Prince Makonnen

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Prince Makonnen (baptismal name Araya Yohannes; October 16, 1923–May 13, 1957) was the second son, and second youngest child, of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia and Empress Menen Asfaw. He was made Mesfin (or Duke) of Harrar upon the coronation of his parents.

He was married to Sara Gizaw, who became a Princess and Duchess of Harrar, and with her fathered five sons, Prince Wossen Seged, Prince Mikael, Prince Dawit (known as Makonnen Makonnen), Prince Taffari and Prince Beede Mariam. Prince Makonnen also had a daughter from another relationship, Woizero Meheret Makonnen, whom he acknowledged and was legitimated and given in mariage by Emperor Haile Selassie. It was widely believed that Emperor Haile Selassie favored the Duke of Harrar over all his other children, and it was even rumored that the Emperor even considered naming Makonnen as his heir, instead of his liberal elder son, Crown Prince Asfaw Wossen; however, he died in an automobile crash in 1957 on his way to the resort town of Nazreth (Adama) from Debre Zeit, east of Addis Ababa. He was buried in the crypt of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Addis Ababa.

[edit] Prince Makonnen's family

In 1974, with the overthrow of the Ethiopian monarchy, the widowed Duchess of Harrar and her sons were all placed under detention, with the exception of Prince Makonnen Makonnen (David) and Prince Taffari who were abroad at school. After a long and harsh imprisonment, Princess Sara was released by the Derg regime along with the other female members of the Imperial family in 1989. A year later, her sons were also released from their imprisonment. Unfortunately, just days before their release, Prince Makonnen Makonnen, was found dead at his home in Switzerland.

After the fall of the Derg regime, Princess Sara and her sons were allowed to travel abroad, and after a number of years living in London, the Duchess has now returned to live in Addis Ababa. The Duchess of Harrar was prominent at the Imperial funerals held for her brother-in-law, the Crown Prince Asfaw Wossen (also known as Emperor-in-Exile Amha Selassie), the Emperor Haile Selassie, and the funeral for Princess Tenagnework.