Remembering Emperor Tewodros English Ally - John Bell ---------- John Bell is one of the most extraordinary of Englishman invited into Emperors Tewodros court. Citing Nicholas Shakespeare review of the Barefoot Emperor by Philip Marsden: Tewodros put faith in the willingness of European powers - particularly England - to help him secure a modern arsenal. His weakness for the English was planted in him by a strange figure. This was John Bell, his guardian angel, who acted as the Emperors decoy on the battlefield and was rewarded with his own detachment of cavalry. When Bell died in battle, Tewodros, inconsolable, decapitated 500 prisoners. Against this improbable yardstick - my best friend, my only friend! - all other Englishmen seemed asses. (Photo: British traveller John Bell killed by Abyssinian warriors. Created by Bayard, published on Le Tour du Monde, Paris, 1867)
Posted on: Sat, 12 Apr 2014 18:40:33 +0000
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