Ethiopia has demanded that King Charles and the British Army hand over ‘sacred’ artefacts that were ‘looted’ during a war 150 years ago.
The precious items have been held in Britain since being seized at the Battle of Magdala in 1868 but now the African nation’s government wants them back.
Military units have held on to the mementos – which are sacred to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church – and now store them in their regimental museums.
The King’s Royal Collection also houses some of the relics along with various other UK institutions including the British Museum.
Officials in Addis Ababa will need to make their return requests to both the King and unit veterans who oversee museums dedicated to regimental history.
The movement will be led by the Ethiopian Heritage Authority – a branch of the Ministry of Tourism – alongside the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
Regarding the Royal Collection’s ownership of religious manuscripts, Abebaw Ayalew Gella, the director general of the heritage authority, told The Telegraph: ‘It is immoral. You don’t just put them somewhere. They are sacred.’
He continued: ”What was taken from Magdala was not something that was found there accidentally. This is a very well-planned expedition. We call it looting.’
Ethiopia has demanded that King Charles and the British Army hand over ‘sacred’ artefacts that were ‘looted’ during the Battle of Magdala in 1868. Pictured: An illustration of British soldiers at Magdala in the Ethiopian Empire
The precious items have been held in Britain since being seized during Battle of Magdala in 1868, but now the African nation’s government wants them back. Pictured: The golden slippers of Ethiopian emperor Tewodros II
Units, including the Royal Engineers and Scots Dragoon Guards, held on to mementos sacred to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. This image shows a shield possibly also owned by Emperor Lt Gen Robert Napier which is kept in the National Army Museum
‘We are working on what is where, and how we can negotiate,’ the director general added.
The UK Government will be formally asked to support Ethiopia’s claims as part of a planned campaign set to start next year.
Officials are hoping Labour leaders will be more open to repatriation than their Conservative predecessors given that Sir Keir Starmer and Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, have expressed support for a resolution to the row over the Elgin Marbles.
Ethiopian officials are also considering approaching the Ministry of Defence, which helps to fund a number of museums, for assistance with their campaign.
Some of the relics ‘looted’ include The Miracles of the Virgin Mary, an 18th century manuscript currently held by the Royal Collection, golden slippers of Ethiopian emperor Tewodros II, also housed in the King’s treasure trove, and a shield possibly also owned by the emperor, kept in the National Army Museum.
Institutions such as the British Museum are prevented by law from relinquishing artefacts.
But, collections tied to regiments or items in the Royal Collection, which is owned by the King, can be returned if given the green light by trustees.
While Britain’s national museums are prevented by law from relinquishing artefacts, the Royal Collection, which is held in trust by the King (pictured), could return items at the discretion of trustees
Some of the relics ‘looted’ include The Miracles of the Virgin Mary (pictured), an 18th century manuscript
Rather than surrender, Tewodros II is said to have shot himself with a revolver previously given to him by Queen Victoria
A precedent for returning items held in the Royal Collection was set after Elizabeth II handed back a royal cap and seal during a state visit to Ethiopia in 1965, when she met with Haile Selassie, the country’s last emperor.
His grandson, Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie, called on the King to return the symbolic treasures of fellow royalty.
British forces helped themselves to the treasures when Lt Gen Robert Napier defeated Tewodros II, the Ethiopian emperor, at his fortress in Magdala in 1868.
This came after a conflict about the unpredictable ruler – who was also known as the ‘mad, wild king’ – taking a number of European hostages prisoner during a fit of rage.
The hostages were freed and the fortress was ransacked by soldiers who sold the artefacts to collectors in the UK.
Rather than surrender, Tewodros II is said to have shot himself with a revolver previously given to him by Queen Victoria.
Another artifact row
What are the Elgin marbles and how did they end up in the British Museum?
The UK and Greece are entangled in a growing diplomatic row regarding the Elgin Marbles.
The marbles, also known as The Parthenon Sculptures, are a series of Ancient Greek sculptures created between 447BC and 432BC.
They were the work of Greek architect Phidias, who also created a statue of the ancient god Zeus, which was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
The artefacts, an ode to the Greek goddess Athena, are made up of 17 figures that adorned the Parthenon in Athens.
After standing for 2,000 years, the Acropolis was for the most part destroyed as the Ottoman Empire – who at the time ruled Greece – became embroiled in a war with Venice.
The remaining sculptures were removed from the ruins of the Parthenon by Lord Elgin and brought to Britain between 1802 and 1812.
During this time, Elgin was also the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.
The British Government’s longstanding position has been that Elgin had permission to take the marbles.
Critics say there are no surviving documents which support this claim.
