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.

Historically, rising and ruling powers don't stumble into war directly. Instead, their heightened distrust creates a tinderbox where a seemingly minor incident involving a third party (like the assassination in Sarajevo pre-WWI) can escalate uncontrollably into a catastrophic conflict.

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.

Top British ministers justified their non-intervention policy in Northern Ireland by admitting they knew "nothing at all" about the situation. This wasn't just an oversight but a political stance to avoid entanglement. This willful ignorance allowed the crisis to escalate uncontrollably, ultimately forcing a far more painful and protracted military intervention later on.

Lacking a parliamentary majority for war, Prime Minister Salandra executed a masterful political maneuver by resigning. This dared the king to appoint an anti-war successor amidst orchestrated street protests. Fearing civil unrest, the king was forced to reappoint Salandra, effectively greenlighting Italy's entry into the war.

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.

After his son's suicide, Emperor Franz Joseph remained stoic until learning Rudolf had left letters for his mother, sister, wife, and mistress—but not for him. This deliberate, final act of paternal rejection was the one thing that broke the emperor's composure, causing him to collapse in grief.

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.