Every two years or so I would read an article similar to this published today on the Independent; Out of Africa: The stolen prince.
The articles are usually good ones; they are descriptive and “historically accurate,” per say.
Oxymoronic phrases like the ‘Royal Orphan’ and the ‘Stolen Prince’ thrown around quite a bit. I once tried to have a conversation with friends who where clueless to the story.
So for those to short attention span, I will write the cliff notes and then share my opinion.
Prince Alemayehu Tewodros was born 1861; his royal blood stretches back to King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. By age six or eight Queen Victoria’s soldiers stole the boy from Magdala after his father death and then brought him to Leeds, England.
The prince passed away by age 19, he died of loneliness.
Like all stories of the Ethiopian history this is an interesting one and my grandfather would tell them all to me.
Now Ethiopian aristocrats are trying to bring the remains of the boy back to his birthplace.
I for one believe that they should let bygones be bygones. This is part of the Ethiopian history and it should remain as history. The brass plaque in Windsor Castle that was erected in the memory of Prince Alemayehu shall remain in place reminded those that pass by it the rich stories of the ancestors.
As for the paraphernalia the British brought some 139 years ago from the highlands of Ethiopia shall be returned and placed in a museum. And the journey back shall be incorporated in history.
Published by June 18th, 2008 in Current Issues, History and Thoughts.
I never understood the “died of loneliness” part. I’ve heard of his story before and the same phrase was used. What does that mean? I never knew loneliness was a health problem.
Kuki, You are very lucky or naive( wich also could be a blessing) but if you imagine a little boy form Gondar, stolen by the ennemies after a brutal war… God knows the conditions he was taken under, but I can assure you that as a symbol/descendant of a rebelious King who dared to defy and even fight the arrogant brits, THE superpower… I don’t think he was greeted with smiles. And then to put him in the ‘Palace’ as a war loot, trophy …
Anyway if today it a huge problem in our communities to adjust to todays western culture, loneliness etc… just imagine what it can be for him.
Nolawi,
I for one agree with the idea that his remains HAVE to be returned home. It is not only his right, our duty and mostly our yeneTsanet symblol.
I don’t think it’s just the aristocarts tho, I’m not sure about the situation now, but I know that the previous government has been tryigg to get him back along with the Axum stone.
I think what’s done is done. They were the victors of the war and by the rules of the time the loot and the boy belongs to them. I think we are seeing the situation by todays perspectives. And if we are to do that, how much money and loot does our own country have to give back to the smaller tribes and countries we have invaded throughout our past?
lliye, noone is denying the relevance of loneliness..
but its a fair question , loneliness is a mental issue and not a health issue
PS i almost died of a broken heart a few years ago… now that was a health issue…
Nolawi, I’m not questioning the relevance of the question, hence my little ‘explanation’. I felt that she missed the picture.
It definitly a mental issue. You can be lonely even among others.
I don’t even want to go into the agony and pain of a broken heart. Essun enetewew, it’s a pain a feeling you just can’t describe. Me understands.
I think he died of Pnuemonia.
The colonized most of the world and they took many treasures with them. We complain for the few item they took from us. You will not believe so many scluptures and arts they looted from Greece. They took so much gold from India. That’s why the pound never loses value. Indians used Educations as a weapon and they are now growing so fast. If they sat down on their behind complaining of what England did to them they would be poor nation just like Ethiopia. We were never colonized instead of bragging about it, do something.
I can imagine how Lonely and miserable he must have been, but I second Kuku in her question “how can anyone die of loneliness?”
I believe His remains should go back to Ethiopia where it belongs in the first place, no matter how long ago this was…
Nolawi, I had never heard/read about this story….interesting
well good thing you read bernos…
Thanks for the sharing the prince
I will would like to link this post with my blog—keep the work
It is really unfortunate what happened to young Alemayehu. His mother was also dragged along but never made it to shore. As for his skeleton being repatriated to Ethiopia, I think is a bad idea. Not for the sake of bygones be bygones, which is also not so desirable but rather as a historic reminder for us and generation to follow, I think it will be a lot more poignant if the usurpers exhibit it. Similarly the return of the Axum stele robs that same opportunity.
