In the beginnings of the 1800's, Tewodros II had himself crowned emperor after conquering nearby areas. He spent his rein modernizing legal systems but tensions rose with the British, which ending with the emperor committing suicide to avoid arrest. A civil war then occured. With the opening of the Suez Canal many powers realized the importance of Ethiopia. Soon, Menelik II became Emperor. He made the capital Addis Ababa, modernized the government, and expanded their territory.
