the Crown (President of the Crown Council).

The medal is bestowed on individuals of any nationality, sex or religion.
The Medal is of polished silver in the traditional circular style, 35mm in diameter, and depicts on the obverse the Imperial Lion
surmounted by the letter , the first letter of Prince Ermias’s name in Amharic, and above that the Prince’s Crown. The legend “For
Faithful and Good Service” (^) appears in Ge‘ez around the top of the design, and the word “Ethiopia” (^) in Amharic at the base.

The Royal Medal of the Lion pictured right.

The riband, suspended from a horizontal bar affixed atop the medal, is predominantly black with borders in the Ethiopian
tricolour, arranged, from the outside, in red, green and yellow bands.

Recipients may use the post-nominal initials RML.

Other Medals

Other medals have been struck by Imperial instruction. Perhaps one of the most important of those medals not currently issued is
the Military Medal of Menelik II, which has basically been replaced by the Military Medal of Merit of the Order of St. George.
Emperor Menelik’s original Military Medal, created in 1901-1902, was principally given to military figures in the immediate
entourage of the Emperor.(43)

StarofVictory.JPG

The Star of Victory: The medal commemorates Ethiopia's victory over Mussolini's forces in 1941. The obverse is in Amharic; the
reverse is in English, recognising Britain's rôle in helping to oust the invading force.

Equally, the little-discussed Ethiopian Order of the Red Cross, is significant in that it was, like the Military Medal, created in 1901-
1902, under the patronage of the Empress,(44) and employed the same insignia as the Red Cross symbol employed by the Swiss-
founded medical relief agency. In the original version of the Order, the cross surmounted a silver Star of David.(45) Later,
according to HH Prince Asfa-Wossen Asserate, the Order showed the Red Cross overlain with the Imperial Ethiopian Lion, and with
the Crown of Ethiopia atop the Cross.

Also of note was the medal struck to commemorate the end of the Korean War. Arthus-Bertrand, in Paris, made that particular
medal, as did C.C. Sporrong & Co., of Sweden. That silver medal is in the shape of a Coptic cross with an Imperial Crown
surmounting the medal. Included on the inscription are the words “Korea 1943 [Ethiopian calendar], year of mercy”.

The Star of Victory 1941 medal was issued after the defeat of the Italians in 1941. The medal was made by Mappin & Webb, in
London, and is in the shape of a Coptic Cross, surmounted by an Imperial Crown. The Star of the Trinity is in high relief in the
centre. A loop is attached to the top of the medal, with a hanger, and a multi-striped red, yellow and green riband. The inscription
in Amharic on the medal reads: “Star of Victory 1933 [Ethiopian calendar]. Unforgettable Achievement” and on the reverse “Star of
Victory 1941”.

The first Duke of Harar, who was active during the conflict, had the medal fourth in order of precedence of his campaign
decortions, after the Military Medal of the Order of St. George, the Distinguished Military Medal of Haile Selassie I, and the Gold
Medal of Haile Selassie I.(46)

25thAnniv.JPG

Subsequently, in 1966, a medal was issued for (and entitled) the 25th Anniversary of the Victory of 1933. [The date is in the
Ethiopian calendar.] This silver medal shows, on the obverse, the standing figure of Emperor Haile Selassie raising the Ethiopian
flag at Omedla, where he had re-entered Ethiopia from the Sudan in 1941. In Amharic, it has the inscription “1933 [Ethiopian
calendar], year of mercy. Victory 25th Year Commemoration”, and in the centre, “Omedla”. The reverse has the inscription in
English “25th Anniversary of the Victory of 1941” around the outside, with “1966” at the bottom. In the centre is a graphic of the
war memorial to the Ethiopian dead. The circular medal is surmounted by an Imperial crown, topped by a circular loop for the
riband. The riband is bright orange with a white stripe down the centre.

25th Anniversary of the Victory of 1933 Medal pictured left.

The Haile Selassie I Prize Medal: A gold medal was also struck by Spink, in London, for the Haile Selassie I Prize. Some 60 to 80 of
these were minted, using the distinctively-coloured Ethiopian gold. Emperor Haile Selassie donated a considerable number of his
personal assets, including properties, to fund this Prize, and noted: “We have established this chartered and completely
independent organisation [The Haile Selassie I Prize Trust] by donating Our personal estates and appointing distinguished officials
as Trustees to ensure the promotion and encouragement of activities and proficiencies of the Ethiopian people in the diversified
fields of Amharic literature, fine arts, agriculture, industry, educational activities and humanitarian activities.”

“Our desire to encourage outstanding contributions transcends the boundaries of Our Empire. The advancement of Ethiopia is not
Our sole interest. The African Research Award and the Empress Menen Award are therefore intended to provide strong incentives
throughout the Continent of Africa and the world at large.”

