02/03/2023
Happy Adwa Victory to Ethiopians ✊
Remembering the Battle of Adwa , How Ethiopia 🇪🇹 Defeated Europe
The year 1896 signifies an important moment in African history. In that year, on 1 March 1896, a historic battle between invading Italian forces and a strong Ethiopian army (under the leadership of Emperor Menelik II and his wife, Empress Taytu – sometimes spelt Taitu) took place. The result of this violent clash marked a turning point in the European colonial mission known as the Scramble for Africa. This battle is known as the Battle of Adwa.
What led to the battle?
The groundwork for the Battle of Adwa (Adwa being a town in the northern part of Ethiopia, which was then known as Abyssinia) was laid long before any blow was delivered. Seven years before the events at Adwa, the two countries signed a treaty known as the Treaty of Wichale (sometimes spelt ‘Wuchale’ in transliterated Amharic – a language spoken in Ethiopia – or ‘Ucciale’ or ‘Ucciali’ in Italian). The controversial 1889 treaty provided Ethiopia’s military with advanced European weaponry – namely cannons and muskets – as well as financial resources, in exchange for control of the northern territories of Hamasen, Bogos, and Akele-Guzai (modern-day Eritrea and northern Tigray, Ethiopia). While Italy sought to exploit the divisions and power struggles within the Empire stemming from the rich diversity of the Ethiopian people, its covert goal was to, in fact, colonise the whole Empire.
In an attempt to pull the wool over Emperor Menelik’s eyes, the treaty had been written in two languages – Amharic and Italian. The Italian version recognised Ethiopia as a protectorate, while the Amharic version stated that Ethiopia merely had the option to report to Italy when engaging with other European powers. When the discrepancies were realised, Emperor Menelik sought to address them through diplomatic means, to no avail. As a result, Emperor Menelik formally denounced the treaty in 1893.
Empress Taytu is said to
