Ethiopia has demanded that King Charles and the British army will hand 'holy' artifacts who were 'looted' during a war 150 years ago.
The precious items have been held in Britain since he was seized in the Battle of Magdala in 1868, but now the government of the African nation wants them back.
Military units have held on to the Dendens – who are sacred to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church – and now store them in their regimental museums.
The Royal Collection of the King also has some relics together with various other British institutions, including the British Museum.
Officials in Addis Ababa must make their return applications to both the king and the veterans of unity that supervise museums that focus on regimental history.
The movement will be led by the Ethiopian heritage authority – a branch of the Ministry of Tourism – in addition to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
Regarding the ownership of the Royal Collection of Religious Manuscripts, Abbaw Ayalew Gella, the director -General of the Heritage Authority, told the Telegraph: 'It is immoral. You don't just place them somewhere. They are holy. '
He continued: '' What was taken from Magdala was not something that was found there by accident. This is a very well -planned expedition. We call it plunder. '
Ethiopia has demanded that King Charles and the British army hand over 'holy' artifacts that were 'looted' during the Battle of Magdala in 1868. Displayed: an illustration of British soldiers in Magdala in the Ethiopian Empire in the Ethiopian Empire
The precious items have been held in Britain since they were seized during the battle for Magdala in 1868, but now the government of the African nation wants them back. Displayed: the golden slippers of Ethiopian emperor Tewodros II
Units, including the Royal Engineers and Scots Dragoon Guards, held on to the holy reminder of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. This image shows a shield that may also be the property of Emperor Lt Gen Gen Robert Napier, which is stored in the National Army Museum
“We work on what is true and how we can negotiate,” the director -general added.
The British government will be formally asked to support the claims of Ethiopia as part of a planned campaign that will start next year.
Civil servants hope that workers' leaders are more open to repatriation than their conservative predecessors, since Sir Keir Starmer and culture secretary Lisa Nandy have expressed support for a resolution on the row of the Elgin marbles.
Ethiopian officials also consider approaching the Ministry of Defense, which helps to finance a number of museums, for help with their campaign.
Some of the plundered relics are the miracles of the Virgin Mary, an 18th -century manuscript that is currently in the hands of the Royal Collection, Golden Slippers from Ethiopian emperor Tewodros II, also housed in the King's Treasure Trove, and a shield Possibly also is the property of the emperor, kept in the National Army Museum.
Institutions such as the British Museum are prevented from issuing artifacts by law.
But collections bound by regiments or items in the Royal Collection, which is owned by the king, can be returned if the green light is given by trustes.
While the National Museums of Great -Britain is prevented by the law to give up artifacts, the Royal Collection, which is kept in confidence by the king (depicted), can give items back to the discretion of Trustees
Some of the plundered remains are the miracles of the Virgin Mary (photo), an 18th -century manuscript
Instead of surrendering, Tewodros II would have shot himself with a revolver he gave him earlier by Queen Victoria
A precedent for recurring items in the Royal Collection was established after Elizabeth II had returned a royal cap and seal during a state visit to Ethiopia in 1965, when she met Haile Selassie, the last emperor of the country.
His grandson, Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Hail-Selassie, called on the king to give back the symbolic treasures of fellow royalties.
British forces helped to the treasures when Lt Gen Gen Robert Napier Tewodros II, the Ethiopian emperor, defeated in his fort in Magdala in 1868.
This came after a conflict about the unpredictable ruler – who was also known as the 'Mad, Wild King' – who captured a number of European hostages during a rage.
The hostages were released and the fort was looted by soldiers who sold the artifacts to collectors in the UK.
Instead of surrendering, Tewodros II would have shot himself with a revolver he gave him earlier by Queen Victoria.
Another Artefactrij
What are the Elgin Boddles and how did they end up in the British Museum?
The UK and Greece are entangled in a growing diplomatic row with regard to the Elgin marbles.
The marbles, also known as the Parthenon sculptures, are a series of old Greek sculptures made between 447 BC. And 432BC.
They were the work of the Greek architect Phidias, who also created a statue of the old God Zeus, who was considered one of the seven wonders of the old world.
The artifacts, an ode to the Greek goddess Athena, consist of 17 figures that decorated the Parthenon in Athens.
After being 2,000 years, the Acropolis was largely destroyed when the Ottoman Empire – which ruled Greece at the time – became engaged in a war with Venice.
The remaining sculptures were removed by Lord Elgin from the ruins of the Parthenon and brought to Great Britain between 1802 and 1812.
During this time, Elgin was also the British ambassador of the Ottoman Empire.
The long -term position of the British government is that Elgin had permission to take the marbles.
Critics say there are no surviving documents that support this claim.