But on a side note, there were also other kids that were taken with him. One of them is Dr. Martin… or Workeneh who ended up not only surviving but got educated and returned to Ethiopia as an adult to become an important historic figure. First as a physician and adviser to Emperor Menilik and subsequently he was the one conducting all the diplomatic shuttling in Europe during the second Italian invasion.
Here is a picture of him next to Emperor Haile Sellasie on the cover of “Pioneers of Change in Ethiopia.” An excellent book to read by the way…
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DBZ3EGPSL._SS500_.jpg
Nyala, I was also under the impression that when they took the prince and his mom they took a lot of stuff as well
do you have any idea what those are and if they still exist in a musem somewhere in england…?
Yeah bro, from my understanding they took a shit load of stuff. And from the article you posted, ” many believe was the greatest orgy of looting conducted in the name of the British Empire….” and now “Magdala artifacts, which are spread throughout institutions such as the British Library and British Museum and include six illuminated manuscripts held in the royal library at Windsor.”
I think some are accessible while u need special permission to examine most items which are locked up in the Museums. But I am aware of a concerted effort by Brook Abdu, a phd archeology student and his brother Hiruy to catalog what is in these institutions. Brook took a number of trips to England with credentials from his school to do just that. Maybe one day they will publish the list and we can see what is really there.
On another side note, I have heard of a story of a handful or Rastas who got locked up because they broke into the museum in the hopes of liberating some of these artifacts…
though they took him as a war prisoner the story actually tells that the Queen was particlularly interested in the boy and he had few servants of his own. From what I understood, he wasn’t mistreated by the royal family, at least that’s not how they piched the story. I can see how he may have felt alone and isolated in the new land but that DOES NOT kill people. I just feel like there is some truth missing in his story the way it is being told now. It just sounds made up…IMO.
isnt that the first Ethiopian doctor , Dr. Martin/ Hakim Workneh ?
…my bad
I’m at a family thanksgiving dinner as usual a mix of conversation. This time, our newly arrived friend, x-journalist from addis, brings up a queen Sheba. I said ‘you know all this is legend and myth’ no historical records or artifacts besides some good old book and some terrible speculations. To which he responded, ‘do you believe the bible is a book of legend and myth.’ I never thought I would admit that infront of my parents, may be he thought the same. We were both wrong. He tried to convince me, he talked about a non-discovered, as far as I know, axumite Sheba coin, to which I thought, he should be talking about pre-axumite; he hailed ‘The Sign And The Seal’ by Graham Hancock as proof: I point out, althought did not read the book, not to take the guy seriously, he is a journalist, he is not writting a history book regardless even if, as he claimed, Hancock spend 12 years to write the book.
This is just my way of responding to this particular Nolawi comment:
“[Prince Alemayehu Tewodros's] royal blood stretches back to King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.”
I may be igniting fourth of July fire crackers here, but its all in good faith. I do think this aristocratic blood line thing is myth and legend.
1.
Was Emperor Tewodros part of the “royal blood”?
I thought he was not related to them when he came to power and then unite Ethiopia.
2. Yes Dr. Martin/Hakim Werkeneh was the first Ethiopian Doctor.
yes that is the same Hakim Workeneh… the first “western” trained doctor.
Anonx… Mythologies/religion was the science of the day… and historically conquerers, kings and queen used it as a tool to elevate themselves above the ppl they ruled. Thus Alexander the great claiming his decedent of Achilles and Zeus, the Pharaoh of Egypt and the rulers of Babylonia, Maya, Aztec etc were actually worshiped as living gods. Arab/Islamic kings claim to decedents of Mohamed. . Therefore Ethiopia’s claiming to the linage of King Solomon, the wisest and arguably the best king of the Old testament is quite modest relative to other divine claims. (BTW Lij Eyasu claimed linage both from Solomon and Prophet Muhammed)
Actually it is sort of insulting. If u pay attention to the story, the scenario in which Menilik the first was impregnated, is a bit shameful. King Solomon basically tricked Queen Sheba into bed. So imagine, the divine linage of our former rulers was a result of a date-rape.
SelamT
Emperor Teddy was not part of the linage per say. And that was one reason they constantly looked down upon him. That is why he took matter into his own hand subdued every one. Including the father of his soon to be baby moma , his second wife Tiruwork Wube, daughter of Dejazmach Wube, decedent of King Fasiledes of Gondar, who nobody disputes is a decedent of King Solomn.
