The Battle of Adwa
Decisions, questions and your own progress, in the app
A traditional Ethiopian painting of the Battle of Adwa · Unknown artistUnknown artist · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source page
Africa under pressure
By the 1890s, European powers had seized most of Africa. Italy wanted Ethiopia. Emperor Menelik II had spent years buying modern rifles and building a strong army.
A treaty with two meanings
In 1889, Ethiopia and Italy signed the Treaty of Wuchale. The Italian text made Ethiopia an Italian protectorate. The Amharic text did not. Menelik rejected Italy's claim, and war followed.
The armies meet
about 100,000
Menelik gathered about 100,000 soldiers from across Ethiopia. Italy's force numbered about 17,000, many of them Eritrean troops. Empress Taytu helped lead the campaign and commanded her own soldiers.
Battle in the hills
On 1 March 1896, Italian columns advanced at night through rough hills near Adwa. They lost contact with each other. Ethiopian forces attacked each column separately and won by early afternoon.
Independence secured
Italy lost several thousand men killed in a single day. In October 1896, Italy signed a treaty recognising Ethiopia as fully independent.
Why it still matters
Adwa showed that an African army could defeat a European power. It inspired independence movements across Africa. Ethiopia's green, yellow and red later appeared on many African flags.
Review question
What sparked the war between Ethiopia and Italy?
Answer: Two different versions of a treaty. The Italian text of the Treaty of Wuchale made Ethiopia a protectorate, while the Amharic text did not. Menelik refused to accept Italy's version.
Who was Ethiopia's emperor at the Battle of Adwa?
Answer: Menelik II. Menelik II led Ethiopia at Adwa, with Empress Taytu at his side. Haile Selassie ruled decades later.
Image credits
- A traditional Ethiopian painting of the Battle of Adwa · Unknown artistUnknown artist · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source page
