The escape from Magdala of Dejazmach Menelik and some of his friends in July 1865 was one of many factors that contributed to the deterioration of Tewodros’s situation. During his imprisonment, Menelik had managed to maintain contact with the world outside and had planned his escape route in advance. Troops of the Oromo Queen Worqitu of Wollo, hostile to Tewodros, met the fugitives at the border of her domains and helped them on to Shoa. In revenge Tewodros had the queen’s son and more than two dozen other Oromo prisoners hacked to death and twelve Amhara notables from Wollo beaten to death with bamboo rods.1