First Italo-Ethiopian War
Aug 15, 2016 0:16:25 GMT
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Post by Ivan Kolev on Aug 15, 2016 0:16:25 GMT
Today, we talk about a truly interesting war in Eastern Africa: The First Italo-Ethiopian War.
Emperor Menelik II
By the 1890's, the Scramble for Africa was in full swing. France expanded into the Sahara, Britain moved into Zulu lands, the Portuguese conquered Mozambican and Angolan tribes, and the Germans tried to take what they could get. Meanwhile, Italy was signing treaties with other great powers to try and secure a 'place in the sun', if you will, for Italy. They desired Tunisia, but the French conquered the area in the 1880's, so they set their sights on the Horn of Africa. They took the port of Assab in Eritrea as well as parts of Somalia, and proceeded to expand their Eritrean colony during the Mahdist War against the Sudanese Mahdists. After the Mahdist War, the Italians signed a treaty with the British basically dividing up the rest of East Africa, saying that Britain would gain Somaliland, the Sudan, and Kenya, while Italy would gain Eritrea, the rest of Somalia and Ethiopia.
Meanwhile, the Ethiopian Empire was recovering from turmoil. Ethiopia was divided and in constant civil war from 1769-1855 in what was known as 'Zemine Mesafent' or the 'Age of Princes', where multiple different kingdoms such as Shewa and Tigray were vying for control of Ethiopia. This period could be compared to the Warring States Period in China in ancient times. Ultimately, Emperor Tweodros II unified Ethiopia with support of the British, but committed suicide following multiple internal rebellions and a British intervention following the imprisonment of a Protestant missionary from the U.K. He was succeeded by a few other emperors, but eventually Emperor Menelik II of Shewa came to power in 1889. Menelik began a policy of modernization and westernization, bringing in military advisors, specifically Russian ones, as well as utilizing modern infrastructure and weapons. Menelik also reached out to foreign powers, gaining weapons from France, Russia and the U.K. Russia was Ethiopia's predominant ally, receiving an Ethiopian diplomat shortly before the war requesting for support against Italy. Russia agreed. Russia was invested in East Africa since the 1880's, and sympathized with the Ethiopians as they were fellow Orthodox Christians (Albeit, they were different kinds of Orthodox Christianity).
Two months after his coronation, Menelik signed the Treaty of Wuchale with the Italians, trying to negotiate borders at Eritrea. The treaty was written in both Italian and Amharic (The language of the Ethiopian Empire), which proved confusing. In the Amharic version, the treaty stated that the Emperor could choose to maintain diplomatic relations through Italy, but in the Italian version of the treaty, it stated that Ethiopia would become a complete protectorate of Italy. The Italians claimed the Amharic text included the protectorate clause but that Menelik created a falsified version so as to prevent being a protectorate. The Italians were determined to gain Ethiopia as a colony, as they were seen as a second rate power, so if they were to annex Ethiopia, it would possibly improve their place in the world. They also wanted to establish dominance in the Horn of Africa, something the other European powers such as Britain did not want, which was a large reason for their support of the Ethiopians during the war. The Italians issued an ultimatum in 1894, stating that Ethiopia would either become a protectorate or be invaded by Italy. Menelik, with confidence that with Russian support, foreign weapons, and internal support that he could win a war against Italy, refused the ultimatum. The Italians invaded shortly after on December 15th, 1894.
Top: Painting depicting the Battle of Adwa
Bottom: Oreste Baratieri
The Italians began the war by moving across their Eritrean colony into the region of Tigray in Ethiopia in December of 1894. The Italians not only had Italian soldiers, but also Eritrean Ascaris (Ascari simply being the Italian spelling of Askari, the word used to describe native African soldiers of the European powers). The Italians had a force of up to 25,000 men, led by Italian general Oreste Baratieri. Baratieri was a skilled commander, but Italian politics would ultimately result in his battle prowess not being used to his full potential. The Italian Prime Minister, Francesco Crispi, told Baratieri he had to win battles in order to ensure his re-election. This would prove incredibly problematic for the Italian commander. The Italians did not have local support either. The Italians expected the previous turmoil in Ethiopia to result in Amharic, Tigrayan and Afar peoples to flock to the Italian ranks. What actually happened was that the Amharic and Tigrayan peoples usually fled to the Ethiopian ranks to help fight the Italians and defend their homeland, while the Italian colonial government in Eritrea had to keep a close eye on the Afar people of Eritrea. The Italians did have a completely modernized army, however.
Meanwhile, the Ethiopians had up to 196,000 men, of which only 80,000-100,000 men were armed with rifles, the rest being armed with spears or swords. The Ethiopians had local support, and were led by the commanders of Mengesha Yohannes, Tekle Haymanot and Emperor Menelik II himself. They also had foreign support, gaining arms from Russia, Britain and France, as well as having multiple Russian military advisors. A Russian Red Cross unit was also stationed in Ethiopia.
