Britain’s forces grabbed hundreds of Ethiopian manuscripts during their raid on Maqdala in 1868, brought them home and dropped most of them off with a massive thump at the door of the British Museum. Over the years, the volumes moved on to the British Library and a few other institutions across Europe and the United States.
This page is an attempt to bring all the books back together again more than 150 years after they were dispersed. It builds on the work of Rita Pankhurst who started reassembling the emperor’s looted library in 1973. Each volume is listed below by its type and current location, with a link to its page on this site that includes links to other material and, often, full digital scans. It’s only when you see them all strung out like this down a page that you realise how many were taken.
The vast majority of the manuscripts listed here were looted from Maqdala – the evidence is there to see in inscriptions, catalogue entries and contemporary accounts. A minority, where the evidence is less certain – or which were or could have been “obtained” in other ways at other points on the march – are marked with asterisks.
It is always best to leave some room for caution. Soldiers and museums may have exaggerated their tales of battlefield pillage to try and boost the value of their artefacts. Balancing out those possible elaborations are the scores of Ethiopian manuscripts that entered British collections from 1868 onwards without any documentation on where they came from. Many of those are unacknowledged plunder.
Those are not listed here because of lack of evidence. But universities and libraries should take a closer look at their collections. William Wright, the author of a catalogue of Ethiopian manuscripts in the British Museum, estimated at least 500 Maqdala volumes came to Britain in 1868. This list has identified about 400, excluding the scrolls. So a fifth of Tewodros’s missing library is still unaccounted for.
This largely uses the titles and categories used by British libraries. Please share any corrections or suggestions in the comments section at the bottom.
(A) Biblical books (74)
The Afrika Museum, the Netherlands (1)
The Four Gospels from Amba Maryam *
The Austrian National Library (1)
An illustrated 15th century manuscript of the Four Gospels given to Austria by Napier (Ath. 25)
The Bodleian Library, University of Oxford (3)
A manuscript of Job, Proverbs and other Old Testament books (MS. 36)
A manuscript including the Four Gospels, possible late 15th century (MS. 40) *
A damaged manuscript of the Gospels, possibly 15th century (MS. 41) *
The British Library (55)
A manuscript of The Octateuch, meant for Tewodros’s new church (OR 480)
A manuscript including The Octateuch, Gospels and ecclesiastical works (OR 481)
A manuscript including The Octateuch and the properties of the elements (OR 482)
A manuscript including The Octateuch, Samuel and Kings (OR 483)
A manuscript including the Book of Enoch, the Octateuch and other books (OR 484)
A 16th century manuscript including “The Book of Jubilees” and Enoch (OR 485)
A manuscript including Enoch and other books (OR 486)
Including the books of Samuel and Kings as well as lists of books and clergy (OR 487)
A manuscript including Samuel and Kings with a drawing of an angel (OR 488)
A manuscript dated 1730 containing The Books of Chronicles and other works (OR 489)
Manuscript including lessons from the Old and New Testaments (OR 490)
The Book of Enoch, Job, and the 12 Minor Prophets (OR 491)
The Book of Enoch and a list of those who ruled over the Jews (OR 492)
The Psalms and other Old Testament books (OR 493)
Manuscript including Old Testament Books, a list of alphabets and part of the Koran (OR 494)
The Song of Songs including a gloss in Amharic (OR 495)
A 17th century manuscript including Job and other books (OR 496)
The Book of Job and the 12 Minor Prophets (OR 497)
Manuscript including Daniel, Job, minor prophets and some writing exercises (OR 498)
A manuscript including Ecclesiasticus, or the Wisdom of Jesus the son of Sirach (OR 499)
A manuscript of The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus (OR 500)
A 15th century manuscript of Isaiah, The Ascension of Isaiah, and the 12 Minor Prophets (OR 501)
Isaiah, The Ascension of Isaiah and the 12 Minor Prophets (OR 502)
Manuscript including an “exposition of the beauty of created things” (OR 503)
A manuscript including Ezekiel, Jeremiah and the four books of Esdras (OR 504)
