1840s–1868: (Tewodros — The Provincial Renegade from Qwara Who Ended the Age of the Princes in 1855, Attempted to Modernize Ethiopia Through Land Reform, Chu…

1840s–1868: (Tewodros — The Provincial Renegade from Qwara Who Ended the Age of the Princes in 1855, Attempted to Modernize Ethiopia Through Land Reform, Church Reform, and European-Style Artillery, Perceived Islam as Christian Ethiopia’s Ancient Enemy, Lost Control of Tigray by the Early 1860s, and Shot Himself at Magdala Rather Than Fall into British Hands in 1868): Violent regionalism was brought to an end by a young provincial renegade from the district of Qwara, Kassa, who in the 1840s built a reputation as an inspirational leader. Renaming himself Tewodros and claiming the Solomonic inheritance, he had himself proclaimed emperor in 1855, ending the Zemene Mesafint. He achieved greater unity across central and northern Ethiopia than had been possible for a century, though much of his reign was spent suppressing insurrection. Tewodros attempted to regularize land tenure and taxation, clip the wings of an over-powerful Orthodox Church, and instill professionalism in his army. He envisioned transforming Ethiopia into an industrial, commercial power based on his understanding of what made Europe great, welcoming European expertise for modernizing his army — largely through unsuccessful artillery imports. He perceived Islam as Christian Ethiopia’s ancient enemy and demanded the restoration of the Eritrean coast. By the early 1860s, regional rebellion was commonplace, and by 1866–1867 his domain had shrunk to an area around the fortress of Magdala. Irritated by a perceived slight from Queen Victoria — a reply to his letter had not arrived — he imprisoned several Europeans. In 1867–1868 Britain dispatched an army at a cost of nine million pounds, which landed at the Gulf of Zula, marched into the highlands, and defeated Tewodros’s dwindling forces. The emperor shot himself rather than fall into British hands. The British withdrew, taking Tewodros’s young son Alemayu with them; the boy died mysteriously in England in 1879.