The first major military engagement was at the Battle of Coatit in Tigray during January of 1894. Baratieri successfully defeated Mengesha's forces before Mengesha could launch an offensive into Italian Eritrea. Baratieri pursued Mengesha, capturing weapons and documents. So far, the war was looking heavily in favor of Italy. Italy also signed a treaty with France in January, giving up Italian claims in Tunisia in exchange for the dropping of French claims in Eritrea and to no longer aid the Ethiopians.
A mass mobilization occurred during most of 1895 in Ethiopia, with Menelik amassing a force of 196,000 men in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. In the December of 1895, Ethiopian soldiers overran the Italian fort at Amba Alagi, and it resulted in the Italians having to retreat back to Eritrea. The Ethiopians then sieged the Italians at the fort of Megele from the 6th to the 21st of January, 1896, ultimately resulting in the Italians surrendering. Menelik allowed the Italians to leave with their weapons, even providing mules and pack animals to aid them in their return to Italian Eritrea. While this was partly meant as a way to show their generosity, Menelik also did this to prevent the Italians from continuing resistance in Tigray.
Baratieri, now realizing the size of the Ethiopian military, refused to engage the Ethiopians, knowing that the lack of infrastructure in Ethiopia would prevent mass numbers of Ethiopian troops from staying on the battlefield for much longer. Crispi, however, ordered Baratieri to engage the Ethiopians or risk being relieved of duty. Baratieri chose the former option and prepared to engage the Ethiopian military.
The Italians met the Ethiopians at the Tigrayan town of Adwa on March 1st, 1896. The Italians had 17,700 men, while the Ethiopians had up to 120,000 men, with up to 100,000 having rifles. Baratieri was hoping for a surprise attack at dawn, but the Ethiopians had awoken early for a church service. The Ethiopians absolutely destroyed Baratieri's forces, winning a decisive battle. Menelik's victory was due to his massive advantage in numbers as well as mostly armed forces. In the battle, up to 50 Russians served on the Ethiopian side, as with ~3,000 Eritrean Ascaris. While Italian POW's were treated as well as possible, the 800 Eritrean Ascaris taken prisoner by the Ethiopians were treated brutally as they were regarded as traitors, with their limbs being cut off.
Italy began negotiations soon after Adwa, with the subsequent treaty resulting in minor Ethiopian concessions to Italy but nothing significant. The effects of the battle are numerous:
1. It was the first time in history an African army decisively defeated a European one in a battle and in a war.
2. It led to the fall of Francesco Crispi's government in Italy.
3. The war resulted in definitive Ethiopian independence, meaning it was the only African country to defeat a foreign power and prevent colonization during the 19th Century. Britain and France proceeded to sign treaties with Ethiopia shortly following the war.
4. As a result of the war, Menelik expanded Eastward into the Ogaden.
Emperor Menelik II
By the 1890's, the Scramble for Africa was in full swing. France expanded into the Sahara, Britain moved into Zulu lands, the Portuguese conquered Mozambican and Angolan tribes, and the Germans tried to take what they could get. Meanwhile, Italy was signing treaties with other great powers to try and secure a 'place in the sun', if you will, for Italy. They desired Tunisia, but the French conquered the area in the 1880's, so they set their sights on the Horn of Africa. They took the port of Assab in Eritrea as well as parts of Somalia, and proceeded to expand their Eritrean colony during the Mahdist War against the Sudanese Mahdists. After the Mahdist War, the Italians signed a treaty with the British basically dividing up the rest of East Africa, saying that Britain would gain Somaliland, the Sudan, and Kenya, while Italy would gain Eritrea, the rest of Somalia and Ethiopia.
Meanwhile, the Ethiopian Empire was recovering from turmoil. Ethiopia was divided and in constant civil war from 1769-1855 in what was known as 'Zemine Mesafent' or the 'Age of Princes', where multiple different kingdoms such as Shewa and Tigray were vying for control of Ethiopia. This period could be compared to the Warring States Period in China in ancient times. Ultimately, Emperor Tweodros II unified Ethiopia with support of the British, but committed suicide following multiple internal rebellions and a British intervention following the imprisonment of a Protestant missionary from the U.K. He was succeeded by a few other emperors, but eventually Emperor Menelik II of Shewa came to power in 1889. Menelik began a policy of modernization and westernization, bringing in military advisors, specifically Russian ones, as well as utilizing modern infrastructure and weapons. Menelik also reached out to foreign powers, gaining weapons from France, Russia and the U.K. Russia was Ethiopia's predominant ally, receiving an Ethiopian diplomat shortly before the war requesting for support against Italy. Russia agreed. Russia was invested in East Africa since the 1880's, and sympathized with the Ethiopians as they were fellow Orthodox Christians (Albeit, they were different kinds of Orthodox Christianity).
