Girma Yohannis Iyasu
Prince (Abeto Lij) Girma Yohannis Iyasu (born 1961) is the Iyasuist claimant to the throne of Ethiopia. He is also known by the name Girma Ghebresillasie.
Contents |
[edit] Life
He is the son of Lij Yohannes Iyasu (1915-1977). Through his father, Lij Girma is a grandson of Lij Iyasu, Emperor-designate of Ethiopia from 1913 until 1916 when he was deposed and excommunicated by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, which deprived him of his rights of succession.[1] Iyasu was the son of Negus Mikael of Wollo, and matrilineal grandson of Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia. Lij Girma left Ethiopia in 1973 and received his education in the United Kingdom and Germany. He has also worked at the University of Bremen as a professor and researcher.[2]
[edit] Iyasuist claimant
Lij Girma claims that all the governments in Ethiopia since the 1916 deposition of his grandfather are illegitimate, and as such, as a grandson of Lij Iyasu, he claims to be the rightful monarch of Ethiopia.[3] This is not based on any constitutional or traditional procedure, since Ethiopia did not receive its first modern constitution addressing order of succession until 1931, and the traditional male line succession would have gone to Dejazmach Taye Gulilat; Lij Iyasu, Ras Kassa and Emperor Haile Selassie are all descended from the royal house through female lines. This claim is based solely on the will of Emperor Menelik II which designated Lij Iyasu as his heir. These claims are challenged by the excommunication of Lij Iyasu (Iyasu V) by Mattheos X, Abuna of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church, and the fact that Iyasu declined to be crowned, citing the fact that he did not want to occupy a higher office than his father whom he had crowned Negus(King) Michael of Wello. Iyasu's (and his descendants) claims were further damaged by his apparent indifference to the responsibilities of either an intendant or attendant monarch, some say demonstrated by his callous scheduling of Gugs(war) games when he was expected to lead the nation in mourning for his beloved grand-father HIM Atse Menelik II. Some have argued in response that he was paying heed to advisors who counseled him to act as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. If that is the case, the young Prince carried it to extremes embarking on spectacular Bachannals which invariably ended with running gun battles between his Imperial Guards and the city's new Police force through the capital city at the conclusion. At the kindest he is remembered as a kind-hearted but badly-advised youth whose quick temper was only surpassed by his unsurpassable capability to waste the goodwill and loyal retainers his grandfather had earned through years of toil and sacrifice.
Support for the various Iyasuist claimants has dwindled from when they received broad support in the mid-twenties to virtually nothing now. Because of this the Iyasuist cause is outside of the mainstream monarchist movement in Ethiopia.[3] Additionally, Lij Girma's claims to being the Iyasuist heir were challenged by Lij Mesfin Iyasu, a son of Lij Iyasu who formally claimed the Ethiopian throne in 1991, but who died in 1999. There are various other descendants who could make similar claims, although Lij Girma is the only one to currently make this claim. His claim may also be subject to the test of loyalties according to which members who have abjured their citizenship, faith, or married non-Ethiopians may fail.
Lij Girma uses the title "Crown Prince of Ethiopia" as his title of pretence.[3] This title is also claimed by Zera Yacob Amha Selassie the grandson of Emperor Haile Selassie I. The throne of Ethiopia since the reign of HIM Atse(Emperor) Menelik II have been subject to the guardianship of the Imperial Crown Council of Ethiopia. It was the Imperial Crown Council headed by Fitawrari Habtegiorgis Dinagde that removed the sitting(if uncrowned) Lij Iyasu (Iyasu V) for cause. The same Council elevated a royal cousin, Tafari Makonnen to be Crown Prince of Ethiopia, and proclaimed Zauditu Menelik as Queen of Kings, Lion of Judah, Elect of God and Empress of Ethiopia. The Crown Council actions paid heed to a one of the wishes of Menelik II who while alive had all but elevated his first cousin (father of Ras Tafari), Ras Makonnen, to be his successor. Ras Tafari Makonnen went on to become, again by consent of the Crown Council of the time, Emperor Haile Selassie I. The functions of the Imperial Crown Council, verification not only of constitutional legitimacy but of compliance with the ancient code of the Fetha Negest is one of the most important in the orders of succession. The Fetha Negest codes require an Emperor to be able to function in his role both as head of the nation, as well as head of the armed forces in times of conflict.
Lij Girma's claim to fame came in the 1999 re-internment of HIM Emperor Haile Selassie I when a newspaper article suggested in an interview with him that he felt the late monarch deserved his fate, and demanding to know what was done with the remains of his grandfather Lij Iyasu. The article was used by the EPRDF government as one of its many attempts to shed a negative light on the period of mourning for Emperor Haile Selassie. Lij Girma was widely condemned at the time for his lack of Ethiopian etiquette. Little has been heard of him in Ethiopia since.
[edit] Family
Lij Girma is married to Claudia Bertram, who, since their marriage, goes by the name Princess Claudia Iyasu Menelik. They have one son, Lij Kaerrod Girma. Lij Girma also has two daughters from a previous relationship.[1]
