1839 - Birth of Prince Alemayehu of Ethiopia, Symbol of Lost Sovereignty

On May 4, 1839, Prince Alemayehu, the son of Emperor Tewodros II of Ethiopia, was born — a figure whose life became a poignant symbol of colonial disruption. Following the British invasion of Ethiopia and the Battle of Magdala in 1868, Emperor Tewodros II died by suicide rather than be captured. Alemayehu, just a boy, was taken by British forces and brought to England under the supposed protection of Queen Victoria. Despite royal patronage, Prince Alemayehu lived a lonely and alienated life, separated from his people and homeland. He died at just 18 years old and was buried at Windsor Castle. To this day, Ethiopia has petitioned for the repatriation of his remains, which remains denied. Alemayehu’s story, largely overshadowed by larger imperial narratives, reflects early acts of cultural loss, displacement, and the personal cost of imperial conquest on African royal families.