Tewodros II of Ethiopia

Led Ethiopia's resistance against British colonialism and initiated modernization efforts

Emperor Tewodros II (1818-1868) emerged as a transformative leader during Ethiopia's 19th century struggle against European colonial ambitions. Born Kassa Haile Giorgis, he united fragmented regions through military campaigns before declaring himself Emperor in 1855. His reign marked Ethiopia's first modernization attempts including standardized currency, postal systems, and infrastructure projects like the Magdala fortress complex still standing today (UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Most notably, Tewodros defied British imperial ambitions in the 1860s when he detained consular officials demanding Ethiopia's submission. This led to the punitive British expedition of 1868, immortalized in books like The Scramble for Africa. Though his reign ended tragically with suicide during the British invasion, his resistance inspired later anti-colonial movements. Modern Addis Ababa's Menelik II National Museum (visit website) contains key artifacts from his era.