Makonnen Wolde Mikael

"Ras" Makonnen Wolde Mikael Wolde Melekot (Amharic: ራስ መኮንን ወልደ ሚካኤል ወልደ መለኮት), or simply Ras Makonnen, also known as Abba Qagnew (አባ ቃኘው) (May 8, 1852 – March 21, 1906) was a Shewan royal from Menz, a military leader, the governor of Harar province in Ethiopia, and the father of Tafari Makonnen (later known as Emperor Haile Selassie). He is paternally Amhara and maternally Shewa Amhara. His father was "Fitawrari" Makonnen and was a grandson of "Negus" Sahle Selassie of Shewa through his mother, "Leult" Tenagnework Sahle Selassie. As such, he was a first cousin of Emperor Menelik II.
Biography.
Governorship.
"Ras" Makonnen Wolde Mikael Wolde Melekot
was born at Derefo Maryam near Ankober, what was then in the province of Menz from His Mother "Woizero" Tenagnework Sahle Selassie and his Father Dejazmach Wolde Mikael Wolde Melekot. His father was a well-known patriot like 
Haile Melekot and Sahle Selassie of Shewa. At the age of 14 his father took him to the court of "Negus" Menelik, then ruler of Shewa, where he became a special companion of Menelik.
In 1887, Makonnen was given the governorship of Harar after it was incorporated into the Ethiopian Empire by his cousin, Emperor Menelik. Other posts "Ras" Makonnen served included temporary governor of Tigray after the removal of the rebellious "Ras" Mangasha Yohannes; as a general during various military campaigns including during the First Italo–Ethiopian War, including a leading role at the Battle of Adowa where Ethiopian forces routed the Italians; and as a diplomat and "de facto" foreign minister.
In the 1880s, as "Shum" of Harar, "Ras" Mäkonnen became a close friend of the French poet, Arthur Rimbaud, who was then living and doing business in that province.
In 1902, "Ras" Mäkonnen attended the coronation of King Edward VII in London. He arrived in June to the ceremony originally scheduled for 26 June, and stayed in Europe while the King recovered from an operation, attending the rescheduled ceremony on 9 August. Between these dates, he paid visits to various parts of the United Kingdom, and visited Italy, France, Turkey, and Germany. He received the following decorations: Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (KCMG) during an audience with King Edward VII on 8 August 1902, Star of the Russian Order of St. Anne, Star of the French "Legion d'Honneur" (Third Republic), Star of the Order of the Crown of Italy, Star of the Ottoman Order of Osmania.
In 1906, "Dejazmach" Yilma Makonnen succeeded Makonnen as "Shum" of Harar. Yilma Makonnen was his son from before his marriage to "Wayzero" Yeshimabet Ali. In 1907, Yilma Makonnen was in turn succeeded as "Shum" by his younger half-brother, Tafari Makonnen, the future Emperor Haile Selassie.
Family.
Around July 1873, Makonnen married Yeshimebet Ali, the daughter of Dejazmatch Ali and Woizero Wolete Giyorgis. In 1875, Yilma Makonnen was born to Makonnen and a woman who was not Yeshimebet Ali. In 1892, Tafari Makonnen, the son of Makonnen and Yeshimebet Ali, was born. In 1901, following the death of Yeshimebet Ali, Makonnen was briefly married to a niece of Empress Taytu Betul, "Woizero" Mentewab Wale. Makonnen's marriage to Mentewab Wale was never consummated and, in 1902, it was annulled.
Death.
While travelling from Harar to Addis Ababa, "Ras" Makonnen came down with typhus. His officers brought him to Kulubi, where he died as daylight broke after having given his son Tafari Makonnen a whispered benediction.
Monument to Ras Makonnen.
The Monument to Ras Makonnen located in Harar was sculpted in 1959, by Antun Augustinčić, a Croatian sculptor active in former Yugoslavia and the United States. In June 2020 the equestrian Monument to Ras Makonnen was toppled and destroyed by protests who participated in Hachalu Hundessa riots, following the death of Hachalu Hundessa. The event was also followed by smashing of the Statue of Ras Makonnen Wolde Mikael's son and Ethiopian leader Haile Selassie in Wimbledon park, UK. Referring to a statue in Addis Ababa of Menelik II, Hachalu told Oromia Media Network (OMN) said that people should remember that all the horses seen mounted by old rulers leaders belonged to the people.