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Lij Seifu Mikael (Amharic: ልጅ ሰይፉ ሚካኤል also Sayfu Mikael, Seifu Michael) was an Ethiopian noble belonging to the aristocratic Amhara family from the Shewa branch of the Solomonic dynasty by his mother's father Dejazmach Mekuria Tesfaye. A public figure, educated in Paris at Sorbonne; one of the first few nobles who started paying salaries to their household servants advocating freedom of slaves and an an avid supporter of Ras Tafari in his bid to become an emperor of Ethiopia but later grew to be an outspoken critic of Haile Selassie's rule after the liberation. He was also one of the Ethiopian POWs during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War at Asinara. Pursuant to his written accounts, he in the beginning liked and admired Ras Tafari, the future emperor Haile Selassie, during his regency for his zeal and progressive moves but later grew to scold his rule after Ras Tafari became emperor citing partisanship, disdain towards the old officials of Menelik II and Empress Zauditu, contempt to criticisms and perceived isolation of early educated Ethiopians whom he wasn't responsible for their education; as a result, Seifu as one of the earliest educated Ethiopians who didn't owe his education to Ras Tafari, believed, the roles he played in shaping modern Ethiopian institutions, especially the foreign affairs bureau he helped organize as well as his struggles during the Italo-Ethiopian war and the fascists occupation have been undermined. Seifu expressed these opinions through his surviving poems he wrote during his imprisonment by the fascists at Asinara Island and later in his life as administrator of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. In one of his diaries, he expressed his grief over the knowledge of how Lij Iyasu was treated during his years of captivation and his subsequent elimination after Emperor Haile Selassie's decision to leave the country for exile in Europe. He blamed some of the Emperor's backward advisers with the exception of Ras Kassa who, he wrote, was too religious to decide on the life of Lij Eyasu. ==Biography== Born Seife Sillasie Mikael in Ankobar, Northern Shewa, was active mainly during Empress Zewditu's reign and the earliest times of Emperor Haile Selassie. His father Ato Mikael Birru, educated in Beirut and Germany, was a descendant of Ankobar's hereditary nobles on his mother's side and son of Azazh Birru of Wolqait. Mikael, a prominent figure in Emperor Menelik II's court, was also the official translator of the British Legation and a part-time resident of Aden; considered to be one of the earliest western educated and modernizing Ethiopians who published the first mathematics text book in Amharic, spoke fluent English, Italian, German, French, Hebrew, Hindustani and Arabic.〔Ethiopian Journal of Education - Volume 6, Issue 2 - Page 66〕 Mikael Birru attended the coronation of King Edward VII in England with Ras Makonnen Wolde Mikael, Emperor Haile Selassie's father. Seifu's mother, Mikael Birru's second wife, Shewaferash Mekuria, was the daughter of one of Menelik II's generals and a close relative Dejazmatch Mekuria Tesfaye who marched with Menelik II during the monarch's successful efforts in bringing the southern Ethiopian regions under the central imperial government, later died of "Hidar Beshita", an epidemic that claimed many lives in the months of October and November. Dejazmatch Mekuria was one of Emperor Tewodros II's prisoners at Magdala with the young Menelik after they were captured in Showa. Mikael Birru would later die of the same epidemic in October many years later. He was laid to rest at Debre Berhan Sillasie Church. W/o Shewaferash later married Ras Mesfin Silleshi's uncle Grazmatch Gizaw who was half brother of Ras Mesfin's mother and gave birth to W/o Ayelech Gizaw, Lij Seifu's half sister. Lij Seifu completed the traditional Ethiopian religious education both in Addis Ababa and Menz at the Gerim Gabriel Church located on his father's estate. After few years at his father's residence in Aden where he attended modern school, he left for France and graduated from Sorbonne University in Paris. According to his renowned nephew Kebede Mikael, besides the assistance of his wealthy father, he used his personal funds to pay for his education after inheriting a large amount of money from his grandfather Dejazmatch Mekuria Tesfaye who made him the sole heir to his estate. During his stay in Europe, he assisted Ethiopian diplomats with translations thus having exposure to foreign dignitaries. During that time, he cultivated lasting friendships with his father's friends BlattenGeta Heruy Wolde Selassie, Mersha Nahusenay, Fitawrari Tekle Hawariat Tekle Mariyam and later in Ethiopia with Hakim Workneh Eshete also known as Dr. Charles Martin who was a good friend to his father Ato Mikael Birru whom the doctor regarded as a close friend and a go-to person to have an immediate access to Emperor Menelik with whom Hakim Workneh later enjoyed daily visits to treat the aging and ailing monarch. Ato Mikael Birru was instrumental in arranging Hakim Workneh's marriage to W/O Qatsala Tullu. Seifu would later marry Hakim Workneh's daughter Sara. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Seifu Mikael」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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