Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-gq7q9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-16T14:55:16.853Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Initiatives and Objectives in Ethio-European relations, 1827–1862*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 January 2009

Donald Crummey
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Although the primary initiative in nineteenth-century Ethio-European relations came from Europe, the Ethiopian princes recurrently showed an active desire to exploit the European presence. In the first half of the century, the most active Ethiopian diplomat was Dajjāch Webē of Semēn and Tegrē (fl. 1830s–1855). Webē is taken as representative of such princes as Rās Ali and Negus Sāhla Sellāsē, who from 1827 to 1862 repeatedly launched initiatives and refined their objectives. The latter arose primarily from the desire for immediate aggrandizement and expressed themselves most commonly in the search for advanced weapons; but wider issues and the control of military technology were not ignored. The dramatic career of Emperor Tēwodros has obscured the extent to which his predecessors foreshadowed his own foreign policy. A closer look suggests that his predecessors were just as active as Tēwodros, and lacked only his breadth of understanding.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of African History , Volume 15 , Issue 3 , July 1974 , pp. 433 - 444
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1974

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 A truism, but worthy of repetition in the light of the post-Robinson and Gallagher scramble for African causes for the partition.

2 We need a closer integration of diplomacy and culture: e.g. Curtin, P., Africa and the West. Intellectual Responses to European Culture (Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1972).Google Scholar

3 Rubenson, S., King of Kings. TÈwodros of Ethiopia (Addis Ababa/Nairobi: Haile Sellassie I University and Oxford University Press, 1966).Google Scholar

4 Abir, M., Ethiopia. The Era of the Princes. The Challenge of Islam and the Re-unification the Christian Empire 17697ndash;1855 (London/New York: Longmans/Praeger, 1968).Google Scholar

5 Malécot, G., Les voyageurs français et les relations entre la France et l'Abyssinie de 1835 à 1870 (Paris: Société Française d'Histoire d'Outre Mer et Librairie Orientaliste Paul Geuthner, 1972);Google ScholarMarston, T., Britain's Imperial Role in the Red Sea Area (Hamden, Connecticut: Shoe String Press, 1961).Google Scholar

6 Rubenson, , King of Kings, 63.Google Scholar

7 Hill, R., Egypt in the Sudan 1820–1881 (London: Oxford University Press, 1959), 17, 83–4, 114, 152;Google ScholarAbir, , Era of the Princes, 6, 123–36.Google Scholar

8 Crummey, D., Priests and Politicians. Protestant and Catholic Missions in Orthodox Ethiopia 1830–1868 (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1972); and Malécot, Voyageurs français.Google Scholar

9 Abir, , Era of the Princes, and Rubenson, King of Kings, chapters II and III, provide the best available accounts.Google Scholar

10 Caulk, R., ‘The Origins and Development of the Foreign Policy of Menilek II, 1865–1896’, unpublished Ph.D. thesis, University of London, 1966, chapter I.Google Scholar

11 The earliest nineteenth-century material is that of Rās Walda Sellāsē, starting in 1809/10: Public Record Office, London (P.R.O.), F.O. I/i, 155−6; Walda Sellāsē to George III, n.d.: also British Museum (B.M.), Add. MSS. 19343, nos. 1–4, 10, and 16. For the 1840s: P.R.O., F.O. I/iii, 149 Webē to Victoria, 1841: and MinistÈre des Affaires EtrangÈres, Paris (M.A.E.), Correspondance Politique. Egypte. Massaouah, I, 141; Webē, to Louis, Philippe, Adoa, , 24 05 1845.Google Scholar

12 For the slave trade: P.R.O., F.O. 401/i, no. 430; Plowden, to Clarendon, , Adowah, , 7 04 1855:Google Scholar and Maison, Lazariste (Paris), Lettres Manuscrites de Mgr. de Jacobis, II, no. 357; Abennat Semien, 7 02 1855. Technical advancement: BibliothÈque Nationale, Paris (B.N.), Manuscrits Ethiopiens 254, 155; Negusē, ; to de, Lesseps, 19 08 1860.Google Scholar

13 B.N., MSS. Eth. 254passim. This fascinating collection of Arnharic letters, largely directed to the d'Abbadie brothers, provides an excellent survey of Ethiopian interests. The generosity of Richard Caulk provided me with access to this material.Google Scholar

