The Prince and the Plunder

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

Category: Manuscripts

Captain James’ letter from the emperor

Published February 26, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: A letter from Emperor Tewodros

Where: Unknown – last seen in Bombay

This was exhibited along with other Magdala plunder at a meeting of the Bombay branch of the Royal Asiatic Society in August 1868.

According to the minutes of that meeting:

Dr. Wilson exhibited the following articles :

  1. An original letter of the Emperor Theodorus addressed to the commandant of Magdala , and found by Captain James on the destruction of that fort. It is neatly written in the Ethiopic character and Amharic language, and bears the royal seal. It relates to the late Coptic Abuna of Abyssinia , and contains the cruel order to allow that ecclesiastical dignitary to die without any attempt to seek his recovery.
  2. A copy neatly written on parchment of a large Amharic work, the Gadela Georgios, or History of St. George and the Dragon, with tolerably well executed coloured drawings of various Christian Martyrs, male and female. This curious work also belongs to Captain James of the Bombay Staff Corps.
  3. A copy of the Gospel of John in Amharic, written on parchment, and presented to Dr. Wilson by Mr. Mikhail Joseph , one of the interpreters of the Abyssinian force.
Posted In Letters | Manuscripts | The Plunder
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Captain James’ Life of St George, last seen in Bombay

Published February 26, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: A manuscript of a life of St George with drawings of various martyrs

Where: Unknown – last seen in Bombay

This was exhibited along with other Magdala plunder at a meeting of the Bombay branch of the Royal Asiatic Society in August 1868.

According to the minutes of that meeting:

Dr. Wilson exhibited the following articles :

  1. An original letter of the Emperor Theodorus addressed to the commandant of Magdala , and found by Captain James on the destruction of that fort. It is neatly written in the Ethiopic character and Amharic language, and bears the royal seal. It relates to the late Coptic Abuna of Abyssinia , and contains the cruel order to allow that ecclesiastical dignitary to die without any attempt to seek his recovery.
  2. A copy neatly written on parchment of a large Amharic work, the Gadela Georgios, or History of St. George and the Dragon, with tolerably well executed coloured drawings of various Christian Martyrs, male and female. This curious work also belongs to Captain James of the Bombay Staff Corps.
  3. A copy of the Gospel of John in Amharic, written on parchment, and presented to Dr. Wilson by Mr. Mikhail Joseph , one of the interpreters of the Abyssinian force.
Posted In Acts & miracles of the saints | Manuscripts
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The interpreter’s Gospel of St John last seen in Bombay

Published February 26, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: An Ethiopian manuscript of the Gospel of St John

Where: Unknown – last seen in Bombay

This was exhibited along with other Magdala plunder at a meeting of the Bombay branch of the Royal Asiatic Society in August 1868.

According to the minutes of that meeting:

Dr. Wilson exhibited the following articles :

  1. An original letter of the Emperor Theodorus addressed to the commandant of Magdala , and found by Captain James on the destruction of that fort. It is neatly written in the Ethiopic character and Amharic language, and bears the royal seal. It relates to the late Coptic Abuna of Abyssinia , and contains the cruel order to allow that ecclesiastical dignitary to die without any attempt to seek his recovery.
  2. A copy neatly written on parchment of a large Amharic work, the Gadela Georgios, or History of St. George and the Dragon, with tolerably well executed coloured drawings of various Christian Martyrs, male and female. This curious work also belongs to Captain James of the Bombay Staff Corps.
  3. A copy of the Gospel of John in Amharic, written on parchment, and presented to Dr. Wilson by Mr. Mikhail Joseph , one of the interpreters of the Abyssinian force.
Posted In Biblical books | Manuscripts | The Plunder
Tagged

Prayer scroll ‘from King Theodore’s House’

Published February 26, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: Length of parchment with Coptic writing in black ink. “From King Theodore’s House”.

Where: Perth Museum & Art Gallery, 78 George St, Perth PH1 5LB

Sources

Listed in, the “Catalogue of the Ethnographic Collection: Oceania, America, Africa, Perth Museum & Art Gallery” by Dale Idiens, Curator of Ethnography

Museum ref:
1000 Prayer scroll, Ethiopia
1540 x 78        1979.1606

Posted In Scrolls | The Plunder
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A 19th century manuscript with a Chronographic work and treatise on astronomy (OR 816)

Published February 26, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: A 19th century Ethiopian manuscript with a Chronographic work and treatise on astronomy, with charts

Where: The British Library, 96 Euston Rd, London NW1 2DB

Ref: OR 816
Digital version – http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Or_816

Provenance:
Stamped inside cover: “Presented by the Secretary of State for India Aug. 1868”
Listed as part of the “Magdala collection” in William Wright’s Catalogue of the Ethiopic manuscripts in the British Museum acquired since the year 1847

Posted In Historical, legal, medical & other | Manuscripts | The Plunder
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