Manuscript including the Book of Maccabees (OR 505)
Manuscript including the Book of Maccabees (OR 506)
A 15th Century manuscript of The Four Gospels (OR 507)
The Four Gospels including other writings and many illustrations (OR 508)
The four Gospels, including fine illustrations (OR 509)
The four Gospels, dated 1664-1665, with 153 drawings (OR 510)
A manuscript including the Gospels and calendars (OR 511)
The four Gospels “slightly injured by water” (OR 512)
The Gospels with a list of a church’s furniture and books (OR 513)
The Gospels (OR 514)
The Gospels with portraits of the evangelists (OR 515)
The Gospels with a picture of St George slaying the dragon (OR 516)
The Gospels (OR 517)
The Gospels including lists of granted land (OR 518)
The Gospels (OR 519)
The Gospel of John and Miracles of Mary with many pictures (OR 520)
A manuscript including the Gospel of John (OR 521)
A manuscript of Eucharistic prayers and the Gospel of John (OR 522)
A manuscript of the Gospel of John (OR 523)
A manuscript of the Gospel of John (OR 524)
A 15th century manuscript of the Gospel of John with meditations and hymns (OR 525)
A 17th century manuscript of the Epistles of St. Paul (OR 526)
Pauline Epistles, Apostolic Epistles, Acts, Revelation (OR 527)
Acts, Pauline Epistles, “much stained by water, and mutilated” (OR 528)
A 17th century Ethiopian manuscript including the Epistles of St. Paul (OR 529)
Manuscript of Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles of Paul (OR 530)
Manuscript including Epistles, Revelations and Acts (OR 531)
Manuscript including Revelation, Epistles and Acts (OR 532)
An illuminated manuscript of the Revelation of St John (OR 533)
The Gospels of Matthew and Mark, with a portrait of Emperor Tewodros (OR 733)
A 17th century manuscript including Paul’s epistles, described as taken from Maqdala (OR 13264)
Cambridge University Library (4)
A magisterial codex of Old Testament books ‘taken from King Theodore’ (Add. 1570)
A collection of Old Testament books which ‘no doubt’ came from Maqdala *
St John’s Gospel ‘taken from Theodore’s camp’ (Or. 2269)
A fine late 17th century copy of the Gospels which ‘no doubt’ came from Maqdala *
An 18th century collection of New Testament books which ‘no doubt’ came from Maqdala *
Edinburgh University Library (1)
A Bible “from King Theodore’s library” (Or.MS.655)
The John Rylands Library, Manchester (1)
Gospels with illuminated headings (No 27)
The King’s Own Royal Regiment Museum, Lancaster (1)
The King’s Own ‘Bible’ with a note mentioning Senafe, a stop on the march *
The National Library of Scotland (1)
The Gospels ‘procured’ from a church (MS.1894) *
Princeton University Library, New Jersey, USA (1)
The Four Gospels with an endnote referring to Tewodros
The Royal Collection, Britain (1)
A manuscript of the Four Gospels (RCIN 1005084)
The Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, USA (1)
Current location unknown (2)
The interpreter’s Gospel of St John last seen in Bombay
Colonel Prideaux’s gospel, collected during captivity, last seen in Calcutta *
(B) Prayers, psalms, hymns, rites and services (90)
Berlin State Library (1)
The Bodleian Library, University of Oxford (3)
A manuscript of Psalms, prayers and the Song of Songs (MS. 44)
A Psalter and other works ‘accidentally bound’ together (MS. 45) *
Including Weddase ‘Amlak: Prayers and Petitions for Seven Days of the Week (MS. 63) *
The British Library (72)
Prayers – The Arganona Wedddse and Wedddse Mariam, arranged according to the days of the week. On f. 1 a “Purchased at Goon-goona, 1 Feb. 1868. R. Holmes.” (OR 451) *
A 16th century Psalter of Christ (OR 534)
A 17th century Psalter (OR 535)
A manuscript of the Psalms, with Mazmura Dengel (OR 536)
Manuscript of the Psalms, Mazmura Krestos and the Mazmura Dengel (OR 537)
A manuscript including the Psalms and the Canticles (OR 538)
The Psalms and Canticles, hymns and prayers (OR 539)
The Psalms and Canticles, hymns and prayers (OR 540)
The Psalms, Canticles, Song of Songs, days of the week (OR 541)
The Psalms, Canticles, Song of Songs, days of the week (OR 542)
A 15th century Lectionary (OR 543)
Lectionaries for Palm Sunday and Passion Week (OR 544)
A 17th century Missal of the Ethiopian Church (OR 545)
An 18th century Missal of the Ethiopian Church (OR 546)
A late 18th century Missal of the Ethiopian Church (OR 547)
A 19th century Missal written during the reign of Tewodros, with two pages torn out (OR 548)
Including the Book of Spiritual Medicines, The Order of Celebrating Matrimony (OR 549)
