XIXᵉ siècle – XIXᵉ siècle
Ethiopia
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The British Expedition to Magdala was a military intervention undertaken after Emperor Téwodros II detained British officials, missionaries and other Europeans. Led by Sir Robert Napier, an Anglo-Indian force landed at Zulla, crossed Ethiopia with regional cooperation and defeated Téwodros’s army at Arogé. The expedition captured Magdala, secured the release of the prisoners and withdrew after destroying the fortress.
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Le récit
The expedition arose from a prolonged crisis between Britain and Téwodros II. The emperor’s detention of Cameron, Rassam, missionaries and other foreigners was intended to force Britain to provide technical specialists and equipment. British officials first considered satisfying his requests, but the continued imprisonment of the captives and their transfer toward Magdala transformed the dispute into what British representatives described as a grave outrage.
In July 1867 Britain decided on military intervention. The force was led by Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Napier, Commander-in-Chief of the Bombay Army, and consisted of approximately 12,000 fighting men, two-thirds of them Indian. The expedition landed at Zulla in October rather than Massawa, which the text explains would have been defended by the Ottoman Empire. Its inland advance met no opposition, while Dajazmach Kassa of Tigré cooperated and Waghshum Gobasé and Menelik of Shoa were sympathetic.
Téwodros prepared to make his final stand at Magdala, nearly the only place still under his control. The principal battle took place at Arogé, below Magdala, on Good Friday, 10 April. British troops inflicted heavy casualties on the Ethiopian army, whose artillery was untried and ineffective in battle.
Napier issued an ultimatum offering Téwodros honourable treatment if he submitted to Queen Victoria and delivered the Europeans to the British camp. The emperor refused the humiliation but released the principal prisoners after the battle. He offered a large peace gift of cattle and sheep, yet Napier rejected it, interpreting the gesture as insufficient to end the conflict.
The British assaulted Magdala on 13 April 1868. Téwodros’s forces possessed muzzle-loaders, matchlocks, cannon and locally made brass mortars, but the defenders did not use this arsenal effectively. Téwodros dismissed his followers and killed himself when defeat became unavoidable. The expedition had achieved its immediate objective: the captives were released and the British force could prepare to depart.
The expedition did not intend to remain in Ethiopia. Before withdrawing, British troops destroyed Magdala fortress and most of its cannon, removed Téwodros’s son Alamayehu and took approximately four hundred manuscripts. They also rewarded Kassa of Tigré with heavy guns, muskets and ammunition, matériel that later influenced the struggle for political supremacy in Ethiopia.
XIXᵉ siècle – XIXᵉ siècle
Ethiopia
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The British Expedition to Magdala was a military intervention undertaken after Emperor Téwodros II detained British officials, missionaries and other Europeans. Led by Sir Robert Napier, an Anglo-Indian force landed at Zulla, crossed Ethiopia with regional cooperation and defeated Téwodros’s army at Arogé. The expedition captured Magdala, secured the release of the prisoners and withdrew after destroying the fortress.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
The expedition arose from a prolonged crisis between Britain and Téwodros II. The emperor’s detention of Cameron, Rassam, missionaries and other foreigners was intended to force Britain to provide technical specialists and equipment. British officials first considered satisfying his requests, but the continued imprisonment of the captives and their transfer toward Magdala transformed the dispute into what British representatives described as a grave outrage.
In July 1867 Britain decided on military intervention. The force was led by Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Napier, Commander-in-Chief of the Bombay Army, and consisted of approximately 12,000 fighting men, two-thirds of them Indian. The expedition landed at Zulla in October rather than Massawa, which the text explains would have been defended by the Ottoman Empire. Its inland advance met no opposition, while Dajazmach Kassa of Tigré cooperated and Waghshum Gobasé and Menelik of Shoa were sympathetic.
Téwodros prepared to make his final stand at Magdala, nearly the only place still under his control. The principal battle took place at Arogé, below Magdala, on Good Friday, 10 April. British troops inflicted heavy casualties on the Ethiopian army, whose artillery was untried and ineffective in battle.
Napier issued an ultimatum offering Téwodros honourable treatment if he submitted to Queen Victoria and delivered the Europeans to the British camp. The emperor refused the humiliation but released the principal prisoners after the battle. He offered a large peace gift of cattle and sheep, yet Napier rejected it, interpreting the gesture as insufficient to end the conflict.
The British assaulted Magdala on 13 April 1868. Téwodros’s forces possessed muzzle-loaders, matchlocks, cannon and locally made brass mortars, but the defenders did not use this arsenal effectively. Téwodros dismissed his followers and killed himself when defeat became unavoidable. The expedition had achieved its immediate objective: the captives were released and the British force could prepare to depart.
The expedition did not intend to remain in Ethiopia. Before withdrawing, British troops destroyed Magdala fortress and most of its cannon, removed Téwodros’s son Alamayehu and took approximately four hundred manuscripts. They also rewarded Kassa of Tigré with heavy guns, muskets and ammunition, matériel that later influenced the struggle for political supremacy in Ethiopia.
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