On this day 95 years ago, on January 11, 1930 (December 12, 1929 in the lunar calendar), Haile Selassie became the new emperor of Ethiopia. On January 11, 1930, Haile Selassie (1892-1975) became the new emperor of Ethiopia. Six years later, he and his heroic and unyielding people would have an uphill battle with Mussolini. Pictured is a photo of Haile Selassie in a magnificent imperial robe with his wife, Empress Menen, after their wedding.