Based on the True Story of an Ethiopian Prince Who Refused to Surrender His Soul
- Ademe Etefworkie Melaku
- Dec 20, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 3
In 1868, seven-year-old Prince Alemayehu Tewodros stood in the ruins of Magdala fortress. He watched the British Empire destroy everything he knew. His father, Emperor Tewodros II of Ethiopia, chose death over captivity. He fired the pistol Queen Victoria had sent as a diplomatic gift. Tragically, his mother followed him to the grave within months. The boy was taken to England as a "rescued orphan," a living testament that British civilization could transform anyone.
For seven years, Alemayehu was educated in England's finest schools. He wore British uniforms and was trained to serve imperial interests. He met Queen Victoria and studied at Sandhurst Military Academy. He learned to speak perfect English, eat with proper etiquette, and march in formation like a British soldier. But he never forgot who he was.
His body refused what his mind had been forced to accept.
The Struggle for Identity
As Alemayehu came of age, he found himself trapped. He was caught between the Ethiopian identity he couldn't abandon and the English future others demanded. His health began to fail. No doctor could diagnose what was killing him. What he suffered wasn't a disease—it was the accumulated weight of seven years spent being erased.
Like Father, Like Son is the true story of impossible choices. It's a tale of survival versus sovereignty, gratitude versus grief, and the struggle to become who others need you to be while remaining true to yourself. It's a poignant story of the British Museum displaying his father's crown as a trophy while the son starved for home. It tells of a Queen who loved him but couldn't truly see him. And of a boy who carried two empires on shoulders too young to bear them.
A Legacy of Resilience
Based on historical records, royal correspondence, and the testimony of those who knew him, this is the story history tried to bury. It’s the story of an Ethiopian prince who died at eighteen in Windsor Castle, far from home, yet never surrendered the one thing they couldn't take by force: His identity.
Like father, like son. Both refused to kneel. Both chose freedom, even when freedom meant death.
Perfect for Readers Who Loved
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Content Note
This book contains themes of parental death, colonialism, racism, illness, grief, cultural erasure, and the death of the protagonist. Reader discretion is advised.
"He died a stranger, as he had lived a stranger." — Inscription on Prince Alemayehu's grave, Windsor Castle
Conclusion
Like Father, Like Son is more than just a book. It's a journey through history, identity, and resilience. It invites you to reflect on the struggles of a young prince who faced unimaginable challenges. Are you ready to dive into this powerful narrative? Grab your copy today and discover the story that history tried to erase!
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