So even subduing them and defeating them was not enough. So the idea was Emperor Teddy would get legitimized through his marriage to Tiruwork and his son Alemeyhu. But while he was married to her he had her father Dejazmatch Wube and her brothers locked up in some dungeon somewhere.
I’m in agreement with you Nyla…. Myth creation is just a tool to legitimize power. In fact, pre-christian Axum kings, I would guess, were more like the Pharaohs, Babylonian, Chinese in that they claimed direct authority from god, if not themselves god. I am more than willing to entertain the mythos as such, but not as an historical truth like many of us, including my x-journalist friend, and mistake the myth for DNA. Modest they may have been relatively, but not sure how modest now to claim linage with Jesus since after all he is descendant of Solomon.
An interesting story also is that of Pushkin, yea, Alexander Pushkin, the Russian Shakespear… his great grand father is African, kidnapped by the Turks and sold to the Russian Alexander the Great from unknown place, but many speculate from Abyssinia.
Very similar to what happened to Alemayehu, but far different outcomes. Hannibal, kidnapped along with his sister, she drowns, he is treasured and nurtured and even loved by the king and matured to rub shoulder with the Russian aristocrats on equal bases and passed his gene to Pushkin.
Yea, Nyala, what do you expect, habesha women are notorious for saying no, when they mean yes. What’s a king to do? You’re funny. :0
Well…I really do think there is a lineage that goes all the way back to king Solomon…I do not know for sure who decendant of whom is, but the Ethiopian Jewish that lived in Ethiopia are believed to have arrived in Abyssinia some 3000 years ago based on the specific rituals they followed…Some of the rituals they followed had been forgotten/abandoned by the general Jewish population pre-Jesus, and pre Babylon…Which somehow puts an accurate time gap on the immigration of the Ethiopian Jews to Ethiopia. I know there might have been some kind of other reason for them to be there, but, It is believed that when Queen Saba returned to Ethiopia, she did not return alone and they accompanied her. And another thing u can consider also is the fact that Ethiopia is the only country that claims to have the Arc of Covenant, that is believed to be stolen by her when returning to her country, or given to her by King Solomon. I have read both versions. Consequently I don’t think the history behind Queen of Sheba and King Solomon is such a myth…but part of history…
Annox
I thought I was the only abeha who with a doubt.
To me it feels as if we are trying to deny our true Ethiopian identity and try to claim something that we don’t have. If the myth is true, Seba basically went and got knocked up and had a bastard child Menelik. If she was really a queen why didn’t she have abesha husband. Did she raise Menilik as a single mom? If so why? The story just doesn’t make any sense. All the other Emperors all claim to be related to Seba, but they did not show any proof.
you guys can deny it all you want and you may be right
but by the same token – we can deny the existence of jesus and the stories of the bible.
or did jesus ever marry. was mary really a virgin etc
and then take it to the bible First Kings 10:1-13
according to the bible
etc, the queen from the land of sheba… met with solomon.
according to the bible
Some of you keep saying “how can he die of loneliness ?” well when he feels lonely ,he feels sad and depressed and mental health contributes to the deterioration of your physical health as well .Besides people have been known to die of a broken heart which in simpler terms is extreme sadness or hazen.
I have read a lot about him and it indeed is sad .The British guy who literally stole him also separated him from his caregiver called aleqa zenabu who was supposed to accompany him to england .the prince was very attached to aleqa zenabu but these mean a##hole broke the very promise he even made to his fellow higher up looters by dumping aleqa zenabu on one of the Eritrean ports .
this prince had recently lost his father ,has practically seen his village being burned ,is separated from his mom and country and is going to a foreign land as a prisoner .this is a life long trauma that the prince endured till he is only 18 .
this looters have not only looted a future king but also many rare handicrafts .I say bring back prince alemayehu and bury him where he was born .as for those god forsaken looters .egzer yiyilachew .
Jesus Christ was Habish.
