Tiruwork Wube facts for kids

Tiruwork Wube (died 16 May 1868), also known as Queen Terunesh, was an Empress of Ethiopia. She was the second wife of Emperor Tewodros II of Ethiopia.

Her Family and Early Life

Tiruwork Wube was the daughter of a powerful leader named Dejazmatch Wube Hayle Maryam. Her father was from the Amhara people and ruled a large area in northern Ethiopia. Her mother was Woizero Lakiyaye, a noblewoman from the Tigray people.

Tiruwork's family was very important. They were related to Emperor Fasilides and to another strong leader, Ras Wolde Selassie. Her father, Dejazmatch Wube, had hoped to become Emperor himself. However, Tewodros II defeated him in battle. Tewodros then became Emperor and imprisoned Tiruwork's father and brothers. Tiruwork was a very religious woman. She prayed and fasted, and she wanted to become a nun in a convent.

Her Marriage to Emperor Tewodros

After Emperor Tewodros II's first wife, Empress Tewabech Ali, passed away, his friends looked for a new wife for him. They wanted someone who could give him a child and help calm his moods.

The story says that one of the Emperor's officers saw Tiruwork at a church. He was very impressed by her beauty, noble manners, and deep faith. He immediately told the Emperor that he had found the perfect wife for him. Tewodros learned that this woman was the daughter of his enemy, Wube Hayle Maryam. But her royal background, famous family, and beauty convinced him to marry her.

Tiruwork did not want to marry Tewodros. She still wanted to join a convent. However, her family convinced her to marry the Emperor. They hoped that this marriage might help her father and brothers be freed from prison or at least make their lives easier.

Life as Empress

Sadly, the marriage between Tiruwork and Tewodros was not a happy one. Unlike his first wife, Tiruwork could not calm the Emperor's anger. She probably did not want to. Tewodros had made her father's imprisonment a little easier, but he did not free him. This made Tiruwork feel distant from her husband.

Tiruwork also felt that marrying Tewodros was beneath her. She believed he was not a true king because he had taken power by force. She often refused to stand up when he entered a room, which was the custom. Once, when Tewodros entered, she was reading a religious book and pretended not to see him. He angrily asked why she did not stand. She looked up and said, "I am speaking with someone far greater than you." The Emperor left in a rage.

Tiruwork was often cold and distant towards Tewodros, and he became angry and unkind in return. Despite their difficult marriage, they had one son, Alemayehu Tewodros, whom they both loved very much.

Even though their marriage was difficult, they did make up sometimes. They were together when the British arrived in 1868. The British came to free European prisoners the Emperor had captured. At one point, when Menelik II of Shewa attacked the Emperor's fortress, Empress Tiruwork helped gather the Emperor's soldiers. She played a key role in defending the fortress while Tewodros was away.

Her Final Journey and Passing

After Emperor Tewodros II died, Empress Tiruwork first agreed that her son, Alemayehu, would go to England with the British. She planned to return to her home region. However, she suddenly changed her mind and decided to go with her son.

Empress Tiruwork was already ill, and the stress of her husband's death and her uncertain future made her health worse. The British commander, Napier, treated her with great respect. He made sure that Tewodros's family was cared for properly.

Tiruwork learned that her male relatives had told Napier, "do what you want with her." This hurt her deeply. She was also bothered by a British officer, Captain Speedy, who kept trying to become her son's guardian. She asked Napier to keep him away, and Napier ordered Speedy to stop.

The British expedition began its journey to the coast. But the Empress's health quickly got worse. She died before reaching the coast. Her young son, Alemayehu, then traveled to Britain without any family by his side.

The British soldiers honored Empress Tiruwork Wube. Her body was taken to the Holy Trinity monastery at Chalacot in Tigray, where her grandfather was buried. Her mother, Woizero Lakiyaye, mourned her deeply. Before leaving with her daughter's body, she gave Napier a letter for Queen Victoria. In the letter, Alemayehu's grandmother asked the British Queen to care for the young prince as if he were her own. Queen Victoria was very touched by this letter. She took responsibility for Alemayehu's education. Queen Victoria wrote in her diary how sad she was when the Ethiopian prince died at age 19, just a few years later.

Empress Tiruwork Wube was also related to other important people. She was the aunt of Emperor Tewodros's first wife, Empress Tewabech Ali. She was also the first cousin of Empress Taytu Betul, who later became the wife of Emperor Menelik II.