"It wasn't Menelik who set me free, but Our Lady Mary"

According to popular Ethiopian tradition, the empire of the Negus (King of Abyssinia, Kingdom of Aksum) was offered by Christ to his Mother as the tithe of the universe. And every Abyssinian feels himself to be a special child of Mary. 

Thus, some time after the Adoua disaster he had inflicted on the Italians in 1896, Negus Menelik II, Emperor of Ethiopia and King of Shewa, received this letter from Italy: "I am a poor Italian mother whose son you are holding prisoner. O great Emperor, have pity on an unfortunate woman and give her back her child. I ask this in the name of Our Lady!"

No sooner had he finished reading, than Menelik summoned the soldier in question and told him: "I'm giving you back your freedom. But tell your mother: it wasn't Menelik who freed me, but Our Lady Mary. You see, Mary really is my mother, and once my mother has said yes, I can no longer say no. Go, and may Our Lady protect you!"

Encyclopedia Maria tome V 

Beauchesne 1956 - p.36