14 Combes, E. and Tarnisier, M., Voyage en Abyssinie (Paris, 4 vols., 1838), 11. 347–50.Google Scholar

15 B.N., MSS. Eth. 254, 162–3 anonymous to Webē, n.d. (but 1840s). M.A.E., Corr. Pol. Eg. Mass., II, 247; Beillard, to Ministre, , Massouah, , 7 05 1858: P.R.O., F.O. 401/i, no. 603; Barroni to Plowden, 8 05 1859. Negusē had a founder, Webē a ‘madf yammiserā saw’, who may have been capable only of repairs.Google Scholar

16 Crummey, D., ‘Tēwodros as Reformer and Modernizer’, J. Afr. Hist. X, 3 (1969), 457–69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar At least one contemporary compared his intentions directly with those of Mehemet Ali: Archives of the Propaganda Fide, Rome, (A.P.F.), Scritture Riferite nei Congressi. Affrisa Centrale, Etiopia… (S.R.C. A.C.), VI, 293; Léon des Avanchers to Cardinal Prefect,Google ScholarKuarata, , I 04 1859.Google Scholar

17 Such as the Catholic priest, Emnātu, and Tewodros's interpreters, Samuel and Māhdara Qāl. For these, see respectively: Crummey, , Priests and Politicians, 102, 105Google ScholarRassam, H., Narrative of the British Mission to King Theodore (London, 2 vols., 1869), I, 258–9;Google Scholar and Dufton, H., Narrative of a Journey Through Abyssinia in 1862–1863 (London, 2nd ed., 1867), 79–81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

18 Abir, , Era of the Princes, 34–5.Google Scholar

19 P.R.O., F.O. I/ii, 1–2, 9; Sabagādis to George IV, n.d.: Church Missionary Society Archives, London (C.M.S.), C.M./046, 2; Kugler, to Pratt, , Alexandria, , 8 10 1827:Google ScholarRüppell, W., Reise in Abyssinien (Frankfurt am Main, 1839–1840), 1, 339–41.Google Scholar

20 P.R.O., F.O. I/ii, 112–13; Palmerston to Suporguardias [sic], 6 Feb. 1832: Rüppell, Reise, II, 291–2.

21 Combes, and Tamisier, , Voyage, I, 251–2:Google Scholar C.M.S.; C.M./o35, 8, Isenberg to Coates, Adowa, , 13 06 1835; C.M./o35, 14,Google Scholar Isenbergto Coates, Adowa, , 11 07 1836; C.M./045, 43, Kruse to Coates, Cairo, 4 11 1835.Google Scholar See also Abir, , Era of the Princes, 101.Google Scholar

22 Abir, , Era of the Princes, 102–3; Hill, Egypt in the Sudan, 33–4.Google Scholar

23 C.M.S., C.M./o35, 19; Isenberg to Coates, Cairo, , 23 07 1838.Google Scholar

24 C.M.S., C.M./o45, 5; Kruse to Coates, Cairo, , 25 11 1837; p.s. of 6 Dec.Google Scholar

25 C.M.S., C.M./o35, 19.

26 Crummey, , Priests and Politicians, 41–6, 55–7.Google Scholar

27 Malécot, , Voyageurs françaie, 16.Google Scholar

28 Lefebvre, Th., Voyage en Abyssinie (Paris, 6 vols., 1845–1848), I, 100–3:Google ScholarMaison, Lazariste, Lettres de Jacobis, II, no. 162;Google Scholar de Jacobis to Etienne, Adova, , 7 12 1839;Google Scholar and no. 423, Sapeto to Etienne, Adwa, , 10 12 1839.Google Scholar Also Abir, , Era of the Princes, 109; and Malécot, Voyageurs français, 27–8. Malécot suggests a higher degree of Ethiopian initiative than my reading of Lefebvre and the missionaries warrants.Google Scholar

29 Lefebvre, , Voyage, I, 156–8.Google Scholar

30 Abir, , Era of the Princes, III; Crummey, Priests and Politicians, 66–7.Google Scholar

31 Priests and Politicians, 66.Google Scholar

32 Ibid. 67. Also P.R.O., F.O. I/iii; 223–4, Barnett to Blackhouse, Alexandria, 29 Nov 1841; 150, Webē to Victoria, 1842.