Including the Book of Spiritual Medicines, The Order of Purification of an Apostate (OR 550)
A Book of the Funeral Ritual, with apparent torn page (OR 551)
A Book of the Funeral Ritual, lined with flowered silk (OR 552)
A book of the Funeral Ritual (OR 553)
A Book of the Funeral Ritual, includes Miracles of Mary (OR 554)
A book of the Funeral Ritual (OR 555)
Funeral Services in Coptic and Arabic (OR 556)
The Sa’atat, or Horologium, or Book of Hours (OR 557)
The Sa’atat, or Horologium, or Book of Hours (OR 558)
Prayers, including The Weddase ‘Amlak, or Praises of God (OR 559)
Prayers, including The Weddase ‘Amlak, or Praises of God (OR 560)
Prayers, including The Weddase ‘Amlak, or Praises of God (OR 561)
Prayers, including The Weddase ‘Amlak, or Praises of God (OR 562)
Various prayers, written during the reign of Tewodros II, includes queen’s name (OR 563)
Prayers, including to Mary and against enemies and haters (OR 564)
Prayers including of the blessed Virgin Mary on mount Golgotha (OR 565)
A manuscript with prayers, charms and incantations (OR 566)
An 18th Ethiopian collection of Hymns entitled Egziabher Nags (OR 567)
An 18th Ethiopian collection of Hymns entitled Egziabher Nags (OR 568)
An 18th Ethiopian collection of Hymns entitled Egziabher Nags (OR 569)
An 18th Ethiopian collection of Hymns entitled Egziabher Nags (OR 570)
An 18th Ethiopian collection of Hymns entitled Egziabher Nags (OR 571)
An 18th Ethiopian collection of Hymns entitled Egziabher Nags (OR 572)
A 17th Ethiopian collection of Hymns entitled Malke’a guba’e (OR 573)
A 17th Ethiopian collection of Hymns (OR 574)
A 17th Ethiopian collection of Hymns entitled Malke’a guba’e (OR 575)
An 18th century collection of hymns, by two hands (OR 576)
A collection of Hymns “written between 1721 and 1730” (OR 577)
A manuscript containing hymns, prayers and part of the Gospel of John (OR 578)
A manuscript containing Gubba’e Malkef, a prayer, Psalms and Hymns (OR 579)
A manuscript of Gubba’e Malke, hymnbook of the Ethiopian Church for the whole year (OR 580)
An 18th century book including the Life of Gabra Manfas Kedus and the Guba’e Malke hymns (OR 581)
A late 18th century collection of hymns, the Egziabher Nags (OR 582)
An 18th century collection of hymns (OR 583)
A manuscript of the Deggwa, with musical notes (OR 584)
A hymnbook of the Ethiopian Church for the whole year, with musical notes (OR 585)
A collection of hymns and chants for the festivals of the year, with musical notes (OR 586)
A collection of hymns and chants for the festivals of the year, with musical notes (OR 587)
A collection of hymns and chants for the festivals of the year, with musical notes (OR 588)
A collection of hymns and chants for the festivals of the year, with musical notes (OR 589)
A profusely illustrated manuscript of the “Wisest among the Wise”, a hymnological composition (OR 590)
A 17th century copy of Arganona Maryam, prayers arranged for the days of the week (OR 591)
A 17th century copy of Arganona Maryam, prayers arranged for the days of the week (OR 592)
Containing a discourse in praise of the blessed Virgin Mary, Twelve Fathers and Holy Trinity (OR 593)
A manuscript including ‘The Harp of Praise’, initially presented to Queen Victoria (OR 594)
A manuscript of ‘The Harp of Praise’ including a drawing of a king labelled Tewodros (OR 595)
A 19th century encomium of the blessed Virgin Mary, hymns and prayers (OR 596)
A 14th-15th century Book of the Rite of the Holy Week (OR 597)
A Lectionary of the Holy Week (OR 598)
A Lectionary of the Holy Week (OR 599)
A Lectionary of the Holy Week (OR 600)
Gebrä Hemamat – A Lectionary of the Holy Week (OR 601)
An 18th century manuscript with Sacredotals including the Faus Manfasawi (OR 788)
Sacredotals including the Faus Manfasawi, “badly written” (OR 789)
A 17th century Psalter with two notes linking it to Maqdala (OR 12467)
The British Museum (1)
Queen Terunesh’s Book of Psalms, likely passed on to Prince Alamayu *
Cambridge University Library (4)
Service book ‘bought at the tent door’ on the march back from Maqdala (Add. 3682) *
A manuscript of the Arganona Dengel which ‘no doubt’ came from Maqdala *
A Psalter which ‘no doubt’ came from Maqdala *
A Psalter which ‘no doubt’ came from Maqdala *
The Cameronians Regimental Museum, Hamilton, Scotland (1)
Prayers in honour of the Virgin Mary “obtained from an Abyssinian chief” *
Chester Beatty Library, Dublin (2)
Part of a manuscript including Praises of Mary, Weddase Maryam (MS W916)
