Emperor Menelik II, emperor of Ethiopia dies

Date: 12 Dec 1913
Updated: 20 Jul 2026

Emperor Menelik II, emperor of Ethiopia dies

Menelik II was emperor of Ethiopia from 1889 to his death on 12 December 1913. Menelik gained great fame and respect for defeating the Italian colonizers. He was also the first black African King to engage in slavery of white European war captives held as slaves inside Ethiopia. After defeating the Italians, Menelik II expanded his kingdom to include areas that were previously not a part of his kingdom. He was also passionate about modernising Ethiopia and introduced several western technologies to the country. After his death, he was succeeded by his eldest daughter Empress Zewditu I.

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01Ethiopian Treasures, Emperor Menelik II (1889-1913), from Ethiopian Treasures, [online], Available at www.ethiopiantreasures.co.uk [Accessed: 21 October 2013]
02Biography, (2013), Menelik II, from bio.TRUE STORY, [online], Available at www.biography.com [Accessed: 21 October 2013]

Last updated · 20 Jul 2026

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2013, December 3). Emperor Menelik II, emperor of Ethiopia dies . South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/st/ref/E-0096719

South African History Online (2013) 'Emperor Menelik II, emperor of Ethiopia dies ', South African History Online, 3 December. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/st/ref/E-0096719 (Accessed: 24 July 2026).

South African History Online, Emperor Menelik II, emperor of Ethiopia dies [website], https://sahistory.org.za/st/ref/E-0096719, (accessed 24 July 2026).

"Emperor Menelik II, emperor of Ethiopia dies ." South African History Online, 3 Dec. 2013, https://sahistory.org.za/st/ref/E-0096719. Accessed 24 July 2026.

South African History Online. "Emperor Menelik II, emperor of Ethiopia dies ." South African History Online. December 3, 2013. https://sahistory.org.za/st/ref/E-0096719.