The Prince and the Plunder

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

Author: Andrew Heavens

Napier’s leopard skin cape, ‘taken at Magdala’

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

What: An “Abyssinian warrior’s leopard skin cape” that was presented to Robert Napier, the commander of the British force.

Where: The Royal Engineers Museum, Prince Arthur Rd, Gillingham ME7 1UR

The catalogue entry publishes five pictures of what it describes as an “Abyssinian warrior’s leopard skin cape comprising of a central section which is highly decorated with gold cylindrical elements and stylised floral metal elements around the collar”. It says there is a silver badge attached that reads: “Taken at Magdala April 13th 1868. Presented to Lord Napier at Magdala by Her Majesty’s Government.”

Details
Object number: 1203.2.4
Dimensions: 920 mm, 400 mm

Posted In Armour & apparel | Military | The Plunder
Tagged

Processional cross

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

What: Processional cross

Where: Lancaster Priory, Priory Close, Lancaster, LA1 1YZ

One of four processional crosses taken from Magdala by The King’s Own Royal Regiment. They were put on display in The King’s Own Regimental Memorial Chapel in Lancaster Priory.

According to this archived page on the chapel’s website which has a picture of two of the crosses:

“In Abyssinia [now Ethiopia] in 1868 the Regiment recovered four Coptic Crosses from a heap of scrap brass awaiting recycling into guns at an arsenal at Magdala. The crosses probably date from the 4th or 5th century.

“The largest of these is used as a processional cross. The only [known] other one used for this purpose is in Westminster Abbey. Two smaller crosses are on display in this Chapel.

“Illustrations on the crosses are simple engravings of Gospel stories, including the Nativity, Crucifixion, the Deposition and Resurrection.”

Posted In Crosses | Sacred artefacts | The Plunder
Tagged

Processional cross

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

What: Processional cross

Where: Lancaster Priory, Priory Close, Lancaster, LA1 1YZ

One of four processional crosses taken from Magdala by The King’s Own Royal Regiment. They were put on display in The King’s Own Regimental Memorial Chapel in Lancaster Priory.

According to this archived page on the chapel’s website which has a picture of two of the crosses:

“In Abyssinia [now Ethiopia] in 1868 the Regiment recovered four Coptic Crosses from a heap of scrap brass awaiting recycling into guns at an arsenal at Magdala. The crosses probably date from the 4th or 5th century.

“The largest of these is used as a processional cross. The only [known] other one used for this purpose is in Westminster Abbey. Two smaller crosses are on display in this Chapel.

“Illustrations on the crosses are simple engravings of Gospel stories, including the Nativity, Crucifixion, the Deposition and Resurrection.”

Posted In Crosses | Sacred artefacts
Tagged

Processional cross

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

What: Processional cross

Where: Lancaster Priory, Priory Close, Lancaster, LA1 1YZ

One of four processional crosses taken from Magdala by The King’s Own Royal Regiment. They were put on display in The King’s Own Regimental Memorial Chapel in Lancaster Priory.

According to this archived page on the chapel’s website which has a picture of two of the crosses:

“In Abyssinia [now Ethiopia] in 1868 the Regiment recovered four Coptic Crosses from a heap of scrap brass awaiting recycling into guns at an arsenal at Magdala. The crosses probably date from the 4th or 5th century.

“The largest of these is used as a processional cross. The only [known] other one used for this purpose is in Westminster Abbey. Two smaller crosses are on display in this Chapel.

“Illustrations on the crosses are simple engravings of Gospel stories, including the Nativity, Crucifixion, the Deposition and Resurrection.”

Posted In Crosses | Sacred artefacts
Tagged