Habte Giyorgis Dinagde
| Fitawrari Habte Giyorgis Dinagde | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1851 |
| Died | 12 December 1926 (aged 75) |
| Religion | Tewahedo Orthodox |
Fitawrari Habte Giyorgis Dinagde (Amharic: ሀብተጊዮርጊስ ዲነግዴ?; 1851 – 12 December 1926) was an Ethiopian military commander and government official, who, among several other posts, served as President of the Council of Ministers and as Minister of War during the reigns of Menelik II, Iyasu V, Zewditu I and Haile Selassie.
Early life
Habte Giyorgis was a member of the Chebo people, in a mixed Oromo and Gurage family, in the Lake Dandii district. He also had ancestry from Jibat and Macha in Shewa, situated in the present-day Oromia Region in central Ethiopia. The name dinagde means wealth in the Oromo language.
Habte Giyorgis was a young man when he was captured by the forces of Menelik, then-King of Shewa, during one of Menelik's campaigns to re-establish Ethiopian rule (under Shewan administration) over southern territories that had, over the previous centuries, drifted out of the control of the Ethiopian Empire.
Military career
Habte Giyorgis played a leading role in several important battles of Ethiopian history. He participated in many battles, including the Battle of Adwa.
Political potentiate
However, he grew to become a skilled military leader and statesman. He was also a central figure in the coup which removed Taitu from power during the period of Menelik II's incapacitation as well as the 1916 coup which deposed Iyasu V and put Empress Zewditu in power.
From 1909 to 1927, Habte Giyorgis was Chief Minister (equivalent to the late title of Prime Minister) of the Council of Ministers to the Emperor of Ethiopia. He was an important figure in the Ethiopian Empire often cited for his great skills as military commander and judiciary.
Legacy
A bridge in the woreda of what is now the Oromo Region whence Habte Giyorgis hailed and a street in Addis Ababa are named after him. He is still today renowned for his wisdom and his military skills.