Ras Seyum

Ras Seyum Mengesha (born in Abyssinia on June 24 1897) is an Abyssinian noble and army leader.

Early Life
Ras Seyum Mengesha was born in Abyssinia in 1897, the only son of Ras Mengesha Yohannes, hereditary Prince of Tigray, and his second wife Woizero Kafay Wale; he was also the grandson of Emperor Yohannes IV of Abyssinia.

Political Career
He was granted the personal title of Ras on March 31 1914 during the reign of Iyasu V and promoted to Leul Ras (in recognition of his imperial blood) on November 1 1930 by Emperor Haile Selassie I. He was appointed Governor of Eastern Tigray on 1921.

Even if Haile Selassie I granted him the title of Leul Ras whereas he only granted Haile Selassie Gugsa, Governor of Western Tigray, the title of Leul Dejazmatch, Seyum didn't approve the reforms introduced by the Emperor. His family was traditionally conservative and his father always reminded him that his grandfather was Emperor Yohannes IV. Therefore, with the support of the people of the Tigray region (who were always granted a fair level of autonomy), he tried to slow down the process of modernization pushed by Haile Selassie I. For this reason, the tension between him and the Emperor rised considerably in the last months, even if this is still far from being an open rebellion.

Personal Life
Seyum married Woizero Tewabech, the sister of Iyasu V and third daughter of Negus Mikael of Wollo, on May 31 1914. After the Weltkrieg he divorced and in 1926 he married Princess Adada, daughter of Dejazmatch Asfa Darge, Governor of Salala.

From the first marriage he had a daughter, Woizero Walatta Israel, who married Prince Asfaw Wossen Taffari (son of Emperor Haile Selassie I) in Addis-Ababa on May 9 1932, and from the second a son, Mengesha Seyum, born in Addis-Ababa on December 7 1927.