33 India Office Archives, London (I.O.), Letters Received (Various). Letters from Aden. (L.R.V. Aden), vol. 28, no. 19; Christopher, , Jedda, , 15 12 (?) 1843.Google ScholarM.A.E.: Correspondance Commerciale. Massouah, I, 56;Google ScholarDeGoutin, , Massouah, , 2 02 1843:Google ScholarCorr. Pol. Eg. Mass., I; 83,Google Scholarde, Jacobis, Adowa, , 19 02 1843; 103,Google Scholar M.A.E. to Ministre de la Guerre, 18 Oct. 1843: Mémoires et Documents (Afrique), XIII, 317–18;Google ScholarGray, , Paris, 5 12 1843.Google Scholar

34 M.A.E., Corr. Pol. Eg. Mass., I, 141;Google Scholar Webē to Louis Philippe, Adwāp, , 24 05 1845.Google Scholar

35 Maison, Lazariste, Lettres de Jacobis, II, no. 226; de Jacobis to Etienne,Google ScholarGwala, , 10 07 1845.Google Scholar

36 Abir, , Era of the Princes, 123, 131–4: Hill, Egypt in the Sudan, 83–4:Google ScholarM.A.E., Corr. Pol. Eg. Mass., I, 177; DeGoutir, to Oubié,Google ScholarMassouah, , 23 04 1847.Google Scholar

37 P.R.O., F.O. 401/i; nos. 82 and 83, Plowden to Palmerston, Debra, Tabor, 3 03 1849, inclosing Webē to Victoria, n.d.; and no. 88, Inc., Palrnerston to Oobeay [Webē], 3 07 1849.Google Scholar

38 M.A.E., , Corr. Pol. Eg. Mass., 1, 283;Google ScholarRolland, , Massouah, , 6 10 1849:Google ScholarB.N., MSS. Eth. 384, 83; Webē, to Rolland, , Hawzēn, , 23 Maskaram (?1842 A.M. = 20 10 A.D. 1849).Google Scholar

39 P.R.O., F.O. 403/i, nos. 324, 378; Plowden, to Clarendon, , Massowah, , 20 09 1853, 1 07 1854.Google Scholar

40 Crummey, , Priests and Politicians, 63–71. A fact sometimes glimpsed by the missionaries themselves:Google ScholarxMaison, Lazariste, Lettres de Jacobis, II, no. 270;Google Scholar de Jacobis to Biancheri, Massawah, , 18 01 1849.Google Scholar

41 B.N., MSS. Eth. 256, 513;Google Scholar Darras to Webē, n.d.: Maison, Lazariste, Lettres de Jacobis, II, no. 423;Google Scholar Sapeto to Etienne, Adwa, , 10 12 1839:Google ScholarM.A.E., , Mém. Doc. Afrique, XIII, 319;Google Scholar Schimper to Guizot, Antitcho, , 15 10 1844.Google Scholar

42 Crummey, , Priests and Politicians, 71–2.Google Scholar

43 P.R.O., F.O. 403/i, no. 129; Plowden, to Palmerston, , Lamgee, , 2 01 1850.Google Scholar

44 Rubenson, , King of Kings, 63–4.Google Scholar

45 Annales de la Congrégation de la Mission; XIV (1849), 662 ff., Stella, to Etienne, , Gondar, , 10 02 1849; and xv (1850), 545–6,Google ScholarStella, to Salvayre, , Gondar, , 9 05 1850:Google ScholarMassaia, G., I miei trentacinque anni di missione nell'Alta Etiopia (Roma, 12 vols., 1885–1895), 1, 145–6.Google Scholar

46 M.A.E., , Corr. Pol. Eg. Mass. I, 304;Google ScholarLa, Moyne to Ministre, , Cairo, , 14 03 1850. Blondeel was then in Constantinople.Google Scholar In 1841/2 and in 1852 Ali appears to have had active contacts with the Egyptians: Abir, , Era of the Princes, 112–16;Google ScholarAleme, Eshete, ‘Une ambassade du Ras Ali en Egypte: 1852’, Journal of Ethiopian Studies, IX, I (1971), 1–8.Google Scholar

47 Crummey, , Priests and Politicians, 43, 72.Google Scholar

48 Copies of the letters from Sāhla Sellāsē to England and France in Church Missionary Records, XII (1841), 184–5;Google Scholar and Rochet d'Hēricourt, C. F. X., Voyage sur la côte orientale de la Mer- Rouge (Paris, 1841), 317–18.Google Scholar