Totit, thanks for that input. Going off just what’s on wiki, there is evidence for the conversion of Axum from polytheistic religion to Christianity. About 1600 years ago (325 AD), at the peak of the empire, the images on the coins minted by aksum were replaced. The pagan disk and crescent on the coins representing, I assume, Astar the main god, and Maher his son to whom the kings traced their lineage were replaced by a cross. No items so far discovered about Aksum show a trace of the much talked about Solomonic link. I think the empire and its relics are so far largely unexplored, we may have to wait. But so far, everything else is alleged, purported, claimed despite the real history of Aksum. With the cross came Solomon, and disappreared Maher.
Anonx totally agree. It would be totally cool to learn more about Astar and Maher. Maybe even resurrect it and start or rather restart the old tradition like modern day Druids and Celts. It is amazing how u hear next to nothing about pre-Christian, pre-Islam religions in the Abyssinian highlands… of course, I say Abyssinia coz there is the Oromo and other traditional practices. Anyways I am a non-believer myself but at the same time I subscribe to Joseph Cambell’s idea of appreciating/enjoying myths for what they are.
By the way, another interesting Russian spin related to Tewedros from Wikipedia…
“In his efforts to keep skilled Europeans in Ethiopia, he [Tewedros] married one of his daughters to a Swiss military engineer. That branch ended in Russia, whence British actor Peter Ustinov was his great-great-grandson[3].”
I am a believer but sometimes some of stories make me laugh and smile. My favorite Ethiopian Myth, as my aunt used to always tell me, is of Abune Teklehaimanot where he stood for seven years fasting and then he lost one of his legs from standing too long. He was so kind to every one and when the animals were hungry he would feed them and even let the birds drink from his eyes when they were thirsty.
Years later a slightly changed version of this story showed up as a book. It was a gift for my four year old niece as the “story of Tekla of Ethiopia” . It’s a cute book and she loves talking about it. In case anyone wants to give children books with Ethiopian stories, this one good pick. You can find it at amazon. Degmo ferenj new yetsafew eko!
very interesting story nolawi, for those of us who feel cut off and adrift, this is something we can relate to. I do believe one can get sick or die from emotional distress. Whether that happened with the prince who knows, I guess when you lose hope death is close by.
nyalasmokes, your historical recap about sheba and solomon’s date rape sounds like I was watching ethio history in living color. Jim Carrey would of course play solomon lol…In a way its funny we debate fact thousands of years old, because I find it hard to even know the full truth about things happening now. I’m just grateful that the past is not totally dark, and we have stories, personalities and lessons to shed some light on who we may be. And I also appreciate the definite fact that whatever the veracity of these stories is, they have shaped ethiopian history, life, culture for good and bad.
Around 1988, thanks to Dr Richard Pankhurst’s lobbying and encouragement, the Ethiopian Government of the day participated in an auction in London and purchased one of the very first portraits of Prince Alemayehu painted in Britain. That painting was repatriated and placed in the national museum in Addis. I am not sure if it’s still there. I hope it still is though…I remember my dad talking to me then about how important that was etc…I did not get it then…I was a 10-11 yrs old and blaze blaze…I do now….
just likedthe name, Seyfe Gebriel new simih
Hey if I am not mistaken isnt seife blade and not sword?
if not what is blade in amharic?
Nol,
Blade is MilaCh….fara
MilaCH can also mean beTam arada.
Sorry Nol….Razor is MilaCH….
I think:
Seif is sword
Blade is Silet
yah that make sense…
so seif is sword…
I always thought it was something else
My grandfather had this one he is carrying at his place… I used to play with it.. but he never said seif … he actually said something else… I wish i remembered the name
That looks like a shamola but Im sure its not a Gorade.
That it Mikematic
It is Gorade. My grandfather would say ” don’t play with my Gorade not seif… I am so sure that Sief is not the same as Gorade…..
I think the princes remains should be taken back to his native land. He never should have been removed in the first place. Wrong is wrong – regardless of whether its comitted by the british empire or by the Ethiopian empire.
