Haile Selassie’s English Exile: The Unsung Chapter of His Fight Against Fascism

The Emperor’s Quiet War: From Somerset to the Steps of the Throne

While war raged across Europe and Italy’s fascist regime sought to cement its new empire, a once and future emperor of Ethiopia planned his resistance from the tranquil hills of Somerset.¹ Far from the arid landscapes of his homeland, Haile Selassie, the deposed emperor, found refuge in the genteel British city of Bath, where a seemingly insignificant period of exile proved to be a transformative and vital chapter in his life and the history of a nation.²

For four years, between 1936 and 1940, Haile Selassie lived in Fairfield House on the western outskirts of Bath. This peaceful, Roman-era city, known for its historic baths and abbey, became the nerve center for a global campaign of resistance. This was no passive retreat; it was a time of intense political organizing and a determined effort to reclaim his country.³

A Strategically Placed Refuge

Haile Selassie’s journey to Britain was one of necessity and strategic calculation. After Italy, under Benito Mussolini, invaded Ethiopia, the emperor fled aboard a British warship, underscoring his existing influence and the diplomatic tightrope Britain was walking.⁴ Upon his arrival at London’s Waterloo Station, he was met with jubilant fanfare from Londoners, a public display of support that stood in stark contrast to the British government’s official position.⁵

To avoid diplomatic friction with Italy, the British authorities classified him as an “incognito” visitor.⁶ Yet, his fame preceded him. Having previously traveled to Europe as a prince regent, Haile Selassie was known in the West as a reformer who was modernizing his country. His coronation in 1930 was a major media event, and Ethiopia’s admission to the League of Nations in 1923 cemented its status as a non-Western nation standing against colonial injustices.

But why Bath, rather than London, the heart of Britain’s political power? According to independent researcher Ras Benji, the primary reason was the city’s famous hot springs.⁷ Haile Selassie had suffered burns from Italy’s use of chemical weapons, specifically mustard gas, and Bath’s mineral hospitals were known for treating such ailments.⁸ The quiet solitude of the city also offered him a much-needed sanctuary from the constant scrutiny of the press and the diplomatic intrigues of London.⁹

The Emperor’s Tireless Diplomacy

Despite his seemingly domestic life at Fairfield House, Haile Selassie was far from idle. He described his nights in his memoir, reflecting on his time in exile: “Our only time of relaxation was when occasionally we conversed with our children…In the evenings we were engaged in reading books until midnight and in writing the history of our past life.”

This was the backdrop to his unceasing political work. He rallied British organizations and sought financial aid for the thousands of Ethiopians who had fled to Palestine, British Somaliland, and other British colonies.¹⁰ The emperor’s most powerful moment came in the summer of 1936 when he gave a passionate speech at the League of Nations in Geneva.¹¹ He rebuked Italy for its use of chemical weapons and condemned the international body for its failure to act. The speech, often referred to as his “greatest hour,” won him worldwide sympathy but little else, as the League soon after lifted its sanctions against Italy.

Yet, this setback only fueled his advocacy. He built a strong network of support, befriending British activists like the prominent women’s rights campaigner, Sylvia Pankhurst.¹² Despite her opposition to monarchy in principle, Pankhurst was a fierce opponent of fascism and dedicated herself to the Ethiopian cause. She even moved to Ethiopia with her son, Richard, later in life, raising money for a teaching hospital and founding a newspaper to publicize the country’s struggles. Her family’s devotion to Ethiopia underscores the emperor’s profound influence on his supporters.

The Tangle of British Politics and Finance

Haile Selassie’s exile was complicated by his strained relationship with the British government.¹³ Officials were divided. Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden was sympathetic and was seen by the emperor as a “valiant friend of Ethiopia.”¹⁴ He even arranged for the emperor’s welcome at Waterloo Station. However, Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin was reportedly embarrassed by his presence, and his successor, Neville Chamberlain, was committed to a policy of appeasement toward Mussolini.

This political ambivalence was exacerbated by the emperor’s financial difficulties. Despite being a monarch, he had lost significant assets and, according to documents released decades later, was a “profligate” spender. The British Foreign Office was reluctant to offer him a financial grant for fear of souring Anglo-Italian relations. Instead, private organizations and philanthropists stepped in.¹⁵ The Abyssinia Association and the British Red Cross provided aid, and a private donor, later revealed to be William Cox, offered a substantial sum, ensuring the emperor was “adequately provided for.”¹⁶

However, even this private assistance was a delicate affair. The money came with the condition that Haile Selassie discourage public appeals for funds that would cause the British government “considerable discomfort.” Committed to his cause, the emperor refused to be silenced, continuing to advocate for his country and its refugees, even at the risk of losing private support and alienating officials.

The Path to Liberation

Many historians have relegated Haile Selassie’s time in Bath to a minor footnote, but this period was anything but insignificant. It was during his exile that he built the international platform and network of support that would prove crucial to his eventual return.

His quiet work paid off. In 1940, he left England for Sudan, crossed the border into Ethiopia, and fought alongside British forces—which included Sudanese and South African troops—against the Italian occupiers. In 1941, the Italians were defeated, and the emperor triumphantly reclaimed his throne.

The quiet years in Bath were a microcosm of his larger struggle: a time of financial hardship and diplomatic resistance, of building alliances and enduring setbacks. It was a period of reflection and renewal that ultimately prepared him for his return to power. Haile Selassie’s exile was not a break in a quiet English town; it was a formative and productive time that was vital to the liberation of his country. ( This reportage is based on the article “Haile Selassie’s Refuge in Britain” by Meena Venkataramanan, published in the Smithsonian Magazine).

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