The Awards were granted with a substantial cash grant, as well as the valuable and attractive collar medal. Prime Minister Tsehafe
Tezaz Aklilu Habte Wold, chairman of the HS I Prize Trust, said in 1973: “In the course of the nine years since the institution was
established, 29 National, 18 International, and two Empress Menen Awards were made in the fields that the Prize Trust
encourages.”

The properties donated by the In 1974, the winners included Prof. Edward Ullendorf, the man who later translated Emperor Haile
Selassie’s autobiography. His award was for his work in Ethiopian studies. Fitawrari Amde Aberra won the award in the field of
agriculture, and Liqe Tebebt Aklile Berhan Wolde Qurqos won the Award for educational activities.

Emperor to the Trust Fund theoretically remain its property, and steps are being taken by the Crown Council to restore the Fund
and the Prize to operation once again.

Significantly, the current Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi, was a recipient of a scholarship from the Haile Selassie Prize
Trust, as were many others. It is to be noted that the Emperor also donated the Genete Leul Palace to establish the Haile Selassie I
University

The Haile Selassie I Prize medal, an international award which may yet be revived as an important recognition of intellectual
accomplishment (right).

There were other commemorative medals issued during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie. The Franklin Mint, of the United
States, struck three medals in 1967 to commemorate the 75th birthday of the Emperor. They were, Dennis Gill noted,(47)
distributed through the Ethiopian Pavillion at that year’s Montreal World’s Fair. One was struck in .750 gold to present to the
Emperor; 400 .999 fine silver pieces were struck and numbered and were sold in 200 sets of two pieces each. But the Franklin Mint
medallions were not designed to be presented as recognition for achievement or service; rather, they were merely
commemorative.

The Eritrean Medal of Haile Selassie I: Another medal issued in two grades — silver and bronze — was struck during the Emperor
Haile Selassie period to commemorate the ties between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The two medals are identical save for the finish, and
both have a broad riband of yellow with a small stripe of green down the left side, and a small band of red down the right side: the
traditional Ethiopian colours. The circular medal, about 38mm in diameter, is surmounted by an affixed Imperial Crown, with the
loop for the riband behind the crown. The text on the face, around a portrait of a bare-headed Emperor Haile Selassie, is in
Amharic: “no-one can separate”. The text on the reverse, What nature has bound together, “image of two women (one Crowned)
embracing, to This bone is of my bone”, — encircling an represent Ethiopia and Eritrea — is in Ge‘ez.(48) The year “1945”
(Ethiopian calendar) is shown at the bottom of the design.

The Coronation Medal of Emperor Haile Selassie I was issued to celebrate the 1930 accession of the Emperor to the Throne. This
silver medal features a profile of the Emperor, in coronation attire and Imperial Crown, facing to the left. The inscription around
the front of the obverse says “Haile Selassie the First” in Ge‘ez. The reverse has text — “Ethiopia Shall Reach Her Hand Unto God”,
the line from Psalm 68, the Song of David, from the Old Testament of the Bible — in Ge‘ez around the medal, which in the centre
shows a trilobe pattern with a small Trinity star toward the bottom and ornamentation in the centre.(49)

The Coronation Medal, pictured left

The first Duke of Harar, one of the many recipients of the Coronation Medal, wore it in sixth rank with his campaign medals.(50)
The medal is, of course, still currently recognised, but was issued only at the time of the Coronation.

(1) Conversations between the author and the Afe-Negus during 1997, and confirmed by the 1998 statement by Afe-Negus
Teshome Haile-Mariam.

(2) The Royal Medal of the Lion, while sanctioned by the Crown Council, comes under the personal gift of HIH Prince Ermias Sahle-
Selassie Haile-Selassie directly, as a personal decoration. It is not an Imperial decoration, but a Royal one.

(3) Emperor Haile Selassie: My Life and Ethiopia’s Progress, 1892-1937. Oxford, 1974, p.69.

(4) Montandon, Dr George: Au Pays Ghimirra: Récit de mon voyage à travers le Massif Éthiopien. Neuchatel, France, 1913: Bulletin
de la Société Neuchateloise de Géographie, Tome XXII, 1913, printed by Imprimerie Attingen Friènes, Neutchatel.

(5) Montandon, Op Cit. Page 411.

(6) HH Prince Asfa-Wossen Asserate, in correspondence to the author, June 30, 1998.

(7) Archives of the Swedish Orders of Chivalry.

(8) Patterson, Stephen. Royal Insignia. British and Foreign Orders of Chivalry From the Royal Collection. London, 1996: Merrell
Holberton Publishers. pp.176-179.

