The coronation of Negus Mika'él, king of Wällo and Tegray, in May 1914: new findings

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Periodical article

Title:	The coronation of Negus Mika'él, king of Wällo and Tegray, in May 1914: new findings
Author:	Smidt, Wolbert G.C.
Year:	2007
Periodical:	Annales d'Éthiopie
Volume:	23
Pages:	413-439
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Ethiopia
Subjects:	royal insignia kingship rituals photography
Abstract:	The coronation of negus Mika'él in May 1914 as the king of Wällo and Tegray in Ethiopia marked a dramatic shift of power from the Säwan centre to Wällo, a former periphery, and other regions like Tegray in Ethiopia. Following a debate concerning the authenticity of a photograph showing Mika'él with the crown of Emperor Menilek II, this article elaborates on new findings, which clarify the open questions: negus Mika'él has used Menelik's crown for himself, thus symbolically usurping the sovereign power in the Empire, but it is possible that he had not worn it during the coronation ceremony itself. However, he distributed pictures showing him with Menilek's crown and thus publicly documented his supreme position as the ruler behind the sovereign, his son, 'lej' Iyasu. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. in English and French. [Journal abstract]