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    What medals did Emperor Haile Selassie wear?


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    Posted

    National Geographic Magazine used to carry stories about Abbysinia/Ethiopia and often showed their ruler, Emperor Haile Delassie usually in a military uniform with either service ribbons and sometimes full-size medals which appeared to cover his chest. I had heard he had more medals than any man alive and thought about how many and their titles and descriptions? I know he fought against Fascist Italy before World War Two in Europe, maybe earlier when Italy invaded Ethiopia in the late 19th Century as well? Thanks! :Cat-Scratch:

    Posted (edited)

    Well, He -- Ras Tafar I ["Eye", as in "I and I"] -- wouldn't have gotten any nasty non-imperial gongs, as He had fled the country (again) during those days.

    Information on socialist Ethiopia is hard to come by -- the new collecting wave (for sure!)??

    Someplace, I have an aging-but-lovely photo of Him at John F. Kennedy's funeral, standing side-by-side with de Gaulle (at half his height). Full (and I do mean FULL) medals.

    Edited by Ed_Haynes
    Posted (edited)

    Well, He -- Ras Tafar I ["Eye", as in "I and I"] -- wouldn't have gotten any nasty non-imperial gongs, as He had fled the country (again) during those days.

    Information on socialist Ethiopia is hard to come by -- the new collecting wave (for sure!)??

    Someplace, I have an aging-but-lovely photo of Him at John F. Kennedy's funeral, standing side-by-side with de Gaulle (at half his height). Full (and I do mean FULL) medals.

    Actually, the Emperor was cruelly murdered by the leader of the Marxist coup- a pig of a human being who resides these days in sunny Zimbabwe.

    I have a friend working on obtaining some information regarding some common awards-like the Derg medal. If it comes through-you'll get a copy Ed.

    Edited by Ulsterman
    • 2 weeks later...
    Posted

    HAILE SELASSIE 1, The Last Emperor

    Information by John Duncan McMeekin and Antonio Prieto

    Any additional information, update or comment are very welcome

    Knight Grand Cordon, Imperial Order of Solomon's Seal

    Grand Cordon, The Most Exalted Order of the Queen of Sheba

    Knight Grand Cross, The Imperial Order of the Holy Trinity

    Knight Grand Cross, The Imperial Order of Emperor Menelik II

    Negus (Knight Grand Cross), The Imperial Order of the Star of Ethiopia

    Haile Selassie Medal of War

    "Dil-Kokeb"

    The Star of Victory

    Egypt, Grand Cordon, Royal Order of Mohammed Ali

    Eritrean Medal of

    Haile Selassie I

    Commemorative Medal for the Korean War

    Medal for Underground Patriotism

    Belgium, Grand Cross Order of Leopold (Military Division)

    Lebanon, Superior Class, The Merit Decoration

    Portugal, Grand Cross Military Order of Aviz

    Grand Croix, Legion of Honour (France)

    France, Medaille Militaire (Military Medal)

    Military Medal of Merit of the Order of St. George

    Greece, Grand Cross Royal Order of the Redeemer

    Vatican State, Knight Grand Cross, Order of Pius IX

    The Refugee's Medal

    (for war exiles)

    U. K., Knight Grand Cross, Royal Victorian Order

    Imperial Jubilee Coronation Medal

    U. K., Knight Grand Cross, The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael & St. George

    U. K., Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation Medal 1953

    Netherlands, Grand Cross Civil Order of Merit of the Netherlands Lion

    Ivory Coast, Grand Cross National Order of Cote d?Ivoire

    Yugoslavia, The Yugoslav Grand Star

    Brazil, GC with Collar, Order of the Southern Cross

    Germany, Gran Cross Special Class, Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

    Japan, Grand Commander, Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum

    Czechoslovakia, 1st Class with Collar, Order of the White Lion (Military Division)

    Sweden, Knight, Order of Seraphim

    Ghana, 1st Class, Order of the Star

    Sudan, The Insignia of Honou

    Norway Grand Cross with Collar, Order of St. Olav

    Poland, Grand Cross Order of Polonia Restituta

    Posted (edited)

    Thanks Dan!!! I noticed it was missing from the list. He has TOOOOOOOOO many ODMs!!! :speechless1: I was looking at the ODMs of the British Royals and I knew the Queen and Prince Phillip had TOOOOO many but, I think he comes pretty close to having the equivalent number as HM Queen Elizabeth II.