(9) The British book, Royal Insignia, by Stephen Patterson, which is the definitive work on the British and Foreign Orders of
Chivalry from the [British] Royal Collection, said on page 176 that the right oval showed Ethiopia handing divine authority to the
King-elect. This, as noted above, is incorrect; the oval picture shows the Queen of Sheba coming to hear the wisdom of Solomon.

(10) Werlich, Robert: Orders and Decorations of All Nations. Quaker Press.

(11) French manufacturer Arthus-Bertrand refers to it as the Order of “the Crown [Couronne] of Solomon”, as did the first Duke of
Harar.

(12) Werlich, Op Cit.

(13) Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs Protocol Department archives.

(14) Werlich, Robert. Op Cit.

(15) Zervos, A. Le Miroir de l’Ethiopie Moderne 1906-1935. Op Cit.

(16) Le’ul Ras Asserate Kassa, President of the Crown Council from 1972 to 1974, was a Grand Officer of the Order of Solomon
(now clearly known as Solomon’s Seal). He was also Grand Cross/Grand Cordon holder of the Orders of Trinity, Menelik II, and the
Star of Honour of Ethiopia (now Star of Ethiopia). He was the last President of the Crown Council before the 1974 coup and
revolution.

(17) Emperor Haile Selassie I: My Life and Ethiopia’s Progress, 1892-1937. Volume One. Translated and annotated by Edward
Ullendorf.

(18) Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs Protocol Department archives.

(19) Zervos, A. Op Cit.

(20) Montandon, Op Cit. Page 412.

(21) Later versions of the Order of the Red Cross were different: the Order showed the Red Cross with the Imperial Lion of Ethiopia
across it, and with the Imperial Crown atop the cross. Source: HH Prince Asfa-Wossen Asserate.

(22) Werlich, Robert: Orders and Decorations of All Nations. Quaker Press.

(23) Zervos, A. Op Cit.

(24) Werlich, Robert: Orders and Decorations of All Nations. Quaker Press.

(25) Archives, Swedish Orders of Chivalry.

(26) Montandon, Dr George. Op Cit. Page 409-410.

(27) Guadagnini, Domenico: Storia Degli Ordini Vigenti ed Estinti. Italy.

(28) Burke’s Royal Families of the World, Vol. II. Op Cit.

(29) Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs Protocol Department archives.

(30) Montandon, Op Cit. Page 412.

(31) Of the Religious Orders of Knighthood. Chap. II, pages 62-63.

(32) Neville, D. G.: A History of the Early Orders of Knighthood and Chivalry. Limpsfield, Surrey, 1978.

(33) Of the Religious Orders of Knighthood, Op Cit.

(34) Gill, Dennis: The Coinage of Ethiopia, Eritrea and Italian Somalia. Page 150.

(35) Zervos. A. Op Cit.

(36) Ibid.

(37) Ibid.

(38) Ibid.

(39) HIH Makonnen, Duke of Harar: Life & Records. 1957, Addis Ababa.

(40) Medal in the author’s possession.

(41) Statement by HIH Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie, President of the Crown Council, to the author in private
interview, June 1998.

(42) Medal in the possession of the author.

(43) Montandon, Dr George: Au Pays Ghimirra: Récit de mon voyage à travers le Massif éthiopien. In his brief description,
published in 1913, Montandon briefly mentions that the medal was to “décernéo à des soldats d’escorte, etc.”

(44) Ibid.

(45) Ibid.

(46) HIH Makonnen, Duke of Harar: Life & Records. 1957, Addis Ababa.

(47) Gill, Dennis. Op Cit. Page 177.

(48) Both medals in the author’s possession.

(49) Medal in the author’s possession.

(50) HIH Makonnen, Duke of Harar: Life & Records. 1957, Addis Ababa.

Honours bestowed upon H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie I (added: 07/13/2018)

