How did Emperor Yohannes IV restore unity in Ethiopia after a period of feudal conflict?

Emperor Yohannes IV sought to consolidate power and restore unity in Ethiopia following a period of feudal fragmentation through several key strategies:

• Military Dominance: After ascending the throne in 1872, Yohannes utilized superior weaponry to defeat regional rivals, including the self-proclaimed ruler Tekle Giorgis and Menilek II of Shewa, forcing the latter to submit and renounce his own imperial ambitions in 1878/79.12
• Centralization of Authority: He actively worked to reduce the power of regional nobles to establish a more unitary government.1
• Religious Policy: Yohannes attempted to unify the empire by enforcing conversion to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. However, this policy faced significant resistance, particularly from Muslim subjects who were compelled to pay tithes and undergo baptism.1
• Diplomatic Management: To manage the powerful kingdom of Shewa, he arranged a dynastic marriage between his son and Menilek’s daughter, formally recognizing Menilek as his successor and defining their respective spheres of influence.1

These efforts allowed him to wield authority from Tigray to the southern regions, marking a significant period of centralization.2