Selassie returns to Ethiopia after attempted coup

Date: 17 Dec 1960
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie returned immediately to his country after a short successful coup launched on 13 December 1960 by the Imperial Bodyguard, the police chief and some radical intellectuals. Selassie was in Brazil on a diplomatic mission. The coup was suppressed by his loyal troops. Upon his return the Emperor pardoned his son, Asfa Wossen, who had been put into power by the rebels.

Search events by date

What happened on your birthday?

How we know this

01IMPERIAL SOLOMONIC CROWN OF ETHIOPIA,"Emperor Haile Sellassie I",From: IMPERIAL SOLOMONIC CROWN OF ETHIOPIA,[Online],Available at: psokolovsky.tripod.com,[Accessed : 25 November 2013]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Selassie returns to Ethiopia after attempted coup. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011916

South African History Online (2011) 'Selassie returns to Ethiopia after attempted coup', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011916 (Accessed: 21 August 2026).

South African History Online, Selassie returns to Ethiopia after attempted coup [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011916, (accessed 21 August 2026).

"Selassie returns to Ethiopia after attempted coup." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011916. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "Selassie returns to Ethiopia after attempted coup." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011916.