The British 1868 Expedition to Abyssinia was a punitive expedition carried out by armed forces of the British Empire against the Ethiopian Empire. Emperor Tewodros II of Ethiopia; also known as 'Theodore'; imprisoned several missionaries and two representatives of the British government. The punitive expedition launched by the British in response required the transportation of a sizable military force hundreds of miles across mountainous terrain lacking any road system.

The force consisted of 13;000 British and Indian soldiers; 26;000 camp followers and over 40;000 animals; including elephants. It set sail from Bombay in upwards of 280 steam and sailing ships. The advance guard of engineers landed at Zula on the Red Sea; about 30 miles (48 km) south of Massawa. The decisive battle took place at the mountain fortress of Magdala on April 10-11; 1868. British casualties were 2 killed and 18 wounded; while the Ethiopians lost 700 killed and 1;400 wounded. The defeated emperor Tewodoros committed suicide rather than be captured.