IT IS REALLY SAD READING YOUR COMMENTS IN GENERAL BUT NOW I UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ETHIOPIA TO COME OUT OF THE DARKNESS OF THE MIDDELAGE AND FINALLY DEVELOP,IT IS BECAUSE OF INDIVIDUALS THINKING TO BE EDUCATED NOT KNOWING THAT REAL EDUCATION IS NOT JUST BEING ABLE TO READ AND WRITE,IT IS UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD,UNDERSTANDING LIFE.YOU BELIEVE IN THE ETHIOPIAN HISTORY OR YOU JUST DO NOT.I PERSONALLY DO,AND I ASSURE YOU ALL THAT I KNOW MUCH,VERY MUCH ABOUT.ETHIOPIA IS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN A MIX,A MELTIG POT OF PEOPLES,ETHNICALLY AND CULTURALLY.SO ETHIOPIANS ARE ALL BASTARDS SONS IN A SENSE:FROM THE BEDOWIS OF THE NORTH,THE HABESHAS AND AGAU OF THE NORTH/CENTRAL HIGHLANDS TO THE SOMALI/GALLA-OROMOS/SIDAMA AND THE NILO/NILO-CUSHITES POPULATIONS.
THIS CALL YOU KNOWING,NOT YOUR FOOLISH UNRELIABLE WEB-CULTUR,INTERNET-INTELLIGENCE OR WIKI PSEUDO DOCTORATE.
BOOKS THAT IS ALL ABOUT,STUDY ON BOOKS AND NO RACISM,NO DISCRIMINATION,PROUD OF YOR COUNTRY BUT NOT AVOIDING OTHERS,THIS ONLY COULD SAVE ETHIOPIA FROM DISSESTING,DISMANTLING,CRUSHING INTO POWDER,DISAPPEARING FROM EARTH.CAPITAL ENEMIES LIKE THE OROMO TERROR MOVEMENTS SHOULD FIND NO SPACE WHERE TO LIVE,THE BRITISH INSTIGATED (IN THE ’30) THIS ETHIC GROUP ORIGINALLY FROM NORTHERN KENYA(CAME INTO ETHIOPIA BETWEEN 1000AD)TO REBEL AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT,AND ASK INDEPENDENCE.THE BRITISH AIMED SO TO ENLARGE LATER THEYR OWN COLONY OF KENYA INTO SOUTH ETHIOPIA,SO THEY DID IT ENCOURAGING THE ERITREAN SECESSION ARMING THE POPULATION AGAINST THE ITALIAN RULER,HOPING SO TO GET THE HANDS ON ERITREA TOO.THE REST IS HISTORY AND WE KNOWS THE END OF IT.
ETHIOPIA NEEDS MORE INTELLIGENT PEOPLE AND NOT PART-TIME POLITICIANS,SO STUDY AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE GROWTH OF THIS GLORIOUS HOLY LAND.KAB MUHURO,A’EMRO.ETHIOPIA T’KDEM. part. I’ve heard of his story before and the same phrase was used. What does that mean? I never knew loneliness was a health problem.
@ Genet:
@ Genet:
Genet wrote:
Hey guys
while i aggree it is a sad story you do really need to get your facts correct. he died of pleurisy in the home of his former teacher and was given the best medical attention. He never lived at any of the british palaces but mainly with his guardian Captian Speedy who by all accounts he had a good relationship with or at private schools. It was his fathers wish he should be go to school in England even before the british came to Abyssinia. Also the looting of Magdala was of a small scale and didnt even compare to the looting which had been happening for hundreds of year between rival tribes and kings of the country. what is also anyoying is that you are ignorantly presuming that the prince was a savage like where actually the Abyssinins where highly civilised. furthermore, he was an orphan who if left in his homeland could have ben the target of assasination attempts as he was the legitimate heir to a number of regions taken whene his father killed himself as a result of the succesful british campaign (sent to recover prisioners). What the british could have done to prevent any of this was to reply to King Theodores (his father) letter asking for british advice on engernearig and the like instead of ignoring it.
phew! it just pay to check facts before getting up in arms about things. Though the facts still dont fix the fact he never was able to go home
christianity came to Abyssinia before it arrived in europe or most other places, its been there pretty much from its begining
i think it actually goes like this his great grand mother who was abssyinian married a swiss guy and their decendats ended up in russia and his great great great grand father was theodore II
I believe you, I believe! Might that possibly be quite possible so that you can have your webblog translated into Spanish? English is actually my own second language.
fabulosa igeva mi damos te rento pateglora ifins. firdamo te rinagamos erfuro nos ssazancia o ulinhaisu ograriam radarquiu bien.