Two months after his coronation, Menelik signed the Treaty of Wuchale with the Italians, trying to negotiate borders at Eritrea. The treaty was written in both Italian and Amharic (The language of the Ethiopian Empire), which proved confusing. In the Amharic version, the treaty stated that the Emperor could choose to maintain diplomatic relations through Italy, but in the Italian version of the treaty, it stated that Ethiopia would become a complete protectorate of Italy. The Italians claimed the Amharic text included the protectorate clause but that Menelik created a falsified version so as to prevent being a protectorate. The Italians were determined to gain Ethiopia as a colony, as they were seen as a second rate power, so if they were to annex Ethiopia, it would possibly improve their place in the world. They also wanted to establish dominance in the Horn of Africa, something the other European powers such as Britain did not want, which was a large reason for their support of the Ethiopians during the war. The Italians issued an ultimatum in 1894, stating that Ethiopia would either become a protectorate or be invaded by Italy. Menelik, with confidence that with Russian support, foreign weapons, and internal support that he could win a war against Italy, refused the ultimatum. The Italians invaded shortly after on December 15th, 1894.
Top: Painting depicting the Battle of Adwa
Bottom: Oreste Baratieri
The Italians began the war by moving across their Eritrean colony into the region of Tigray in Ethiopia in December of 1894. The Italians not only had Italian soldiers, but also Eritrean Ascaris (Ascari simply being the Italian spelling of Askari, the word used to describe native African soldiers of the European powers). The Italians had a force of up to 25,000 men, led by Italian general Oreste Baratieri. Baratieri was a skilled commander, but Italian politics would ultimately result in his battle prowess not being used to his full potential. The Italian Prime Minister, Francesco Crispi, told Baratieri he had to win battles in order to ensure his re-election. This would prove incredibly problematic for the Italian commander. The Italians did not have local support either. The Italians expected the previous turmoil in Ethiopia to result in Amharic, Tigrayan and Afar peoples to flock to the Italian ranks. What actually happened was that the Amharic and Tigrayan peoples usually fled to the Ethiopian ranks to help fight the Italians and defend their homeland, while the Italian colonial government in Eritrea had to keep a close eye on the Afar people of Eritrea. The Italians did have a completely modernized army, however.
Meanwhile, the Ethiopians had up to 196,000 men, of which only 80,000-100,000 men were armed with rifles, the rest being armed with spears or swords. The Ethiopians had local support, and were led by the commanders of Mengesha Yohannes, Tekle Haymanot and Emperor Menelik II himself. They also had foreign support, gaining arms from Russia, Britain and France, as well as having multiple Russian military advisors. A Russian Red Cross unit was also stationed in Ethiopia.
The first major military engagement was at the Battle of Coatit in Tigray during January of 1894. Baratieri successfully defeated Mengesha's forces before Mengesha could launch an offensive into Italian Eritrea. Baratieri pursued Mengesha, capturing weapons and documents. So far, the war was looking heavily in favor of Italy. Italy also signed a treaty with France in January, giving up Italian claims in Tunisia in exchange for the dropping of French claims in Eritrea and to no longer aid the Ethiopians.
A mass mobilization occurred during most of 1895 in Ethiopia, with Menelik amassing a force of 196,000 men in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. In the December of 1895, Ethiopian soldiers overran the Italian fort at Amba Alagi, and it resulted in the Italians having to retreat back to Eritrea. The Ethiopians then sieged the Italians at the fort of Megele from the 6th to the 21st of January, 1896, ultimately resulting in the Italians surrendering. Menelik allowed the Italians to leave with their weapons, even providing mules and pack animals to aid them in their return to Italian Eritrea. While this was partly meant as a way to show their generosity, Menelik also did this to prevent the Italians from continuing resistance in Tigray.
Baratieri, now realizing the size of the Ethiopian military, refused to engage the Ethiopians, knowing that the lack of infrastructure in Ethiopia would prevent mass numbers of Ethiopian troops from staying on the battlefield for much longer. Crispi, however, ordered Baratieri to engage the Ethiopians or risk being relieved of duty. Baratieri chose the former option and prepared to engage the Ethiopian military.
The Italians met the Ethiopians at the Tigrayan town of Adwa on March 1st, 1896. The Italians had 17,700 men, while the Ethiopians had up to 120,000 men, with up to 100,000 having rifles. Baratieri was hoping for a surprise attack at dawn, but the Ethiopians had awoken early for a church service. The Ethiopians absolutely destroyed Baratieri's forces, winning a decisive battle. Menelik's victory was due to his massive advantage in numbers as well as mostly armed forces. In the battle, up to 50 Russians served on the Ethiopian side, as with ~3,000 Eritrean Ascaris. While Italian POW's were treated as well as possible, the 800 Eritrean Ascaris taken prisoner by the Ethiopians were treated brutally as they were regarded as traitors, with their limbs being cut off.
Italy began negotiations soon after Adwa, with the subsequent treaty resulting in minor Ethiopian concessions to Italy but nothing significant. The effects of the battle are numerous:
1. It was the first time in history an African army decisively defeated a European one in a battle and in a war.
2. It led to the fall of Francesco Crispi's government in Italy.
3. The war resulted in definitive Ethiopian independence, meaning it was the only African country to defeat a foreign power and prevent colonization during the 19th Century. Britain and France proceeded to sign treaties with Ethiopia shortly following the war.
4. As a result of the war, Menelik expanded Eastward into the Ogaden.
