History Assignment - Tewordros (Ethiopia)
'A prophet of change who could not achieve his vision' to what extent do you agree with this statement of Tewodras II of Ethiopia
Theodore II (Tewodros) had great visions and aims for Ethiopia but the ways in which he tried to achieve these aims and restore unification within Ethiopia was somewhat a failure and caused him to be unsuccessful in the eyes of some historians, hence the statement ‘A prophet of change who could not achieve his vision’.
Theodore was born in 1818 by the name of ‘Kasa’ to the governor of the Qwara province. Being born to a governor meant he was born into power already because like most sons of governors he was most likely to follow in the shadow of his father in the future. His father died when he was young therefore his half-brother succeeded their father and brought up Kasa. He was an educated child, as he studies Amharic) the official language of Ethiopia and Arabic. Due to the period he was born in which was one of anarchy whereby young men had to achieve respect and power through warfare and brigandage, Kasa soon became a distinguished soldier and was made the commander of the governor’s army. Soon after this he became governor of Qwara in 1845 and by then he already had a large following of armed men from his time as commander when he was a freebooter in the northwest. He had the ambition to go further and obtain the imperial throne despite having no rightful claim to the throne.
Tewodras saw the potential in the possibility of reunifying Ethiopia. Very early on he set aims for the country based on a vision he had for Ethiopia. These aims were as such; to unify Ethiopia through a strong central government, to restore the ancient glories of the Solomanic kingdom and more. He started putting his plans to action very soon after his appointment as governor. Between 1852 and 1855 he launched a military campaign, and by 1853 he had brought the western provinces of Gojjam and Gondar under his control. Then by 1855 he was victorious
Theodore II (Tewodros) had great visions and aims for Ethiopia but the ways in which he tried to achieve these aims and restore unification within Ethiopia was somewhat a failure and caused him to be unsuccessful in the eyes of some historians, hence the statement ‘A prophet of change who could not achieve his vision’.
Theodore was born in 1818 by the name of ‘Kasa’ to the governor of the Qwara province. Being born to a governor meant he was born into power already because like most sons of governors he was most likely to follow in the shadow of his father in the future. His father died when he was young therefore his half-brother succeeded their father and brought up Kasa. He was an educated child, as he studies Amharic) the official language of Ethiopia and Arabic. Due to the period he was born in which was one of anarchy whereby young men had to achieve respect and power through warfare and brigandage, Kasa soon became a distinguished soldier and was made the commander of the governor’s army. Soon after this he became governor of Qwara in 1845 and by then he already had a large following of armed men from his time as commander when he was a freebooter in the northwest. He had the ambition to go further and obtain the imperial throne despite having no rightful claim to the throne.
Tewodras saw the potential in the possibility of reunifying Ethiopia. Very early on he set aims for the country based on a vision he had for Ethiopia. These aims were as such; to unify Ethiopia through a strong central government, to restore the ancient glories of the Solomanic kingdom and more. He started putting his plans to action very soon after his appointment as governor. Between 1852 and 1855 he launched a military campaign, and by 1853 he had brought the western provinces of Gojjam and Gondar under his control. Then by 1855 he was victorious