Repatriation of the ‘Stolen’ Prince Alemayehu of Abyssinia

The British, like many other western countries, have always had a fascination with all things Africa. This was usually in the forms of stolen items during colonialism, looting of holy and significant pieces during battles or in this case, a child.
Ethiopia or Abyssinia during that time, proudly stood as the lone wolf of never being colonized by any European countries along with Liberia across the continent. Having Abyssinian relics in Europe would not make sense. So how did Abyssinian monuments and a prince, end up in England?

The battle of Magdala in 1868 was the price Abyssinia had to pay for having British nationals as hostages. The British responded by planning months long trip with a 13,000 strong army. With defeat looming, Emperor Tewodros II, rather than surrendering to the British, committed suicide. His 7-year-old son, Prince Alemayehu, was brought along with looted items from the emperor’s fortress.
Prince Alemayehu was put under the guardianship of Captain Speedy, who had escorted the prince to England. Educated in the best schools, yet unhappy, the prince died at the mere age of 18 from pleurisy in 1879.
Ethiopia has requested, various times his remains to be buried in his homeland. He is buried at the request of Queen Victoria, at George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. They have been denied the request as Buckingham Palace spokesperson said:

It is very unlikely that it would be possible to exhume the remains without disturbing the resting place of a substantial number of others in the vicinity,”

Conscious of the responsibility to preserve the dignity of the departed it is therefore, with regret, not possible to agree to the request, but in recent years we have accommodated requests from Ethiopian delegations to visit St. George’s and will continue to do so.

H.E. Dr Hirut Kassaw, Minister of culture and tourism, visited St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, the resting place of Prince Alemayehu, 2019.

On the same trip, Ethiopia was presented from the National Army Museum in London, Emperor Tewodros II’s hair in a ceremonial handover to the Minister herself. This was a major first step in Ethiopia’s plight for repatriation from the 1868 battle. The Minister appealed on the remains of the prince so that he could be “reunited with his father’s remains and with the people of Ethiopia” and to pass the request to “all concerned bodies so that it could be addressed as soon as possible.”

Minister Hirut Kassaw, received the human remains in a box covered with the Ethiopian flag from the Museum’s Director, Brigadier Justin Maciejewski.

On the 21th September, Ethiopia was once more, a milestone when the Ethiopian Ambassador the UK, Teferi Melesse, received the lock of Prince Alemayehu’s hair. This came along with other prized possessions such as three silver cups with bronze plating, a shield and one of importance to the Orthodox church, a Holy Tabot from the Fortress of emperor Tewodros II.

The hair had been with Captain Speedy and it was a descendent of his, that donated back after discovering among the family heirloom. She is quoted as saying;  “I felt Prince Alemayehu’s hair was a long way from home.”

The sacred tabot, covered in an elaborate cloth beneath a silver parasol, is paraded around the church of St Mary of Debre Tsion in Battersea, southwest London

Ethiopia hopes to have the history of Magdala repatriated as they appeal to government bodies but also private collectors that may have inherited it.

A big celebration for Ethiopia, it remains to be seen if the prince will ever be returned to his homeland or remain behind, like all other artifacts kept in British museums or family heirlooms.

References in order of appearance:

Ethiopia’s Prince Alemayehu: Buckingham Palace rejects calls to return royal’s body 2023.  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-65588663.

Buckingham Palace explains why it won’t return the remains of an Ethiopian Prince

https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2023/05/buckingham-palace-wont-return-the-remains-of-an-ethiopian-prince.

Ethiopian Prince Alemayehu’s lock of hair returned after 140 years in UK

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66887597.

Sacred Ethiopian tablet looted by the British at the battle of Maqdala 155 years ago is returned in London church service

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/09/25/sacred-ethopian-tablet-looted-by-the-british-at-siege-of-maqdala-155-years-ago-is-returned-in-london-service.