    :rolleyes: Doc

    Edited by Riley1965
    Posted

    Thanks Dan!!! I noticed it was missing from the list. He has TOOOOOOOOO many ODMs!!! :speechless1: I was looking at the ODMs of the British Royals and I knew the Queen and Prince Phillip had TOOOOO many but, I think he comes pretty close to having the equivalent number as HM Queen Elizabeth II.

    :rolleyes: Doc

    I will open a new topic to see if we can find out which royal received the most awards :)

    Posted

    I will open a new topic to see if we can find out which royal received the most awards :)

    HERR GENERAL: Can you include Emperor Selassie in your list of Royals with the most awards, please? Thank you! :Cat-Scratch:

    Posted

    Thanks Dan!!! I noticed it was missing from the list. He has TOOOOOOOOO many ODMs!!! :speechless1: I was looking at the ODMs of the British Royals and I knew the Queen and Prince Phillip had TOOOOO many but, I think he comes pretty close to having the equivalent number as HM Queen Elizabeth II.

    :rolleyes: Doc

    Hi Doc,

    No problem! :D And depending on how far back we go... how about Kaiser Wilhelm II... or even his father and grandfather? But as to WII he had tons from what I've seen... and all the uniforms (foreign included) to go with them. And probably Czar Nicholas, etc., as they tended to have tons too. But WII loved such things and went to great lengths to get what he could from all and sundry. No idea if anyone has a complete list but if so I'd love to see it for him.

    Dan :cheers:

    Posted

    1- British Orders never used French-style rosette/wing add-ons. Is there evidence that the Emperor added them fraudulently?

    2- There is no such thing as a British "Imperial Jubilee Coronation Medal" and the solid purple ribbon is an utter fantasy. This could have been either the George V Jubilee Medal or the George VI Coronation Medal. He was a client of the British in the era of both. However, honorary awards to foreigners rarely made it onto the rolls.

    Posted

    Antonio, where did you get these ribbons from? They are not from either of the two photos in the thread. Can you post the original photo, please? Perhaps it would be easier to id the remaining ribbons.

    To me r5#4 looks like the Egyptian Order of Mohammad Ali, r7#1 - the Finnish Order of the White Rose, r10#3 - Portuguese Order of Infante Dom Henrique.

    A small correction regarding the Emperor's Polish awards. In 1930 the Emperor was invested NOT with the Order of Polonia Restituta, but with the Order of the White Eagle (can be r8#4 or r9#4). The Order of Polonia Restituta (Grand Cross) was conferred to him during his visit to Poland in 1967 or 1968.

    Best regards,

    Lukasz

    Posted

    The list of all the medals (provided by John Duncan McMeekin)

    The original picture are with copyright. Tomorrow I send to you, at this time I dont have available these

    Anothers pics can be see at: http://www.coleccionesmilitares.com/cintas/haileselassie.pdf

    Ethiopian orders in ranking order.

    1930 Knight, The Imperial Order of Solomon (no Ribbon)

    11.2.1917 Grand Cordon, The Most Exalted Order of the Queen of Sheba

    1930 Knight Grand Cross, The Imperial Order of the Holy Trinity

    1924 Knight Grand Cross, The Imperial Order of Emperor Menelik II

    1924 Negus (Knight Grand Cross), The Imperial Order of the Star of Ethiopia

    1923 Military Medal of Merit of the Order of St.George with 3 Palms

    1936 Distinguished Military Medal of Haile Selassie I, with 3 Palms

    c. 1936 Medal for Military Merit in gold

    about 1936 Tigre Expedition Medal in silver, awarded 2 times (2 Palms)

    1944 Medal for Patriotism with 5 Palms

    1941 "Dil-Kokeb" The Star of Victory 1941

    1953 Eritrean Medal of Haile Selassie I

    1941 Medal for Underground Patriotism 1941 with 5 Palms

    1930 Coronation Medal of Emperor Haile Selassie I, 1930

    1955 Imperial Jubilee Coronation Medal

    1944 The Refugee's Medal (for war exiles) with 5 palms (Also known as Medal for War Exilles)

    1957 Restoration Medal

    1959 "Memihiran" Scholarship Medal (also known as Teachers Medal)

    1951 Commemorative Medal for the Korean War

    1966 25th Anniversaire Medal of the Victory of 1941

    The Emperor's Foreign Awards (in date order)

