Emperor Theodros developed a powerful, almost lovesick attachment to Hormuzd Rassam, the British envoy sent to negotiate. After agreeing to free the hostages, Theodros reversed his decision at the last minute, seemingly unable to bear letting his new "friend" Rassam leave the country.

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.

The Spanish used a legal document called the "Requerimiento" to legitimize conquest. Before attacking, they read a history of the world and demanded submission to the Pope and Spanish King. Refusal provided a legal pretext for slaughter, a practice some Spaniards at the time considered absurd.

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.

Treasures taken by British troops from the Abyssinian citadel of Magdala in 1868 are now held in institutions like the British Museum, the V&A, and even the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. This highlights the lasting, global legacy of Victorian military expeditions on cultural heritage.

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.

Contrary to modern narratives, historical writings from colonized peoples, such as Egyptians in the 1800s, praised the colonial period for bringing advancements in science, technology, and medicine, viewing it as a time of progress.

In the early 20th century, the Ottoman Empire adopted European scripts, dress, and customs not due to force, but because they saw the confident, technologically superior West as a model for success and power, abandoning their own traditions in the process.

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.