Prince Alemayehu of Ethiopia
Prince Alemayehu of Ethiopia – On Leaving England, June 1869
📍 United Kingdom, England
This striking portrait shows Prince Alemayehu, son of Emperor Tewodros II of Ethiopia, as he prepared to leave England in June 1869. Dressed in formal attire and seated with quiet dignity, Alemayehu’s image captures a rare moment in time — the life of an African royal orphan living in exile under the guardianship of the British crown.
After the British expedition to Magdala in 1868, where his father died by suicide rather than surrender, Alemayehu was brought to England by order of Queen Victoria, who took personal interest in his education and welfare. Though offered comfort and opportunity, Alemayehu often struggled with isolation, illness, and cultural dislocation. He died in 1879, aged just 18, and is buried at Windsor Castle — far from his homeland.
His life remains a powerful symbol of colonial entanglement, imperial intervention, and the emotional toll of exile.
🌍 Do you have rare portraits that tell hidden global stories? Upload them to Oldpik.com and help build an archive where every image reveals a forgotten journey.
📍 United Kingdom, England
This striking portrait shows Prince Alemayehu, son of Emperor Tewodros II of Ethiopia, as he prepared to leave England in June 1869. Dressed in formal attire and seated with quiet dignity, Alemayehu’s image captures a rare moment in time — the life of an African royal orphan living in exile under the guardianship of the British crown.
After the British expedition to Magdala in 1868, where his father died by suicide rather than surrender, Alemayehu was brought to England by order of Queen Victoria, who took personal interest in his education and welfare. Though offered comfort and opportunity, Alemayehu often struggled with isolation, illness, and cultural dislocation. He died in 1879, aged just 18, and is buried at Windsor Castle — far from his homeland.
His life remains a powerful symbol of colonial entanglement, imperial intervention, and the emotional toll of exile.
🌍 Do you have rare portraits that tell hidden global stories? Upload them to Oldpik.com and help build an archive where every image reveals a forgotten journey.
Contributed by OldPik on January 6, 2025
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