    24.4.1917 U.K. G.C.M.G. (Knight Grand Cross, The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael & St. George)

    1917 Italy, Grand Cross Order of the Crown of Italy (Returned 1936)

    1918 France, Grand Officer, Legion of Honour

    3.5.1924 Egypt, Grand Cordon, Royal Order of Mohammed Ali

    16.5.1924 France, Grand Croix, Legion of Honour

    18.5.1924 Italy, Grand Cross Order of St .Maurice & St. Lazarus (Returned 1936)

    22.5.1924 Belgium, Grand Cross Order of Leopold (Military Division)

    25.5.1924 Luxemburg, Knight, Order of the Golden Lion of Nassau

    10.6.1924 Sweden, Knight, Order of Seraphim

    8.7.1924 U.K. G.C.B., (Knight Grand Cross, Most Honourable Order of the Bath)

    1924 Portugal, Grand Cross Military Order of Aviz

    19.8.1924 Greece, Grand Cross Royal Order of the Redeemer

    1925 Portugal, Grand Cross Military Order of the Tower & Sword

    1928 Italy, Knight, Supreme Order of the Annunciation (Returned 1936)

    3.10.1930 Egypt, Collar, Royal Order of Mohammed Ali

    7.10.1930 Netherlands, Grand Cross Civil Order of Merit of the Netherlands Lion

    30.10.1930 Poland, Grand Cross Order of Polonia Restituta

    30.10.1930 Japan, Grand Commander, Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum

    2.11.1930 U.K. G.C.V.O. (Knight Grand Cross, Royal Victorian Order)

    2.11.1930 U.K. The Royal Victorian Chain

    1945 USA, Chief Commander, Legion of Merit

    22.3.1945 Norway Grand Cross with Collar, Order of St. Olav

    1949 Finland, Grand Cross with Collar, Order of the White Rose

    c. 1949 Portugal, Ribband of the Three Orders

    c. 1949 Spain, Grand Cross with Collar, Distinguished Order of Charles III

    15.4.1950 Lebanon, Superior Class, The Merit Decoration

    c. 1950 Syria, Grand Cordon, Order of Omayyadh

    c. 1950 Jordan, Grand Commander, Order of Hussein Ibn Ali (no Sash ?)