A collection of hymns, taken by the 10th Company, Royal Engineers (MS 949) *
The John Rylands Library, Manchester (3)
A manuscript Antiphonary for the whole year and for Lent with musical notation (No 4)
A manuscript including a Lectionary for Palm Sunday and Passion week. Homilies on the Passion (No 18)
An Antiphonary for Lent, arranged by weeks and ferial days, bought from a priest in Adigrat (No 35) *
National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh (1)
Prayers to the Virgin “probably” taken during the campaign (MS.95) *
The Victoria & Albert Museum, London (1)
Service book including Song of Songs from a church in Maqdala
Current location unknown (1)
Mr Reade’s prayer book, picked up after the sack of King Theodore’s palace *
(C) Festivals and miracles of Jesus, Mary and the angels (67)
The Bodleian Library, University of Oxford (1)
A manuscript including ‘Tabiba Tabiban’, Miracles of the Virgin Mary and hymns (MS. 57) *
The British Library (57)
** Miracles of Mary “obtained” from a church in Senafe by the British Museum’s R. Holmes (OR 452) *
** Miracles of Mary and order of baptism “obtained” from a church in Senafe by the British Museum’s R. Holmes (OR 453) *
A manuscript of the History and Miracles of the Blessed Virgin Mary (OR 602)
A manuscript of the History and Miracles of the Blessed Virgin Mary (OR 603)
A manuscript of the ‘The Story of Mary’ and the homily for Festivals of the Virgin Mary (OR 604)
A manuscript of Nagara Maryam ‘The Story of Mary’ (OR 605)
Discourses for the Festivals of the Blessed Virgin Mary (OR 606)
A manuscript of Nagara Maryam ‘The Story of Mary’, initially presented to Queen Victoria (OR 607)
A manuscript containing a Homily in honour of the Archangel Michael (OR 608)
A manuscript containing a Homily in honour of the Archangel Michael (OR 609)
Discourses for the Festivals of the Archangel Michael (OR 610)
Discourses for the Festivals of the Archangel Michael (OR 611)
Discourses for the Festivals of the Archangel Michael (OR 612)
A manuscript containing a Homily in honour of the Archangel Michael (OR 613)
A manuscript including a Homily in honour of the Archangel Michael (OR 614)
Including the miracles of the angels Michael and Raphael, with a list of healing plants (OR 615)
Discourses for the Festivals of the Archangel Michael and the Angel Gabriel, with homilies (OR 616)
A manuscript containing a homily in honour of the Archangel Gabriel (OR 617)
A manuscript containing a homily in honour of the Archangel Gabriel (OR 618)
A manuscript containing a homily in honour of the Angel Raphael (OR 619)
A manuscript of the Miracles of our Lord Jesus Christ (OR 620)
The Miracles of Our Lord Jesus Christ (OR 621)
A manuscript of the Miracles of Jesus (OR 622)
The Miracles of Our Lord Jesus Christ (OR 623)
A manuscript of the Miracles of Jesus (OR 624)
The Miracles of Our Lord Jesus Christ (OR 625)
A manuscript of the Miracles of Jesus (OR 626)
The Miracles of Our Lord Jesus Christ (OR 627)
The Miracles of Our Lord Jesus Christ (OR 628)
A manuscript of the Miracles of Jesus (OR 629)
A manuscript of the Miracles of Jesus (OR 630)
A manuscript of the Miracles of Jesus, 42 in number (OR 631)
The Miracles of Our Lord Jesus Christ, part of the morning service (OR 632)
A manuscript of the Miracles of St George and Jesus (OR 633)
An 18th century manuscript of the Miracles of Mary (OR 634)
A 17th century manuscript of the Miracles of Mary (OR 635)
A 17th century manuscript of the Miracles of Mary (OR 636)
A 17th century manuscript of the Miracles of Mary (OR 637)
An early 18th century manuscript of the Miracles of Mary (OR 638)
A 17th century manuscript of the Miracles of Mary (OR 639)
A 17th century manuscript of the Miracles of Mary (OR 640)
A 17th century manuscript including the Miracles of Mary (OR 641)
A 17th century manuscript including the Miracles of Mary (OR 642)
An 18th century manuscript of the Miracles of Mary (OR 643)
A 17th century manuscript including the Miracles of Mary (OR 644)
An 18th century manuscript including the Miracles of Mary (OR 645)
An 18th century manuscript including the Miracles of Mary (OR 646)
An 18th century manuscript including the Miracles of Mary (OR 647)
A manuscript of the Miracles of Mary initially presented to Queen Victoria (OR 648)
A manuscript of the Miracles of Mary initially presented to Queen Victoria (OR 649)
A manuscript including the Miracles of Mary and a deed giving land to monks (OR 650)
