Wolde Selassie makes his seat of government in Chalacot, but maintains his capital at Antalo in Enderta Province.

He builds four palaces, at Chelekot, Antalo, Felegdaro and Mekelle, all in Enderta.

He plays a role in the politics of the Imperial Throne, in part by providing shelter to Emperor Tekle Giyorgis I in 1799 and 1800, and is visited by the former Emperor Baeda Maryam in 1813.

Although at first he had cooperated with Ras Aligaz, the Imperial Regent, after his power grew, Wolde Selassie had come to challenge Aligaz for that office prior to Aligaz's death in 1803.

Ras Wolde Selassie is known to have had wielded the most power during his reign, exceeding formidable rases such as Ras Aligaz of Yejju, Ras Gugsa of Gojam and the Oromo chieftain Gojje; and throughout his vast provinces and districts, all kinds of crimes, grievances, rebellions, disputes and inheritances are directly referred to him and most wars are carried out by himself in person.

According to Paul Henze, Ras Wolde Selassie is the first ruler of this period to have close contact with Europeans, hosting three British diplomats, George Annesley, Viscount Valentia, his secretary Henry Salt, and Nathaniel Pearce.

Salt's arrival in Abyssinia culminates in the signing of a treaty of friendship with Wolde Selassie representing Abyssinia and the former representing Great Britain in 1805.

Henry Salt also proposes inaugurating trade with Britain; Wolde Selassie is quick to see possible advantages in relations with Britain and promises to encourage such commerce with every means in his power.

Revealing himself a realist, and speaking, Salt says, with 'great sincerity', he nevertheless expresses the fear that his country

    might not be able to supply any quantity of valuable commodities sufficient to recompense our merchants for engaging in so precarious a trade; more especially as the Abyssinians were not much acquainted with commercial transactions...Could any plan, however, be arranged for obviating these difficulties...he would most readily concur in carrying it into effect.

Wolde Selassie also touches on a major obstacle that the Ethiopians had faced, the Egyptians have control over the port of Massawa which they have acquired from the Ottoman Empire and remind King George that with their "naval superiority in the red sea" Abyssinia might find it difficult to gain access to the port.

Wolde Sellasie's effort, however, will bear fruit in the long term when his successors Dejazmatch Wube of Semien and Tigray and Emperor Yohannes of Ethiopia follow up on the treaty that is struck between him and the kingdom of Britain.

Nathaniel Pearce lives with Ras Wolde from about 1808 and the warlord's death.

Pearce's diary of his stay is not only valuable for the history of this period, but also provides enormous detail about daily life in Ethiopia.