Beyene Merid

Major-General Dejazmatch Beyene Merid (sometimes rendered as Beine Merid) (1897 - 24 February 1937) was an Ethiopian army commander, a patriot, and the son-in-law of Emperor Haile Selassie I.

Dejazmatch Beyene Merid
Born1897
Died24 February 1937 (aged 39-40)
Egia, Shewa
Burial
Holy Trinity Cathedral
SpousePrincess Romanework
IssueLij Getachew Beyene
Dejazmatch Merid Beyene
Dejazmatch Samson Beyene
Lij Gideon Beyene
FatherDejazmatch Merid
ReligionOrthodox Christianity

Biography

Son of Dejazmatch Merid. Dejazmatch Beyenne Merid married Leult [nb 1] Romanework, the daughter of Haile Selassie. He spent most of his career as the Shum [nb 2] of Bale.[1] By 1935, he had also established himself as the Shum of Gamu-Gofa.

During the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, Dejazmach [nb 3] Beyenne Merid commanded the Army of Bale and fought on the "southern front" against Italian forces based in Italian Somaliland. Before the Battle of Genale Doria, Beyenne Merid and the 4,000 strong Army of Bale advanced down the Shebelle River with the intention of invading central Italian Somaliland. Beyene Merid and his army was able to move forward quickly due to the good terrain along the Shebelle River. In November, advancing elements of Beyenne Merid's force clashed with about 1,000 dubats of the pro-Italian Olol Diinle. Both sides withdrew from the battlefield in the end, but Beyene Merid had been seriously wounded. Its commander stricken, the Army of Bale retired from battle.[2]

During the Italian occupation, Beyenne Merid fought as an Arbegna. On 24 February 1937, he and his forces joined up with Ras [nb 4] Desta Damtew and his forces. On the same day, he and Desta Damtew were captured by the Italians. They were then immediately executed.[3][4][nb 5]

Family

Beyene Merid and Romane Work had four sons. In 1930, Lij [nb 6] Getachew Beyene was born. In May 1932, Dejazmatch Merid Beyene was born. In 1934, Dejazmatch Samson Beyene was born. In 1935, Lij Gideon Beyene was born. Only Merid and Samson survived the Italian occupation.[6]

See also

Notes
Footnotes
  1. Roughly equivalent to Princess.
  2. Roughly equivalent to Governor.
  3. Equivalent to Commander of the Gate.
  4. Roughly equivalent to Duke.
  5. Haile Selassie also writes that Beyene Merid was killed during the day-long Battle of Gogetti. In this version of events, he was shot in the head while inspecting troops.[5]
  6. Roughly equivalent to Prince.
Citations
  1. Haile Selassie, p. 25
  2. Mockler, p. 90
  3. Haile Selassie, p. 25
  4. Marcus, p. 148
  5. Haile Selassie, p. 78 and p. 170
  6. Haile Selassie, p. 170

References
  • Selassie I, Haile (1999). Marcus (with others), Harold (ed.). My Life and Ethiopia's Progress: The Autobiography of Emperor Haile Selassie I, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Vol. II. trans. Ezekiel Gebions with others. Chicago: Research Associates School Times Publications. ISBN 978-0-948390-40-1.
  • Marcus, Harold G. (1994). A History of Ethiopia. London: University of California Press. pp. 316. ISBN 0-520-22479-5.
  • Mockler, Anthony (2002). Haile Selassie's War. New York: Olive Branch Press. ISBN 978-1-56656-473-1.
  • Pankhurst, Richard (2001). The Ethiopians: A History (Peoples of Africa). Wiley-Blackwell; New Ed edition. ISBN 0-631-22493-9.
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