A 16th century manuscript including the Miracles of Mary (OR 651)
A 15th century manuscript including the Miracles of Mary (OR 652)
An 18th century manuscript including the Miracles of Mary and of Jesus (OR 653)
A 17th-18th century manuscript including the Miracles of Mary (OR 654)
An 18th century manuscript including the Miracles of Mary, initially presented to Queen Victoria (OR 655)
A manuscript of The Miracles of Jesus Christ, with letter saying it was taken from Maqdala (OR 8824)
Cambridge University Library (1)
Homilies for festivals of St Michael etc, taken to India then England (Add. 2916) *
Chester Beatty Library, Dublin (1)
Miracles of Mary, previously owned by Lady Meux (MS 914)
National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh (1)
Double page of illuminations from The Miracles of Mary, taken from a Maqdala church
Princeton University Library, New Jersey, USA (1)
Including Homilies of the Archangel Michael with a note saying ‘brought from Magdala’
The Royal Collection, Britain (4)
A manuscript of The Miracles of Our Lord Jesus (RCIN 1005079)
A manuscript of the Discourses of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael (RCIN 1005081)
A manuscript of the Miracles of Mary (RCIN 1005082)
A manuscript of the Miracles of Mary (RCIN 1005083)
The Schøyen manuscript collection, Oslo/London (1)
33 Miracles of the Virgin Mary, previously owned by Lady Meux and William Randolph Hearst (MS 248)
(D) Acts and miracles of the saints (83)
Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris (1)
The life and miracles of Saint Takla Haymanot (Ms 138) *
The Bodleian Library, University of Oxford (2)
Manuscript, including Guba’e Salamta, miscellaneous hymns and miracles (MS. 54)
The Life and Miracles of Takla Haymanot, with signatures of the Maqdala prisoners (MS. 77)
The British Library (75)
The first part of the Synaxarium, or Lives of the Saints (OR 656)
The second part of the Synaxarium, or Lives of the Saints (OR 657)
The first part of the Synaxarium, or Lives of the Saints (OR 658)
The second part of the Synaxarium, or Lives of the Saints (OR 659)
The first part of the Synaxarium, or Lives of the Saints (OR 660)
The second part of the Synaxarium, or Lives of the Saints (OR 661)
The first part of the Synaxarium, or Lives of the Saints (OR 662)
The second part of the Synaxarium, or Lives of the Saints (OR 663)
The first part of the Synaxarium, or Lives of the Saints (OR 664)
The second part of the Synaxarium, or Lives of the Saints (OR 665)
The first part of the Synaxarium, or Lives of the Saints (OR 666)
The first part of the Synaxarium, or Lives of the Saints (OR 667)
The first part of the Synaxarium, or Lives of the Saints (OR 668)
The first part of the Synaxarium, or Lives of the Saints (OR 669)
The second part of the Synaxarium, or Lives of the Saints (OR 670)
The second part of the Synaxarium, or Lives of the Saints (OR 671)
The second part of the Synaxarium, or Lives of the Saints (OR 672)
The second part of the Synaxarium, or Lives of the Saints (OR 673)
The second part of the Synaxarium, or Lives of the Saints (OR 674)
The second part of the Synaxarium, or Lives of the Saints (OR 675)
The second part of the Synaxarium, or Lives of the Saints, with sketches (OR 676)
The Gadla Hawaryat or Acts of the Apostles dated 1764 (OR 677)
A 15th century manuscript of the Acts of the Apostles (OR 678)
An 18th century manuscript of the Acts of the Apostles (OR 679)
An 18th century manuscript of the Acts of the Apostles (OR 680)
An 18th century manuscript of the Acts of the Apostles (OR 681)
An 18th century manuscript of the Acts of the Apostles (OR 682)
A 17th century manuscript of the Acts of the Apostles (OR 683)
An 18th century manuscript of the Acts of the Apostles (OR 684)
An 18th century manuscript of the Acts of the Apostles with portraits and miniatures (OR 685)
An 18th century manuscript of the Acts of Saints and Martyrs (OR 686)
Acts of Saints and Martyrs, with many pictures – paired with OR 688 (OR 687)
Acts of Saints and Martyrs, with many pictures – paired with OR 687 (OR 688)
A 15th century Ethiopian manuscript of the Acts of the Saints and Martyrs (OR 689)
Including The last few words of the martyrdom of Philemon, 2nd part of OR 689 (OR 690)
A 13th century manuscript of the Acts of Saints and Martyrs (OR 691)
Acts of Saints and Martyrs, with Homilies for various Festivals (OR 692)
An 18th century manuscript including the Acts of Aaron the Thaumaturg (OR 693)
An 18th century manuscript including the Acts of ‘Abib (OR 694)
