THE ABYSSINIAN EMPEROR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14209, 4 November 1909, Page 5

THE ABYSSINIAN EMPEROR.

By Telegraph.— Association.—Copyright. - Constantinople, November 2. Several reports received here state that Menelik, Emperor of Abyssinia, is dying. ~-■-'■-'■ '

AN ANCIENT DYNASTY. No barbarian monarch of these days has so ■ much interest attached ;to him as Menelik, the dusky fighting chief of the Abyssinians. His pretensions are those of a lineal descendant of King 5 Solomon, the all-wise, and the Queen of Sheba. Be this as it may, it is unquestionably an ancient dynasty, which has only .once been disturbed by a Mussulman invasion. -'After the defeat and suicide of King Theodore in 1868, when attacked by the British for murdering the envoys, Prince 'Kassa of Tigre assumed the chief power as Johannes 11. Menelik defeated" this pretender, but subsequently the two agreed, to divide the kingdom.' 'The reign of Johannes was brought to a sudden and tragic close by a Dervish bullet, and in 1889 Menelik, then 47 years of age, became Emperor. Menelik's defeat of the Italians crowned his reputation as a famous general, but he has proved in addition to be an able ruler and diplomat. Gifted with ■ a marvellous memory and tireless energy, be is said;: to transact all the affairs. of State himself,' having no Ministers in the European sense. His habits are simple,- and he administers justice ■ from • a throne placed under' a tree. Last year he had a stroke of paralysis, and since then has been steadily becoming worse and his mental faculties have become impaired. Almost 1 immediately after, the seizure Menelik .nominated his grandson, Prince Lidj Jeassu, as his successor to the throne. The young Prince is in his thirteenth year, and .has; many >■ powerful supporters, but he will not succeed bis grandfather without a severe struggle. In May last the Prince was married to - Princess Romanie, grand-daughter of the; late Emperor John. The bride is in her seventh year. ; The:! marriage was a, political one, i for it united' four of the most powerful families in the Abyssinian Empire. But the succession 'of the Prince will be violently opposed by the Empress Titu, who < is at present in complete control; of the-Em-peror's immediate surroundings.