The Siege of Magdala

The narrative centers on the 1867-68 military campaign initiated by the British Indian Army, prompted by a diplomatic dispute between Ethiopian Emperor Tewodros II and Queen Victoria. With a vast force and numerous journalists and artists accompanying them, the British aimed to rescue hostages from the fortress of Magdala. The campaign, marked by the annihilation of the Ethiopian army and the seizure of treasures, is framed as a significant humanitarian intervention. Volker Matthies provides a comprehensive account, incorporating Ethiopian sources to offer a balanced perspective on this overlooked conflict and its implications for Afro-European relations.