On 3 August 1911, Tafari married Menen Asfaw of Ambassel, niece of the heir to the throne Lij Iyasu. Menen Asfaw was 22 years old while Tafari was 19 years of age. Menen had already married two previous noblemen, while Tafari had one previous wife and one child. The marriage between Menen Asfaw and Selassie lasted for 50 years. Although possibly a political match designed to create peace between Ethiopian nobles, the couple's family had said they married with mutual consent. Selassie described his spouse as a "woman without any malice whatsoever".Haile Selassie, My Life and Ethiopia's Progress (Chicago: Frontline Distribution International, 1999), pp. 41f.
On 3 August 1911 Tafari married Menen Asfaw of Ambassel niece of the heir to the throne Lij Iyasu Menen Asfaw was 22 years old while Tafari was 19 years of age Menen had already married two previous noblemen while Tafari had one previous wife and one child The marriage between Menen Asfaw and Selassie lasted for 50 years Although possibly a political match designed to create peace between Ethiopian nobles the couple's family had said they married with mutual consent Selassie described his spouse as a "woman without any malice whatsoever"Haile Selassie My Life and Ethiopia's Progress (Chicago Frontline Distribution International 1999) pp 41f