Father Gizaw Abera Name Sara Gizaw | Spouse Prince Makonnen Parents Gizaw Abera | |
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Born 1 January 1928 (age 96) ( 1928-01-01 ) Issue Prince Paul Wossen Seged
Prince Mikael
Prince Dawit
Prince Taffari
Prince Beede Mariam Religion Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Children Prince Paul Wossen Seged, Prince Mikael, Prince Beede Mariam, Prince Dawit, Prince Taffari Similar People Prince Makonnen, Menen Asfaw, Haile Selassie | ||
Princess Sara Gizaw, Dowager Duchess of Harar is the widow of Prince Makonnen, Duke (Mesfin) of Harar and second son of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia.
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Biography
She was born in 1929. Her father was Gizaw Abera, a former Nibure Id of Axum, and her paternal grandfather was Dejazmach Abera Tedla.
She was educated at the Royal Infirmary Nursing School of Edinburgh.
She is 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. 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. She currently resides in Addis Ababa. Princess Sara's eldest son, Prince Paul Wossen Seged (current titular Duke of Harar) is second in line to the Ethiopian throne, and is expected eventually to become heir presumptive as the current claimant, Crown Prince Zera Yacob Amha Selassie has no legitimate son.