Lake Ashangi, 1868

Watercolour by Captain Cornelius Francis James, Bombay Staff Corps, 1868.

After his diplomatic overtures to the British for help against his Moslem enemies had been ignored (including a letter to Queen Victoria), Emperor Tewodros II (or King Theodore) of Abyssinia imprisoned the British Consul, Captain Charles Cameron, along with several missionaries and other civilians.

Lieutenant-General Sir Robert (later Field Marshal Lord) Napier's expeditionary force was subsequently despatched but it took the British forces three months to march over 400 miles (640 km) of mountainous terrain to the foot of the emperor's fortress at Magdala. En route they stopped at Lake Ashangi on 17 March 1868, located around 100 miles (160 km) from their goal. In order to lighten their loads for the remainder of their trek, the men were put on half-rations by their commander.

On 9 April, the British repelled a massive attack at Magdala by the ill-equipped Abyssinians, then routed the defending forces in just two hours the following day. British casualties were two killed and 18 wounded, while the Ethiopians lost 700 killed and 1,400 wounded. The emperor released his hostages, but opted to commit suicide rather than be captured.