Tewodros II (1818-1868) was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1855 until his death in 1868, credited with ending the fragmented period known as the Age of Princes by reuniting much of the country under central imperial rule. He pursued ambitious plans to modernize Ethiopia's army and administration and reduce the independent power of regional nobles and the church, though many of these reforms met strong internal resistance. His reign ended in crisis after he imprisoned a group of British missionaries and a diplomatic envoy over a perceived slight from the British government, prompting a large British military expedition to Ethiopia in 1868. Facing certain defeat as British forces stormed his mountain fortress at Magdala, Tewodros died by suicide rather than be captured.
Facts
RoleEmperor of Ethiopia from 1855 to 1868; his reign is often placed as the beginning of modern Ethiopia and ended the decentralized Zemene Mesafint, the Era of the Princes. 1 BirthplaceQwara, west of Gondar, Ethiopia 1 Death PlaceBattle of Magdala, Ethiopia, during the British Expedition to Abyssinia 1 Role
Role (category) FAQs
Why did Britain send an army to Ethiopia in 1867 and 1868?
Britain sent a force to free European captives that Tewodros II held at Magdala.
Tewodros II had asked the governments of Britain and France for aid against foreign enemies, and the lack of any reply seemed to him a sign of indifference and diplomatic disrespect. His suspicion of foreigners deepened, and in his anger he imprisoned the consuls, artisans and missionaries in his domain at the mountain stronghold of Magdala. Unable to win their release by other means, the British government reluctantly sent a large force in 1867 to free the prisoners. The force stormed Magdala on April 10, 1868, and Tewodros took his own life rather than surrender.
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Wikipedialead section
He ultimately committed suicide at the Battle of Magdala, during the British Expedition to Abyssinia.
Early life section
Kassa Hailu was born in Qwara west of Gondar
Tewodros II: Gender
Tewodros II (1818-1868) was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1855 until his death in 1868, credited with ending the fragmented period known as the Age of Princes by reuniting much of the country under central imperial rule.
In Era: The Late Modern Period, lead paragraph, lifespan
Infobox: born c. 1818; died 1868-04-15
View the Source Wikidata: Tewodros II
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