Sara Gizaw
Duchess of Harar
Born(1929-01-01)1 January 1929
Rayana Kobo, Wollo Province, Ethiopian Empire
Died17 February 2019(2019-02-17) (aged 90)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Burial
Holy Trinity Cathedral
SpousePrince Makonnen, Duke of Harar
IssuePrince Paul Wossen-Seged, Duke of Harar
Prince Mikael
Prince Dawit
Prince Taffari
Prince Beede Mariam
HouseHouse of Solomon
FatherGizaw Abera
MotherAisha Tola
ReligionEthiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

Princess Sara Gizaw, Duchess of Harar (1 January 1929 – 17 February 2019) was the widow of Prince Makonnen,[1] Duke (Mesfin) of Harar and second son of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia.

Biography

Princess Sara (in white) accompanying Emperor Haile Selassie at a state visit to the Netherlands, 1954

Princess Sara was born on 1 January 1929.[2] Her father was Gizaw Abera, a former Nibure Id of Axum, and her paternal grandfather was Dejazmach Abera Tedla. Her mother was Aisha Tola, a Muslim woman from Tigray.

She was educated at the Royal Infirmary Nursing School of Edinburgh.

She was the mother of five sons, Paul Wossen Seged Makonnen, Mikael Makonnen, Tefferi Makonnen, Beede Mariam Makonnen and the late Dawit Makonnen (also known as Makonnen Makonnen). In her day, Princess Sara was renowned as one of the most beautiful women at the Court of the Emperor of Ethiopia. She was widowed in 1957 when her husband, the Duke of Harar, was killed in a car accident.[3] She often accompanied the Emperor on foreign visits, and acted as one of his official hostesses along with Princess Tenagnework after the death of Empress Menen.

Princess Sara was imprisoned with the other women of the Imperial Family of Ethiopia in 1974, and was released from prison in 1988.[1] At the time of her death Princess Sara resided in Addis Ababa. Princess Sara's eldest son, late Prince Paul Wossen Seged was second in line to the Ethiopian throne, and was expected eventually to become heir presumptive as the current claimant, Crown Prince Zera Yacob Amha Selassie has no legitimate son.

Death

Princess Sara died on 17 February 2019, at the age of 90.[4]

Honours

Styles of
Princess Sara Gizaw, Duchess of Harar
Reference styleHer Imperial Highness
Spoken styleYour Imperial Highness

National dynastic

Foreign

References

  1. 1 2 "Ethiopia Frees 7 Relatives of Haile Selassie". The New York Times. Reuters. 22 May 1988. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
  2. ↑ Geneall
  3. ↑ Paul B. Henze, Layers of Time (New York: Palgrave, 2000), p. 260
  4. ↑ Borkena
  5. ↑ Pinimg
  6. ↑ Pinimg
  7. ↑ Flickr
  8. ↑ Per Nordenvall, Kungliga Serafimerorden 1748-1998 (1998). See the list of knights
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