On this day - 13 December

On December 13th 1960 the Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie was in Brazil on a state visit. While away, his son was named Emperor in an attempt by the Imperial Guard to seize control of the country. This was suppressed by the police and the army and also denounced by the church. Public support for a coup was limited but did trigger Emperor Selassie to speed up reforms within the country.

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