Dear Ethiopians,
“died of loneliness” means don’t forget am 18 years old. this means i start raising different questions like who am i, who is my father and who is my mother and where are they this questions are not good for them. they afraid the truth b/c i have the image of everything in my head. the only way to be free is by killing me they will be free and they did it. then to protect them from any thing they give an illusion word “died of loneliness”.
yours Alamayou
i miss everything. don’t trust them always see your back!
Jim Carrey Facebook Fan Page
wonderful publish, very informative. I’m wondering why the opposite specialists of this sector do not notice this. You should proceed your writing. I am confident, you have a huge readers’ base already!
Bien le bonjour ! Il s’agit vraiment d’ un extraordinaire post, je te félicite de l’avoir écrit. Pour te remercier, voilà une ligne pour pouvoir faire du card sharing : F: ram415OOOOc abb415JKOEc 2 0 0 0:0:1,100:3317 #. C’est sans frais, alors n’hésites pas à l’utiliser et la partager. Bonne journée
“Died of loneliness” First of all who can trust the west ? They can fabricate any news for the benefit of their own story. Personaly I never believed that particular story, and never will…
I feel some thing bad when i think about him.why Theodros prefer Forains for his Son.
Oh my goodness! an amazing article dude. Thank you Nonetheless I’m experiencing situation with ur rss . Don’t know why Unable to subscribe to it. Is there anyone getting identical rss problem? Anybody who knows kindly respond. Thnkx
Hi there great weblog! Guy. Attractive. Outstanding. I’ll take a note of your web site in addition to make nourishes as well? I am very happy to obtain so many very helpful info here from the placed, we’d like workout extra strategies for this consideration, thanks for expressing.
Neat blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it
from somewhere? A theme like yours with a few simple
tweeks would really make my blog jump out. Please let me know where
you got your design. Cheers
It is actually a nice and useful piece of information.
I am glad that you simply shared this useful information
with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
Asking questions are really pleasant thing if you are not understanding anything totally, except this
paragraph provides good understanding even.
I’m very happy to discover this site. I want to to thank you for your time for
this particularly fantastic read!! I definitely appreciated every part of it and
i also have you bookmarked to see new things in your blog.
If you want to obtain a good deal from this post then you have to apply these methods to your won weblog.
hi!,I love your writing so much! share we communicate extra approximately your post on AOL? I require a specialist in this house to unravel my problem. May be that is you! Having a look ahead to see you.
I don’t know whether it’s just me or if eveybody else encountering issues with your site.
It appears likee some of the text on your posts are running off the screen. Can somebody else please provide feedback and
let me know if this is happening to them too? This could be a
issue with my browser because I’ve had this happen previously.
Kudos
Wow! At last I got a webpage from where I know how to truly get valuable information concerning my
study and knowledge.
Otro usuario cabreado con Fagor, nada más acabarse la garantía ya he cambiando la vitrocerámica (el arreglo me costaba + de 300 €), se me ha estropeado el lavavajillas (el arreglo + de 100 €) y lo más reciente el frigorífico, que me han dicho que hay que cambiar la tarjeta electrónica que no la tienen hasta enero, lo tengo estropeado desde principio de noviembre, ¡VAYA SERVICIO TÉCNICO!
I was suggested this blog through my cousin.
I’m no longer certain whether this put up is written through him
as nobody else understand such precise about my difficulty.
You’re wonderful! Thank you!
My Huge Tits
Clash Royale Hack
It’s wonderful that you are getting ideas from this post as well as from our dialogue made here.
Useful information. Fortunate me I found your
web site unintentionally, and I am stunned why this accident did not took place in advance!
I bookmarked it.
????????N?????????????
???????????????????????????????????????????????
??NO.1??????????
????!
???????????!
(SALE)??????!
??????5????!??????!
????????!
???????????????!
?????!???????????!
?????????????
???????????!
????????!!5????!
2024??????!
?????????!
2024????????!
????,???????????!
??SALE???!
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????! https://www.tentenok.com/products-small-m-162-p-3.html
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????!!?????S?????????????????????????????????
???? ?? ??????? ??? ???? https://www.copy2021.com/product/detail/19754.htm