Emperor Haile Selassie I died on August 27th, 1975 at the age of 83 in Ethiopia.  Selassie was the last emperor in the 3,000-year-old Ethiopian monarchy and ruled for half a century before he was deposed by military coup. He led Ethiopia through some of the nation’s darkest times. No funeral service was held for Emperor Haile Selassie at the time of his death.  Here is an overview of the central figure in Rastafari, His Imperial Majesty (H.I.M.) Haile Selassie.