1868 Expedition to Abyssinia

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The British 1868 Expedition to Abyssinia was a punitive expedition against the Emperor of Ethiopia Emperor Tewodros II, also known as the Emperor Theodore. Tewodros had written to the British Government requesting their help in his wars with his neighbours. When he received no answer to his letter, he took offence and made a number of British officials and missionaries his prisoners.

After the Queen's written appeal of April 1867 went unanswered, a force from the British and Indian armies was despatched under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Napier to free the captives. The force consisted of 13,000 British and Indian soldiers, 26,000 camp followers and over 40,000 animals, including 44 elephants. The force set sail from Bombay and landed at Zula on the Red Sea, and then marched 400 miles south to Tewodros' capital at Magdala. It took Napier's forces 3 months to trek over the mountainous terrain to the foot of the fortress. A battle took place outside this citadel on April 13, 1868, in which the defending forces were routed with few injuries and no deaths on the British side, though many on the defenders. Over 700 of Theodore's men were killed within just two hours, with 1,200 more wounded. Tewodros himself committed suicide to avoid capture and the prisoners were released.

The British entered the capital, and Sir Napier allowed his troops to loot and burn Magdala, including its churches, before departing from Ethiopia. (His army departed from Zula 19 April.) They stole a large number of treasures and religious items such as tabots, which today can be seen in various museums and libraries in Europe, as well as in private collections. A few items have been returned to Ethiopia, the most important being the crown of Tewodros II, which King George V personally presented to the future Emperor Haile Selassie on his visit to England in 1925.

With the expedition's objectives having been achieved, the British force returned home. Napier was created Baron Napier of Magdala in recognition of his achievement.