An 18th century manuscript including the Acts of Abiya ‘Egzi’ (OR 695)
Acts of the Saints and Martyrs written between 1769 and 1777 (OR 696)
An 18th century manuscript including the Acts and Life of St Anthony (OR 697)
Including the Acts of St Anthony and the history of the holy Cross (OR 698)
A Christianised version of the story of the Buddha (OR 699)
Including a Discourse of Theodore, Patriarch of Antioch, on Claudius, the son of Ptolemy (OR 700)
An 18th century manuscript including the Acts of St. Kiros (OR 701)
An 18th century manuscript including the Acts of ‘Ewostatewos (OR 702)
The Life of Eustathius, imperfect at the beginning, one quire being lost (OR 703)
An 18th century manuscript including the Acts of ‘Ewostatewos (OR 704)
An 18th century manuscript including the Life of ‘Ewostatewos (OR 705)
A 15th century manuscript of the Acts of Fasiladas (OR 706)
An 18th century manuscript of the Acts of Fasiladas (OR 707)
A manuscript including the Life of Fasiladas (OR 708)
An 18th century manuscript including the Life of Gabra Krestos (OR 709)
An 18th century manuscript of the Acts of Gabra Manfas Kedus (OR 710)
A 15th century Ethiopian manuscript containing the Acts of Gabra Manfas Kedus (OR 711)
A late 17th century manuscript including Acts of George (OR 712)
An 18th century manuscript of the Acts of St George, initially presented to Queen Victoria (OR 713)
An 18th century manuscript of the Acts of St George, initially presented to Queen Victoria (OR 714)
An 18th century manuscript containing the Acts of St George (OR 715)
A 17th century manuscript including the Acts of St George (OR 716)
A 17th century manuscript including the Acts of John the Baptist (OR 717)
A manuscript of the History of King Lalibela (OR 718)
A 15th century manuscript of the Acts of King Lalibela (OR 719)
A manuscript of the Acts and Miracles of Cyricus (OR 720)
An 18th century manuscript of the Acts of St. Takla Haymanot (OR 721)
An 18th century manuscript of the Acts of St. Takla Haymanot (OR 722)
A manuscript of the Acts of St. Takla Haymanot initially presented to Queen Victoria (OR 723)
An 18th century manuscript of the Acts of St. Takla Haymanot (OR 724)
An 18th century manuscript of the Acts of St. Takla Haymanot (OR 725)
The Life and Acts of Takla Haimanot (OR 726)
The Life and Acts of Takla Haimanot (OR 727)
An 18th century manuscript of the Acts of St. Takla Haymanot, with carved metal cover (OR 728)
An 18th century manuscript of the Life and Acts of Victor (OR 729)
An 18th century manuscript of the Acts and Miracles of Walatta Petros (OR 730)
Edinburgh University Library (1)
Acts of St George “acquired … after the taking of Maqdala” (Or.MS.461-462)
The University of California, Los Angeles (1)
Including the lives of Abba Zamika’el and Gabra Krestos, “taken from King Theodore’s arsenal”
Current location unknown (3)
Captain James’ Life of St George, last seen in Bombay
A manuscript including the life of Maba’a Seyon and Gabra Krestos (Lady Meux MS. No 1)
A manuscript of the Life of Hanna (Lady Meux MS. No 4)
(E) Ecclesiastical and theological books (75)
Berlin State Library (1)
A 17th century manuscript including the Fetha Nagast (MS 595)
Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris (1)
A manuscript dated 1694 of Haymanota abaw ‘Faith of the fathers’ (MS 112) *
The Bodleian Library, University of Oxford (2)
A fragment of a manuscript of the discourse of Cyriacus of Behnesa (MS. 76)
A manuscript of a Treatise on the Christian Faith (MS. 83) *
The British Library (68)
A 17th century Commentary on the Four Gospels (OR 731)
A 16th century Commentary on the Four Gospels (OR 732)
A commentary on the Gospel of St Matthew and other works from the Time of Tewodros (OR 734)
A commentary on the Gospel of St Matthew (OR 735)
A commentary on the Gospel of St Matthew (OR 736)
An 18th century Commentary of John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews (OR 737)
An 18th century Commentary of John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews (OR 738)
A manuscript including the Commentary of John Chrysostom (OR 739)
A manuscript including the Commentary of John Chrysostom (OR 740)
A 16th century Commentary of John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews (OR 741)
A 19th century Commentary of John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews (OR 742)
Hymns, prayers and expositions (OR 743)
Including a Life of Cyril, homilies and extracts (OR 744)
