After being slighted, missionary Henry Aaron Stern published a book highly critical of Abyssinian society, calling them a "false, treacherous and insolent race." This public critique reached Emperor Theodros, leading to Stern's arrest and torture, escalating the international crisis.

Emperor Theodros viewed his Christian kingdom as a natural ally to Christian Britain. However, British foreign policy was driven by realpolitik, prioritizing its strategic alliance with the Ottoman Empire and interests in Egypt, a calculation Theodros could not comprehend.

After imprisoning British envoys in a cellar, Emperor Theodros sat drinking with them before departing with a chilling confession. He acknowledged his family history of madness and admitted, "now I know it's true," showcasing a moment of tragic self-awareness amidst his tyranny.

In a final act of humiliation, Iranian authorities delayed the hostages' release until the very moment Ronald Reagan finished his inaugural address. This ensured Jimmy Carter, who had obsessed over their freedom, was a private citizen, denying him his final presidential goal.

Although likely unaware of the initial embassy takeover plan, Ayatollah Khomeini astutely leveraged the ensuing hostage crisis. It became an invaluable political tool to unify the public against a common enemy and sideline moderate rivals, thereby cementing his revolutionary control.

The warlord Kassa, after unifying the country, took the name "Theodros." This was a strategic move to tap into a long-standing Abyssinian tradition foretelling a messianic ruler named Theodros who would restore the nation's glory, effectively claiming a divine right to rule.

The White House assumed the hostage crisis was a negotiation over specific demands, such as returning the Shah. In reality, Khomeini used the prolonged crisis to eliminate moderate rivals and consolidate the Islamic Republic, making the stated demands largely irrelevant.

Fascinated by foreign military power, Emperor Theodros II became obsessed with acquiring modern guns. He forced European missionaries to build blast furnaces and cannons for him, threatening them with death if they failed, despite their lack of expertise in gunsmithing.

A key turning point in Emperor Theodros's reign was the death of his wife Tawabak, who was a moderating influence. Her loss sent him into a spiral of grief, heavy drinking, and paranoia, directly contributing to his increasingly erratic and violent behavior as a ruler.