Emperor Tewodros II (1855-1868)
Kassa from Quara was a child of a woman who used to sell local beverage: a proffession stigmatized in Ethiopia. His profile was nothing close to that of a king or even a lord as he was not from a royal decent.
Kassa however managed to conquer Ethiopia. In ages where nothing except military might would lead to the thrown, Kassa was a bandit with a small group of followers. Profiting from the lawlessness of the Zemene Mesafint period, he managed to amass wealth with his small crue, allowing him to increase the size and strength of his band.
His ascension to power was gradual. After being the governor of Quara, he gradually started to advance to different parts of the country, managing to subdue lords in all parts of the country. He eventually became the king of kings and was named Emperor Tewodros. He became the first king to rule a centralized Ethiopia.
Tewodros became the father of the Ethiopia as we know it today. After conquering much of the country he went on to reinforce his miltary might. He was not completely satisfied with his arsenal and went on to acquire upto date weapons particularly from the British. He was bold and ambitious enough to be the first African king who built modern military weapon. With the technical support of the Brits he built the first long range canon that he named Sebastopol.
It is the ambition that brought Tewodros to the throne which also lead to his downfall. His ascension to great hights and achievement in areas where other failed gave Tewodros the feeling of invincibility. Among others he made claims that Jerusalem was part of Ethiopia. He even made plans of invading Israel by crossing the Red sea.
It is not only that the Emperor set out to be the first African King to colonize outside his continent. His achievements lead him to denying the due respect to European powers such as Britain. He eventually over stepped a boundary when he decided to emprison British citizens in Ethiopia including the consulate just because Queen Victoria did not reply to a letter he sent her.
Several attempts were made by the British to resolve this contraversial issues through diplomacy. Tewodros declined. The British government dispatched its army to arrest the Ethiopian King.
Perhaps the mission would have been difficult for the mighty European power considering the Emperor's military strength. But the king was betrayed by his own people, notably feudal lords who were forced to pay taxes to the king due to his forceful governance. The British were therefore provided with a clear path to the Tewodros and to free their imprisoned citizens.
Although the Mission lead by the General Napier was focused on arresting the Ethiopian King things ended in a different way. Tewodros was determined not to be captured by external forces. When he knew that the army was advancing to his palace and that his capture was eminent, Tewodros took his own life.
Kassa from Quara was a child of a woman who used to sell local beverage: a proffession stigmatized in Ethiopia. His profile was nothing close to that of a king or even a lord as he was not from a royal decent.
Kassa however managed to conquer Ethiopia. In ages where nothing except military might would lead to the thrown, Kassa was a bandit with a small group of followers. Profiting from the lawlessness of the Zemene Mesafint period, he managed to amass wealth with his small crue, allowing him to increase the size and strength of his band.
His ascension to power was gradual. After being the governor of Quara, he gradually started to advance to different parts of the country, managing to subdue lords in all parts of the country. He eventually became the king of kings and was named Emperor Tewodros. He became the first king to rule a centralized Ethiopia.
Tewodros became the father of the Ethiopia as we know it today. After conquering much of the country he went on to reinforce his miltary might. He was not completely satisfied with his arsenal and went on to acquire upto date weapons particularly from the British. He was bold and ambitious enough to be the first African king who built modern military weapon. With the technical support of the Brits he built the first long range canon that he named Sebastopol.
It is the ambition that brought Tewodros to the throne which also lead to his downfall. His ascension to great hights and achievement in areas where other failed gave Tewodros the feeling of invincibility. Among others he made claims that Jerusalem was part of Ethiopia. He even made plans of invading Israel by crossing the Red sea.
It is not only that the Emperor set out to be the first African King to colonize outside his continent. His achievements lead him to denying the due respect to European powers such as Britain. He eventually over stepped a boundary when he decided to emprison British citizens in Ethiopia including the consulate just because Queen Victoria did not reply to a letter he sent her.
Several attempts were made by the British to resolve this contraversial issues through diplomacy. Tewodros declined. The British government dispatched its army to arrest the Ethiopian King.
Perhaps the mission would have been difficult for the mighty European power considering the Emperor's military strength. But the king was betrayed by his own people, notably feudal lords who were forced to pay taxes to the king due to his forceful governance. The British were therefore provided with a clear path to the Tewodros and to free their imprisoned citizens.
Although the Mission lead by the General Napier was focused on arresting the Ethiopian King things ended in a different way. Tewodros was determined not to be captured by external forces. When he knew that the army was advancing to his palace and that his capture was eminent, Tewodros took his own life.
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