Including homilies and extracts and the Fetha Nagast (OR 745)
Kerlos, including the Homily of St. Cyril (OR 746)
Kerlos with extracts and homilies, a tract against various heresies (OR 747)
Kerlos with extracts and homilies (OR 748)
Kerlos, including the life of Cyril, homilies and extracts (OR 749)
Kerlos, including the life of Cyril, homilies and extracts (OR 750)
Including the instructions of St. Peter to his disciple Clement (OR 751)
Including the instructions of St. Peter to his disciple Clement (OR 752)
Including the instructions of St. Peter to his disciple Clement (OR 753)
Historical fragments and the writings of Mar Isaac of Nineveh (OR 754)
An 18th century manuscript of the book of ‘Mar Isaac’ (OR 755)
An 18th century manuscript of the works of ‘Mar Isaac’ (OR 756)
An 18th century manuscript of the book of ‘Mar Isaac’ (OR 757
A 17th century manuscript of the book of ‘Mar Isaac’ (OR 758)
Aragawi Manfasawi; Philoxenus of Mabug on the History of the Egyptian Fathers; Mar Isaac (OR 759)
An 18th century manuscript including Philoxenus on the Paradise of Palladius (OR 760)
Philoxenus on the Paradise of Palladius (OR 761)
An 18th century manuscript containing ‘Aragawi manfasawi’ (OR 762)
An 18th century manuscript containing ‘Mashafa Manakosat’ (OR 763)
A 17th century manuscript of the History of the Fathers (OR 764)
Gannat or ‘History of the Fathers’, a hymn and part of a prayer (OR 765)
Including Gannat or ‘History of the Fathers’ (OR 766)
An 18th century manuscript of the History of the Fathers (OR 767)
An 18th century manuscript of the History of the Fathers (OR 768)
A manuscript containing a Genealogy of the Church Fathers (OR 769)
A 15th century manuscript of Abbā Maqābis (OR 770)
An 18th century manuscript including the Homilies of Severus (OR 771)
Ancoratus of Epiphanius; homilies of Severus of Esmunain (OR 772)
Homilies of Severus of Esmunain, Prayer of Longinus etc (OR 773)
A 15th century collection of homilies (OR 774)
Including Homilies, Doctrine of the Apostles (OR 775)
A copy of the Mashafa Hawi, with notes on the property of a convent (OR 776)
An 18th century manuscript of Mashafa Hawi, with writing in margins (OR 777)
A 17th century manuscript of the Book of Hawi (OR 778)
A 17th-18th century manuscript of Talmid, the History of the Fathers (OR 779)
The Talmid theological treatise, directed against various heresies (OR 780)
The Talmid theological treatise, directed against various heresies (OR 781)
A 16th century manuscript, Talmid, Theological Treatise (OR 782)
An 18th century manuscript of Haymanota ‘abaw, the Faith of the Fathers (OR 783)
A 17th century manuscript of Haymanota ‘abaw, the Faith of the Fathers (OR 784)
An early 18th century manuscript of Haymanota ‘abaw, the Faith of the Fathers (OR 785)
Homilies entitled Retu’a Haimanot, or “the Orthodox” (OR 786)
Mashafa Bahri za-bezuh Setu, or “the Book of the Pearl of great price” (OR 787)
Sacredotals, starting with the Faus Manfasawi (OR 788)
Faus Manfasawi of Abba Michael (OR 789)
The first volume of Mashafa Madbal or Mysteries of the Times (OR 790)
The second volume of Mashafa Madbal or Mysteries of the Times (OR 791)
An 18th century collection of commentaries in Amharic (OR 792)
Testament of our Lord; Synodos or Corpus Juris Ecclesiastici ; Didascalia Apostolorum (OR 793)
A 15th century manuscript of the Synodos (OR 794)
Testament of our Lord, Synodos (OR 795)
An 18th century manuscript of the Synodos (OR 796)
Didascalia Apostolorum, Ledata Manakosat, Mazgaba Haimanot (OR 797)
Didascalia Apostolorum (OR 798)
Manuscript including Didascalia Apostolorum, with flyleaves and margins covered in deeds (OR 799)
Cambridge University Library (2)
A manuscript of the Kerlos which ‘no doubt’ came from Maqdala *
A manuscript of the Amestu Amada Mestir which ‘no doubt’ came from Maqdala *
The Royal Collection, Britain (1)
A manuscript of the Discourse of John Chrysostom in praise of John the Baptist (RCIN 1005080)
(F) Historical, legal, medical & other books (32)
The British Library (31)
Fetha Nagast, or Justice of Kings (OR 800)
A 17th century manuscript of the Fetha Nagast or Justice of Kings (OR 801)
Fetha Nagast, or Justice of Kings (OR 802)
Fetha Nagast, or Justice of Kings (OR 803)
Fetha Nagast, or Justice of Kings (OR 804)
Fetha Nagast, or Justice of Kings (OR 805)
An 18th century manuscript of the Fetha Nagast or Justice of Kings (OR 806)
Fetha Nagast, or Justice of Kings (OR 807)
An 18th century manuscript of the Fetha Nagast or Justice of Kings (OR 808)
