Menen Liben Amede was a significant personage during the Zemene Mesafint of the 19th century before Tewodros II reunited the Ethiopian Empire in 1855. She was married twice, first to Alula of Yejju, then after his death to emperor Yohannes III. Menen had by Alula RasAli II of Yejju around the year 1819. Upon the death of his cousin, RasDori in July 1831, Ali was appointed Ruler of Begemder and Imperial Regent at the age of 12 in a meeting of the chief nobles of the Yejju Oromo at the dynastic capital of Debre Tabor. As his father Alula was dead by this time, and Ali was a minor, a council of regents was appointed from the nobles of that people. However, Menen soon came to control this council and exerted much influence over political decisions for the next decade. A palace was built for Menen Liben Amede, though it was not as large as Ras Ali II's. Following the death of RasKinfu, people fought for control of his lands in Gojjam. Eventually Menen gained the upper hand in the Battle of Chenti Ber, defeating and capturing Kinfu's relative Walda Tekle. Not long afterwards, she deposed Sahle Dengel on 29 August1840 in favor of her husband Yohannes. However, Yohannes offended her son Ras Ali by favoring his rival Wube Haile Maryam, and Ras Ali restored Sahle Dengel in October 1841. Occupation of the imperial throne alternated between Yohannes and Sahle Dengel until Kassa of Qwara defeated Empress Menen in combat on 18 June 1847 near the northern shores of Lake Tana, capturing her and Yohannes. He then traded them to Ras Ali for the title of Dejazmach and the territories of the deceasedRas Kinfu in Gojjam. Another source states that when Kassa finally usurped the Imperial throne, Yohannes agreed to acquiesce to the change on the condition that the new Emperor guarantee that he would not ever be made to reunite with his much hated wife, Empress Mennen. On her part, in order to have influence over Kassa Menen offered her granddaughterTewabech Ali as a bride to him. Nevertheless, Kassa came to love her and was faithful to her until her death in 1858. Menan also awarded Kassa all of Ye Meru Qemas for the same reasons. Menen disappears from the historical record soon after this.
