The Prince and the Plunder

A book on how Britain took one boy and piles of treasures from Ethiopia

Category: Military

Theodore’s sword and scabbard

Published June 18, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: A hunting sword and scabbard, said to belong to the emperor, presented to Major-General Sinclair by Queen Victoria

Where: The Royal Armouries Collection, Armouries Dr, Leeds LS10 1LT

The database entry includes close-up photos, showing an engraving that reads: “The sword of King Theodore of Abyssinia Presented to Major-General Sinclair R.A.M.C. by Her Majesty Queen Victoria”.

Bibliographic References
F. Wilkinson, ‘A royal sword?’, Royal Armouriesd Yearbook, 4, 199, pp. 80-85, incl. fig. 2 (sword and scabbard, overall), figs 3, 4 & 5 (dets resp. of maker’s name, blade and inscription on scabbard locket).

Details:
Date: 1831-1870
Object Number: IX.1291

Provenance
Transferred from Hove Museum 3 April 1956.

Other Ethiopian items in the collection that are not specifically labelled as coming from Magdala:

Posted In Military | Said to belong to Tewodros | The Plunder | Weapons
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Emperor’s shield collected by Speedy

Published June 18, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: A shield said to belong to Emperor Tewodros and “collected” on the expedition by intelligence officer Captain Speedy.

Where: The British Museum, Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG

The catalogue entry includes a picture and describes a “composite shield, circular, of leather with elaborate metal ornamentation all over the front”. It adds: “Said to be King Theodore’s shield. See also Af1912,0410.28.”

Details
Museum number Af1939,09.1
Height: 51 cm
Width: 51 cm
Depth: 15 cm
Acquisition notes Collected by Capt.T.C.Speedy in Abyssinia during British Expedition, 1867-68.
Donated by: Mrs Henry Perrin Previous owner/ex-collection: Tewodros II, Emperor of Ethiopia Previous owner/ex-collection: Capt Tristram C S Speedy
Acquisition date: 1939

Posted In Military | Said to belong to Tewodros | Shields | The Plunder
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Water jug made from gauntlet ‘acquired during the assault and capture of Magdala’

Published June 18, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: A water jug made from a gauntlet “worn by a Chief who was disarmed by Captain Stanley de B Edwardes DAQMG at the Capture of Magdala”

Where: The National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 4HT

The database entry includes a picture and describes a “water jug made from a gauntlet acquired by Captain Stanley de Burgh Edwardes during the assault and capture of Magdala, Abyssinia, 1868. Silver, made in Abyssinia and India, 1868.”

The base is inscribed with: “Abyssinian Expedition the body of this jug was a gauntlet worn by a Chief who was disarmed by Captain Stanley de B Edwardes DAQMG at the Capture of Magdala Abyssinia on Easter Sunday, 1868′.

The database says General Sir Stanley de Burgh Edwardes (1840-1918) served as Deputy-Assistant-Quarter-Master-General during the Abyssinian Expedition and participated in the assault and capture of Magdala.

NAM Accession Number
NAM. 1957-06-24-1

Posted In Armour & apparel | Military | The Plunder
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Dhal Shield ‘captured’ during the campaign

Published June 18, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: A “Dhal shield” made of dished hide and metal believed to have been captured in the Abyssinian Campaign

Where: The National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 4HT

The database entry: describes a “Dhal shield, 1867-1868; made of dished hide and metal; four brass bosses, four crescents and decoratively shaped brass plaques; believed to have been captured in the Abyssinian Campaign (King Theodore) by Col C F James.

Museum accession number
Armour 1959-10-75

Posted In Military | Shields | The Plunder
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Matchlock gun

Published June 18, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: Matchlock gun inlaid with brass and ivory, taken by the British Museum’s expert on the expedition, Richard Rivington Holmes

Where: The British Museum, Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG

Provenance: Maqdala referenced at length in the museum’s acquisition notes.

The catalogue entry reads: “Matchlock gun (with octagonal barrel); wood (?) stock inlaid with brass and ivory.”

Details
Museum number Af1868,1001.27
Previous owner/ex-collection: Sir Richard Rivington Holmes
Acquisition date: 1868

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Shotel sword and sheath

Published June 18, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: A shotel sword and sheath taken by the British Museum’s expert on the expedition, Richard Rivington Holmes

Where: The British Museum, Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG

Provenance: Maqdala referenced at length in the museum’s acquisition notes.

The catalogue entry reads:

“Shotel forged from iron with sickle shaped blade, carved wood hilt and circular, domed, cast [?] brass pommel. The pommel is attached to the hilt by a central iron nail.”

“Sheath for shotel made of leather, decorated on the outer surfaces with a layer of red saffian leather tooled with linear decorations. The sheath is stitched centrally along one side with leather thread using a herring bone stitch. The top edge of the opening is decorated with leather whip stitching. A leather belt with a large metal buckle is stitched to the top of the sheath with decorative green leather overstitching and bands of red leather. The pin of the buckle is engraved with a cruciform decorations.”

Details
Museum number: Af1868,1001.28.a and Af1868,1001.28.b
Date: 19thC
Previous owner/ex-collection: Sir Richard Rivington Holmes
Acquisition date: 1868

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