Ethiopia Chief Commander of the Order of the Star of Ethiopia – 1909
Ethiopia Grand Cordon of the Order of Solomon (Ethiopia) – 1930
Ethiopia Grand Collar of the Order of the Seal of Solomon (Ethiopia)
Ethiopia Grand Cordon of the Order of the Queen of Sheba (Ethiopia)
Ethiopia Grand Cordon of the Order of The Holy Trinity (Ethiopia)
Ethiopia Grand Cordon of the Order of Menelik II (Ethiopia)
United Kingdom Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) – 1917
Kingdom of Italy Order of the Crown of Italy – 1917
Kingdom of Italy Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus – 1924
Kingdom of Greece Order of the Redeemer (19 August 1924)
Belgium Order of Leopold (Belgium) – 1924
United Kingdom Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) – 1924
United Kingdom Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) – 1924
Luxembourg Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau – (25 May 1924)
France Grand Cross of the Legion d'Honneur – 1924
Portugal Order of the Tower and Sword of Portugal – 1925
Kingdom of Italy Knight of the Order of the Most Holy Annunciation – 1928
United Kingdom Royal Victorian Chain – 1930
Japan Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum – 1930
Kingdom of Egypt Collar of the Order of Muhammad Ali – 1930
Netherlands Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Dutch Lion – 1930
Poland Order of the White Eagle of Poland – 1930
United States Chief Commander of the Legion of Merit – 1945
Norway Collar of the Order of St. Olav of Norway – 1949
Spain Collar of the Order of Charles III (1954)
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Order of the Yugoslav Great Star – 1954
Kingdom of Greece Medal of Military Merit 1st class (28 October 1954)
Germany Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany – 1954
France Military Medal – 1954
Netherlands Knight Grand Cross of the Order of William – 1954
United Kingdom Stranger Knight of the Order of the Garter (KG) – 1954
Denmark Order of the Elephant – 1954
Sweden Collar of the Order of the Seraphim – 1954
Mexico Collar of the Order of the Aztec Eagle – 1954
Austria Grand Star of the Decoration of Honor for Merit of Austria – 1954
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Honorary citizen of Belgrade – 1954[177]
South Korea Order of Merit for National Foundation (Order of the Republic of Korea) – 1955
Italy Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic – 1955
Japan Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum-1956
South Vietnam Grand Cross of the National Order of Vietnam- 1958
Burma Order of Truth – 1958
Brazil Collar of the Order of the Southern Cross – 1958
Indonesia Star of the Republic of Indonesia, 1st Class – 1958
Pakistan Hilal-i-Pakistan, 1st Class – 1958
Thailand Order of the Maha Chakri – 1958
Portugal Riband of the Three Military Orders Of Christ, St. Benedict of Aviz, and St. James of the Sword (1959)
Soviet Union Order of Suvorov 1st class – 1959
Somalia Order of the Leopard of Somalia – 1960
Egypt Order of the Nile (22 May 1963)
Iran Grand Collar of the Order of Pahlavi – 1964
Uganda Commander of the Order of the Shield and Spears of Uganda – 1964
Romania Star of the People's Republic of Romania (1964)
Hungary Order of the Flag of the Republic of Hungary 1st Class with Diamonds – 1964
Iran Commemorative Medal of the 2500th Anniversary of the founding of the Persian Empire (14 October 1971)[178]
Jamaica Jamaica Kings House Honouree, Jamaica – 1966
Haiti Collar of the National Order of Honour and Merit – 1966
Haiti Necklace of the Order of Jean-Jacques Dessalines the Great – 1966[179]
Poland Order of Polonia Restituta (1967)
Malaysia Order of the Crown of the Realm – (21 May 1968)
Ghana Order of the Star of Ghana – 1970
Holy See Order of Pius IX – 1970
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Honorary citizen of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia – 1972[180]
Argentina Order of the Liberator San Martin
Zaire Collar of the Order of the Leopard
Senegal Order of the Lion
Malawi Order of the Lion
Cameroon Order of Valour of Cameroon
Peru Order of the Sun of Peru
Venezuela Collar of the Order of the Bust of the Liberator Simon Bolivar
Bolivia Order of the Condor of the Andes
Taiwan Special Grade of the Order of Propitious Clouds
Kingdom of Iraq Grand Order of the Hashemites
Finland Collar of the Order of the White Rose
Tunisia Order of Independence
Syria Order of Umayyad
Togo Order of Mono of Togo
Republic of the Congo Order of Congolese Merit
Gabon Order of the Equatorial Star
Nigeria Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Uganda Order of the Source of the Nile
Zambia Order of the Eagle of Zambia
Jordan Order of al-Hussein bin Ali
Morocco Order of Muhammad
Sudan Chain of Honor
Philippines Raja of the Order of Sikatuna of the Philippines
Liberia Knight Grand Band of the Order of the Pioneers of Liberia
Kenya Grand Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart
Czechoslovakia Order of the White Lion 1st class with collar
Libya Order of Idris I of Libya
Lebanon National order of Lebanon
Central African Republic National order of Central African Republic
Saudi Arabia Order of King Abdul Aziz, 1st Class, of Saudi Arabia
Chile National order of Chile
Chad National order of Chad
Benin National order of Benin
Mali National order of Mali
Madagascar National order of Madagascar
Mauritania National order of Mauritania
Guinea National order of Guinea
Republic of Upper Volta National order of Upper Volta Ancestry
Doctor of Laws 1966 (UWI)

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His Imperial Majesty
Emperor Haile Selassie I

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