49 C.M.S., C. A5/016, 13;Google ScholarKrapf, to Coates, , Aden, , 6 04 1843.Google Scholar For additional insights: Harris, W. C., The Highlands of Ethiopia (London, 2nd ed., 3 vols., 1844);CrossRefGoogle ScholarJohnston, C., Travels in Southern Abyssinia (London, 2 vols., 1844);Google Scholar and Rochet, , Second voyage sur les deux rives de la Mer Rouge (Paris, 1846).Google Scholar

50 Crummey, D., ‘Doctrine and Authority: Abuna Salāmā, 1841–1854’, forthcoming, in the proceedings of the Fourth International Congress of Ethiopian Studies, from the Accademia dei Lincei, Rome.Google Scholar

51 Sapeto, G., Viaggio e missione cattolica (Roma, 1857), 468–70.Google Scholar

52 P.R.O., F.O. 401/i, no. 81, Inc.; King of Shoa to Victoria, n.d.: C.M.S., C. M/048, 79; Lieder, to Secretaries, , Cairo, , 5 06 1849.Google Scholar

53 Priests and Politicians, 73.Google Scholar

54 P.R.O., F.O. 405/i, no. 133; Plowden, to Palmerston, , Lamgee, , 3 01 1850.Google Scholar

55 I.O., L.R.V. Aden, vol. 35, no. 160; King of Shoa to Haines, n.d.

56 Crummey, , ‘Tēwodros as Reformer and Modernizer’, J. Afr. Hist. X, 3 (1969).Google Scholar

57 For example, B.N., MSS. Eth. 184, no. 85; Tēwodros to Delaye, n.d. (I am indebted to Dr Haggai Erlich of Tel Aviv University for translation from the Arabic): M.A.E., Corr. Pol. Eg. Mass. II, 64;Google ScholarDelaye, to Ministre, , Massoua, , 23 07 1855.Google Scholar

58 Priests and Politicians, 99.Google Scholar

59 P.R.O., F.O. 401/i, no. 447, Inc.; Plowden, , Report, , 25 06 1855: Rubenson, King of Kings, 64–5.Google Scholar

60 P.R.O., F.O. 401/i, no. 512; Plowden to Clarendon, Dembea, 2 Apr. 1857.

61 Rubenson, , King of Kings, 48–9, for Tēwodros, to Victoria, : M.A.E., Mém. Doc. Afrique, vol. 61, 105;Google ScholarTēwodros, to Napoleon, , III, Godjam, , 20 10 1862.Google Scholar

62 Russel, S., Une mission en Abyssinie et dans la Mer Rouge… (Paris, 1884);Google ScholarPriests and Politicians, 205–8.Google Scholar

63 Rubenson, , King of Kings, 49.Google Scholar

64 This is usually attributed to the loss of the Queen, Plowden and Bell. But see Crummey, , ‘Reformer and Modernizer’, 467–8, citing the missionary Saalmüller;Google Scholar and Mondon-Vidailhet, C., Chronique de Théodoros II roi des rois d'Ethiopie (1853–1868) (Paris, n.d.), which implies a turning point at this time.Google Scholar

65 Hill, , Egypt in the Sudan, 109–10.Google Scholar

66 Rubenson, , King of Kings, 83.Google Scholar

67 Ibid. 60–2. Bluster towards the Turks marked Tēwodros's conversation with Cameron in Oct. 1862: P.R.O., F.O. 401/i, no. 802; Cameron, to Russell, , Godjam, , 31 10 1862.Google Scholar

68 Rubenson, , op. cit. 85,Google Scholar with sources. For undated letters of Tēwodros to Lejean, see also B.N., : MSS. Eth. 184, 77–9;Google Scholar and MSS. Eth. 254, 313.Google Scholar

69 P.R.O., F.O. 401/ii, no. 110; Rassarn, to Layard, , Massowah, , 20 01 1865.Google Scholar

70 Ibid. no. 189, Inc. 5; Stern to Stern, Magdala, Apr. 1865.

71 Rassam, , British Mission.Google Scholar

72 Rubenson, , King of Kings, 88;Google ScholarFlad, J. M., ZwŌlf Jahre in Abessinien (Basel, 1869).Google Scholar