Description: (Empress of Ethiopia (1916 - 1930))
Empress Zewditu reigned as the Empress of Ethiopia from 1916 until her passing in 1930. She was the first female leader of an internationally recognized African country in the 19th and 20th centuries. Zewditu's rule was characterized by her dedication to preserving Ethiopian traditions and the Orthodox Christian faith, in opposition to the progressive aspirations of her regent, Ras Tafari Makonnen. She skillfully managed conflicts between traditionalists and modernists, working to safeguard Ethiopia's independence and cultural legacy against external challenges.