In this episode of pplpod, we explore the life of Emperor Menelik II, a defining figure who expanded the Ethiopian Empire and secured its independence by crushing Italian colonial forces at the Battle of Adwa in 1896. Born Sahle Maryam, Menelik escaped imprisonment under Emperor Tewodros II to become the King of Shewa before claiming the imperial throne. We discuss his drive to modernize the nation, from introducing electricity and the first bank to establishing the Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway. The episode also examines the controversies of his reign, including the deceptive Treaty of Wuchale, the devastating Great Famine, and the brutal atrocities committed during his conquest of southern territories. Join us as we look at the legacy of the man widely regarded as the founder of the modern Ethiopian state.