Ethiopia's regent and Emperor Haile Selassie, from 1930-1974 was followed by over two million Rastafarian people, starting in Jamaica in the 1930's the Rastafarian movement believed Haile Selassie to be a messianic figure emanating prosperity, eternal peace, and righteousness.
Haile Selassie was born an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian, a respected and honored figure within African and Ethiopian history. The Emperor went against the League of Nations in 1936 by condemning the use of chemical weapons by Italy in the second Italian-Ethiopian War. Many critics believed the loss of modernisation in Ethiopia was caused by the opposed reforms and rebellious formation against the aristocracy of that era, this had long lasting effects on this country and there economic growth.
Haile Selassie in Ethiopia has been known under many names, including Talque Maeri, Janhoy and Abba. Also referring to him as Jah, Jah Jah, the Rastafarian movement uses this abbreviation, which translates to "His Imperial Majestry". In 1924 Haile Selassie toured Europe with Ras Tafari including the Middle East, an attempt to gain access to the sea wanting to expand and trade within countries. Rejected by the French Foreign Ministry (Quai d'Orsay), they used this trip to source information on hospitals, schools, churches and factories taking this knowledge back to Ethiopia.
Within his Entourage were Hailu Tekly Haymanot and Seyum Mangasha who were the sons of generals, contributing to the victory of the war in Italy over a quarter of a century previous to this date. Many countries and high-powered head of states were intrigued by this great following, with their gowns worn as a "picturesque court dress". Haile Selassie took with him a pride of lions, to be given as gifts to King George V of the United Kingdom, President Alexandre Millerand of France and the Jardin Zoologique of Paris. This offering was for the crowning of Ras Tafari with the title "Emperor Tweodros II, giving him safety to return back to his country.