Tsehaiwork Darge
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Woizero Tsehaiwork Darge was the daughter of Ras Darge Sahle Selassie, Prince of Sellale, and granddaughter of Sahle Selassie, King of Shewa. She was a first cousin to Emperor Menelik II.
Tsehaiwork Darge was much liked by her cousin Menelik and his wife Taitu, and received much favor from them both. She never formally married, but instead administered her vast land holdings herself and allegedly had a male "favorite". She was a formidable and headstong woman who was greatly feared as a taskmaster by the domestic staff of her father's household, and of the Imperial Palace as well. She helped nurse Emperor Menelik during his long final illness, virtually running the Imperial Palace during those times that Empress Taitu herself was ill. She was close to both Iyasu V and Empress Zewditu. However, she fell into disfavor under Emperor Haile Selassie, and was convicted of plotting to overthrow him in favor of Iyasu. She was confined to her estates at Sellale where she lived out her days.