    c. 1950 Iraq, Grand Cordon with Collar, Order of the Hashemites

    2.6.1953 U.K. Coronation Medal 1953

    1954 Mexico, Grand Collar, Order of the Aztec Eagle

    21.7.1954 Yugoslavia, The Yugoslav Grand Star

    1954 Czechoslovakia, 1st Class with Collar, Order of the White Lion (Military Division)

    1954 Austria, Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash, Decoration of Honour for Merit

    1954 Germany, Gran Cross Special Class, Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

    1954 France, Croix de Guerre with Palm (War Cross)

    1954 France, Medaille Militaire (Military Medal)

    15.10.1954 U.K., K.G. (Knight, Noble Order of the Garter) (No Sash or Ribbon)

    3.11.1954 Netherlands, Grand Cross Military Order of Willem (William)

    11.1954 Denmark, Knight, Order of the Elephant

    15.11.1954 Sweden, Collar, Order of Seraphim (no Sash)

    21.10.1955 Italy, Grand Cross with Collar, Order of Merit of the Italian Republic

    1956 Libya, Grand Collar, Royal Order of Idris I

    19.11.1956 Japan, Collar, Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum

    1956 Republic of Korea (South Korea), 1st Class, Order of National Foundation

    4.7.1958 Brazil, GC with Collar, Order of the Southern Cross

    1958 Pakistan, 2nd Class, Order of Pakistan (Hilal-i-Pakistan)

    1958 Burma Grand Commander, Agha Maha Thudhamma

    1958 Thailand, Knight, Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri

    16.8.1958 Malaysia, Grand Knight, Most Exalted Order of the National Crown

    1958 Indonesia, 1st Class, Bintang Republik Indonesia

    1958 Vietnam 1st Class, National Order of Vietnam

    1958 Philippines, Raja, Ancient Order of Sikatuna

    1960 Somalia, Grand Cordon, Order of the Somali Star

    c. 1963 Togo, Grand Commander, Order of Mono

    c. 1963 Upper Volta, Grand Cordon, National Order of Upper Volta

    c. 1963 Ivory Coast, Grand Cross National Order of Cote d?Ivoire

    c. 1963 Liberia, Knight Grand Band, Order of the Pioneers of the Republic

    c. 1963 Senegal, Grand Cross Order of the Lion

    c. 1963 Mali, Grand Cross with Collar, National Order of Merit

    c. 1963 Niger, Grand Cross National Order of Niger

    c. 1963 Chad, Grand Cross National Order of Merit

    c. 1963 Nigeria, Grand Commander, Order of the Federal Republic

    1964 Hungary, 1st Class with Diamonds, Order of the Banner of the P.R. of Hungary (no Ribbon)

    1964 Tunisia, Grand Collar, Order of Independence

    1962 Morocco, Grand Collar, Order of Mohammed (no Ribbon)

    17.6.1964 Buganda, Commander, Order of the Shield & Spears of Buganda Kingdom

    14.9.1964 Iran, Collar, Pahlevi Order of Iran

    c. 1965/66 Dahomey, CC National Order of Dahomey

    c. 1965/66 Cambodia, Grand Collar, Order of Independence

    24.2.1966 Haiti, Grand Cross Order of Honour & Merit

    1966 Venezuela Grand Cross with Collar, The Order of the Bust of the Liberator Simon Bolivar

    1966 Bolivia, Grand Cross National Order of the Condor of the Andes

    1966 Peru, Grand Cross Order of the Peruvian Sun

    1966 Chile, Grand Cross with Collar, Order of Merit

    1966 Kenya, Grand Chief, Order of the Golden Heart

    26.10.1967 Iran, Coronation Medal of the Shah of Iran 1967

    c. 1968/70 Zaire, Grand Cross with Collar, Order of the Leopard

    c. 1968/70 Burundi, Grand Cross Order of the Republic

    c. 1968/70 Malawi, Grand Cross Order of the Lion

    c. 1968/70 Zambia, Grand Commander, Order of the Eagle of Zambia

    c. 1968 /70 Malagasy Republic, Grand Commander, National Order of the Malagasy Republic

    c. 1968/70 Central African Republic, Grand Cross Order of Merit of Central Africa

    c. 1968/70 Congo, Grand Cross National Order of Congolese Merit

    c. 1968/70 Gabon, Grand Commander, Order of the Equatorial Star

    c. 1968/70 Cameroun, Grand Cross Order of Valour

    c. 1968/70 Mauritania, Grand Cordon, National Order of Mauritania

    c. 1968/70 Guinea, Grand Cordon, National Order of Guinea

    1970 Sudan, The Insignia of Honour

    1970 Vatican State, Knight Grand Cross, Order of Pius IX

    1970 Ghana, 1st Class, Order of the Star

    1970 Argentina Grand Cross Order of San Martin

    1970 Iraq 1st Class, Order of Ar-Rafidan (Military Division)

    1971 Iran, 2500 Anniversaire Medal of the Foundation of the Persian Monarchy

    1971 Saudi Arabia, Grand Cordon, Order of King Abdul Aziz

    1972 Uganda, Grand Commander, Order of the Source of the Nile

    Posted

    Oh, so that "Imperial Jubilee Coronation Medal" is an Ethiopian award, even if worn nestled among British awards. If the order of the illustrated bar represents how he wore his ribbons, he surely made a hash out of them. I guess, when you are Jah, you can wear them any way you wish?

    Posted

    The ribbon for Poland's Grand Cross Order of Polonia Restituta is missing the attachment.

    That's right. So is that for Norway's Order of Olav, Czechoslovakia's White Lion, Japan's Chrysantemum and most others, while that for UK Royal Victorian Order does have one! It seems that the use of rosettes/wings here is purely arbitrary.

    Lukasz :beer:

    Posted

    - Indeed I forgot to put the identification of the r5#4 the Egyptian Order of Mohammad Ali

    - Of the relationship that I have, the Portuguese Order of Infante Dom Henrique was not granted. Yes the Ribband of the Three Orders, but the colors don't coincide

    - Of the original picture of the book "Ethiopia Reaches Her Hand Unto God" by Gregory Copley, the rossetes is appreciated that are come in the drawings

    - This set is mostly in the wrong order and dated from an earlier period, and was sent by H. Selassie to London for correcting, but this was not done at the time he was deposed

    • 2 years later...
    Posted

    I have recently found a colour photograph of all the orders and decorations worn by Haile Selassie in the form of full size chest badges.

    Alas, I cannot seem to attach the file because I keep being told that it is too big. It measures 604 x 453 and 801.6K.

    Any solutions?

    Cheers

    James

    Posted

    I have recently found a colour photograph of all the orders and decorations worn by Haile Selassie in the form of full size chest badges.

    Alas, I cannot seem to attach the file because I keep being told that it is too big. It measures 604 x 453 and 801.6K.

    Any solutions?

    Cheers

    James

    If you'd like to send it to me by email, I'd be happy to resize. I think you have my email, don't you?

    Alternatively, I can send instructions on resizing (or both).

    Hugh

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