The former Imperial House of Ethiopia lost a member last Sunday (February 17, 2019). Princess Sara Gizaw, Dowager Duchess of Harar passed away at the age of 90. She was the widow of Prince Makonnen, Duke of Harar, the second son of Ethiopia's final legitimate Emperor, Haile Selassie I. Her death was confirmed by local media sources, close to her family.
Princess Sara was born in 1929, the daughter of a civil governor from Axum (Tigray, Ethiopia). She was educated at the Royal Infirmary Nursing School of Edinburgh, UK.
Sara Gizaw married (in 1946) to the Emperor's favorite son, Prince Makonnen, and became Duchess of Harrar. Together they had five sons, before Makonnen was killed in a car accident (in 1957).
Sara remained popular even during her widowhood, and following the death of her mother-in-law, Empress Menen Asfaw she often accompanied the Emperor on official duties, along with her sister-in-law, Princess Tenagnework. She was once considered as one of the most beautiful women in the Imperial Court of Ethiopia.
With the pending abolition of monarchy in 1974, the widowed Duchess was arrested and detained by the Derg Socialist regime along with three of her five sons (the rest two were studiying abroad). After a long-time imprisonment the Dowager Duchess of Harar and 7 other female members of former Imperial family were released in 1988 with her children following in 1989. However, just before their release, one of her sons, Prince Dawit (Makonner Makonner), was found dead at his home in Switzerland.
When Derg regime fell, Princess Sara and her family were allowed to travel abroad. She settled in London, were she lived for many years, occasionally returning to Ethiopia for the funerals of prominent Imperial Family members. By the end of her life, Sara was reported to have returned to (Ethiopian capital) Addis Ababa.
Princess Sara Gizaw died here on the third weekend of February, survived by four of her five sons, and several grandchildren.
Her body lay in state at Addis Ababa's (Orthodox) Holy Trinity Cathedral, before a solemn funeral (on February 19), presided by Ethiopian Patriarch Abune Matthias I, and attended by former Imperial family members, government officials and other dignitaries. She was laid to rest at the Cathedral's Imperial Crypt (next to her husband, among other ex-Imperial family members).
The Princess' eldest son, Prince Paul Wossen Seged Makonner (titular Duke of Harar) is currently the next in hypothetical line of succession to the defunct throne, after his childless cousin, titular former Crown Prince & Head of the Imperial House of Ethiopia.
Sara Gizaw married (in 1946) to the Emperor's favorite son, Prince Makonnen, and became Duchess of Harrar. Together they had five sons, before Makonnen was killed in a car accident (in 1957).
Sara remained popular even during her widowhood, and following the death of her mother-in-law, Empress Menen Asfaw she often accompanied the Emperor on official duties, along with her sister-in-law, Princess Tenagnework. She was once considered as one of the most beautiful women in the Imperial Court of Ethiopia.
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| Princess Sara Gisaw with her father-in-law, Emperor Haile Selassie |
With the pending abolition of monarchy in 1974, the widowed Duchess was arrested and detained by the Derg Socialist regime along with three of her five sons (the rest two were studiying abroad). After a long-time imprisonment the Dowager Duchess of Harar and 7 other female members of former Imperial family were released in 1988 with her children following in 1989. However, just before their release, one of her sons, Prince Dawit (Makonner Makonner), was found dead at his home in Switzerland.
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| The princess at an official event with the Emperor (far-left) |
The Princess' eldest son, Prince Paul Wossen Seged Makonner (titular Duke of Harar) is currently the next in hypothetical line of succession to the defunct throne, after his childless cousin, titular former Crown Prince & Head of the Imperial House of Ethiopia.
Video, refering the Princess' funeral:
&more links of further information:
https://borkena.com/2019/02/17/ethiopian-royal-family-member-princess-sara-gizaw-dies-at-90/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sara_Gizaw
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mekonnen_Haile_Selassie
http://royalcentral.co.uk/international/princess-sara-the-dowager-duchess-of-harar-has-died-116453
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haile_Selassie
https://www.historyofroyalwomen.com/ethiopia/princess-sara-daughter-in-law-of-last-ethiopian-emperor-has-died-at-the-age-of-90/
https://borkena.com/2019/02/19/princess-sara-gizaw-laid-to-rest-at-kidist-selassie-menbere-tsebaot/
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