Tewodros II

Who is Tewodros II?

Tewodros II, born Kassa Hailu, rose from provincial origins to be crowned Emperor of Ethiopia in 1855, ending the long period of regional fragmentation known as the Zemene Mesafint, or Era of the Princes, during which figurehead emperors held little real power. An ambitious reformer, he sought to unify the country under a strong central authority, curb the power of feudal lords and the church, build a modern army and even cast heavy artillery domestically. His attempt to secure European technical and diplomatic support soured when Britain failed to answer his correspondence; in response he detained several British subjects, provoking the 1868 Napier Expedition. Besieged at his mountain fortress of Magdala, Tewodros took his own life rather than surrender. Though his reign ended in defeat, he is widely regarded as the founder of modern Ethiopia and a symbol of national unity and defiance.

Sources: Sven Rubenson, 'King of Kings: Tewodros of Ethiopia' (1966) · Encyclopaedia Britannica, 'Tewodros II' · Bahru Zewde, 'A History of Modern Ethiopia, 1855-1991' (2nd ed., 2001)