A 17th century Ethiopian manuscript of The Chronological System of Abu Shaker (OR 809)
Abu Shaker’s Chronology (OR 810)
Abu Shaker’s Chronology (OR 811)
A 17th century Ethiopian manuscript of The Chronological System of Abu Shaker (OR 812)
Abu Shaker’s Chronology (OR 813)
A 17th century Ethiopic translation of the Arabic ‘Universal History’ of Jirjis ibn Abi Yasir ibn (OR 814)
The Chronology of Giyorgis walda ‘Amid or ‘al-Makin with homilies (OR 815)
A 19th century manuscript with a Chronographic work and treatise on astronomy (OR 816)
An 18th century manuscript of the Ledata Abau, Genealogy of the Fathers (OR 817)
An 18th century manuscript of the Kebra Nagast, or ‘the Glory of the Kings’ (OR 818)
An 18th century Chronicle of the Kings of Ethiopia (OR 820)
A 19th century manuscript containing a Compendium of History; Chronicles of Ethiopia (OR 821)
A 17th century manuscript of a History of the Jews (OR 822)
An 18th century manuscript of a History of the Jews (OR 823)
An 18th century manuscript of a History of the Jews (OR 824)
History of the Jews by Joseph ben Goryon (OR 825)
Life of Alexander the Great (OR 826)
An 18th century manuscript including the Life of Alexander the Great (OR 827)
19th century medical manuscript (OR 828)
*** Fragments including bible books, letter to Tewodros, Amharic documents with his seal (OR 829)
OR 9798 – A manuscript including a calendar of feasts, an Ethiopic-Amharic vocabulary with note linking it to the Abyssinian campaign *
OR 11390 – An 18th century manuscript including prescriptions and a formula for changing into a lion
Cambridge University Library (1)
Fetha Nagast ‘among the trove that fell into the hands of the British’ (Or. 2122)
(G) Scrolls/parchment strips (30)
The British Library (2)
A prayer scroll with five miniatures, campaign mentioned on back (OR 12025) *
An 18th century strip of parchment with Magdala mentioned on the back (OR 12114 B)
The Cuming Museum, Southwark, London (1)
The Southwark Scroll, described as brought back by one of the expedition’s regiments *
The John Rylands Library, Manchester (1)
Scroll with prayer against chest pain, marked Magdala (No 32)
King’s Own Royal Regiment Museum, Lancaster (1)
A ‘Coptic parchment strip of St. Mark’s Gospel’ *
The National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh (1)
Scroll with charms against maladies, “probably” from Maqdala (MS 94) *
National Museums of Scotland (1)
Scroll, described as from Maqdala
Perth Museum & Art Gallery (1)
Prayer scroll ‘from King Theodore’s House’
Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford (1)
The anthropologist’s scroll, described as “found” at Maqdala
Princeton University Library, USA (1)
Scroll including a prayer against colic with a note mentioning Maqdala
The Royal Engineers Museum, Gillingham (1)
The sapper’s scroll, marked with the date of the battle of Maqdala
Trinity College Library, Dublin, Ireland (3)
‘Ethiopic manuscript’ with six illustrations, marked Adigrat (MS 2286) *
Scroll showing cross with Roman soldiers (MS 3809) *
Scroll with faces, eyes, saltire crosses, cross (MS 3810) *
University of Dundee Museum (1)
Scroll “said to have been found … at the taking of Maqdala”
The Victoria & Albert Museum, London (1)
Prayer scroll, described as among manuscripts “seized by the British”
The Wellcome Collection, London (6)
The drowner of devils scroll, described as taken at Maqdala (MS 1)
The prayer for expelling Satan scroll, described as taken at Maqdala (MS 7)
The prayer for expelling Satan scroll, described as taken at Maqdala (MS 8)
The prayer against migraine scroll, described as from Maqdala (MS 12)
The prayer against malicious demons scroll, probably from Maqdala (MS 13) *
The prayer against colic scroll, described as taken at Maqdala (MS 14)
Whitby Museum (1)
Parchment scroll ‘from King Theodore’s Palace’
Current location unknown (7)
A 1ft-long scroll last seen in Leeds *
A 2ft-long scroll last seen in Leeds *
An illuminated scroll last seen in Leeds *
An illuminated scroll last seen in Leeds *
An illuminated scroll last seen in Leeds *
An illuminated scroll last seen in Leeds *
Two parts of a scroll last seen in Leeds *
(H) Unspecified (6)
The Horniman Museum, London (1)
Church manuscript brought to England by men of the 4th regiment *
The King’s Own Royal Regiment Museum, Lancaster (1)
An illuminated manuscript page *
The National Museums of Scotland (3)
Manuscript paper obtained at Magdala
Manuscript from Maqdala
Manuscript from Maqdala