Yohannes IV of Ethiopia: A Political Biography

by Zewde Gabre-Sellassie

Since 1855 Ethiopia has had four remarkable emperors who have left a deep mark on the evolution of the Ethiopian polity over the past 120 years. Yohannes IV (1872-89) alone has not hitherto had serious and sustained scholarly attention, and this lacuna has now been most worthily filled by Dejazmatch Dr. Zewde Gabre-Sellassie's present study. The work embodied in this book represents the fruit of long study and profound knowledge of the events and personalities of the time on the part of the author. There is little doubt that the combination of western scholarly methods and profound acquaintances with Ethiopian sources and the authentic indigenous ambience makes this a work of exceptional interest and fascination.h

352 pages, Hardcover

First published December 18, 1975

Reviews

[Axumite Tegaru · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been a great read, packed with evidence. It has debunked a lot of revisionist history meant to minimize Yohannes IV's role in history and demonize him whenever possible out of a hatred for Tigray and a personal hatred for Yohannes IV. Yohannes IV's role in protecting Abyssinia from countless invasions, modernizing it, unifying the church's sects, and utilizing a decentralized federal-like system that worked in creating unity is severely underrated and ignored. I highly recommend anyone interested in Absyinnian or Tigrayan history to go ahead and read this book. Here's a link to a much more in-depth review of the book: https://www.tigraionline.com/articles...