When you come across an Ethiopian, extend my greetings to him or her. Tell him that Ethiopia is the only undefeated African empire. Remind him of the battle of Adwa in 1 March 1896 were 17 000 plus machinery backed Italian forces were routed by an organised 3 columns of well organised parallel fighting Ethiopian forces backed by an overwhelming logistics of supply despite the famine ravaging the land.The resilient Ethiopians were fighting two enemies. Famine and a strong European power hell bent on conquering the last resistance of an African empire apparently sharing the African continent on the scramble of Africa by the French British and Germans. The Ethiopian Emperor Menelik II a brilliant Ethiopian leader pitted Italy against its European rivals while stockpiling weapons to defend itself against the Italians.
The emperor had agreed to sign a Treaty of Wuchale with the Italians but on seeing article 17 of that treaty which was written in Italian and make Ethiopia a protectorate of the Kingdom of Italy, later refused. The Italians declared war on Ethiopia. In December 1894, Bahta Hagos an Eritrean leader led a rebellion against the Italians in Akkele Guzay, in what was then Italian controlled Eritrea.Units of General Oreste Baratieri’s army under Major Pietro Toselli crushed the rebellion and killed Bahta. The Italian army then occupied the Tigrayan capital, Adwa. In 1895, Italian forces then advanced deep into Ethiopian territory. But on December 7 in a counter attack under hunger, and knowing the terrain better than the Italians, Meneliks two Generals Ras Welle Betul and Ras Mengesha Yohannes commanding a larger Ethiopian group of Menelik’s vanguard annihilated a small Italian unit at the Battle of Amba Alagi.
The Italians then withdrew into a defensive position in Tigray. General Oreste Baratieri, commander of the Italian forces apparently incensed that the Ethiopian forces had been living off the land thought about the next move. He asked Rome for directions and in a meeting with his subordinates felt his forces needed to wait for supplies before they could launch an attack on Ethiopia.
General Oreste Baratieri knew he was about to be replaced as Governor by a directive from Rome and so he didnt want any disgrace from an African Army. The Italian Government insisted he act screaming: “Italy would prefer the loss of two or three thousand men to a dishonorable retreat.”
9.00 am the next morning Baratieris 17 900 Italian forces launched his attack on Ethiopia.
But their lack of knowledge of the geographic terrain became their nemesis.Emperor Meneliks 70 000 forces led by Empress Taytu Betul, Ras Wale Betul, Ras Mengesha Atikem etal allowed the Italians to spread too thinly. The Emperor rose up early that morning praying for divine help and speaking to his men, that Ethiopia must never be conquered. Empress Taytu his daughter was prepared to die fighting. The Ethipians on seeing their empress with such breath taking bravery became re-energized and charged forward. No one cared for his life. The slogan was one for all and all for one!
The Ethiopian forces positioned themselves on the hills overlooking the Adwa valley, in perfect position to receive the Italians, who were exposed and vulnerable to crossfire.Albertone’s askari brigade was the first to encounter the onrush of Ethiopians at 6:00, near Kidane Meret, where the Ethiopians had managed to set up their mountain artillery.Albertone’s heavily outnumbered askaris held their position for two hours until Albertone’s capture, and under Ethiopian pressure the survivors sought refuge with Arimondi’s brigade. The remaining two brigades under Baratieri himself were outflanked and destroyed piecemeal on the slopes of Mount Belah. Menelik watched as Gojjam forces under the command of Tekle Haymonot made quick work of the last intact Italian brigade. By noon, the survivors of the Italian army were in full retreat and the battle was over.
7000 Italians were killed and about 1500 injured. 3000 prisoners were taken. Ethiopian loses were 4000 killed and 8000 wounded.Baratieri was relieved of his command by Italy and later charged with preparing an “inexcusable” plan of attack and for abandoning his troops in the field.
When the news broke out in Rome of the Italian defeat, there was riot and the city which had ruled the world years ago for over 300 years suddenly became a shadow of herself. A European might had been disgraced.No wonder the British and French had tactically avoided confrontation with Ethiopia. Italy never forgot the defeat, though she had signed the Treaty of Addis Ababa, that recognized Ethiopia as an independent state, Mussolini tore the treaty in 5 October 1935 and launched an attack on Ethiopia but was driven out by the British Empire and Ethiopian Arbegnoch forces.
After the victory over Italy in 1896, Ethiopia acquired a special importance in the eyes of Africans as the only surviving African State. After Adowa, Ethiopia became emblematic of African valour and resistance, the bastion of prestige and hope to thousands of Africans who were experiencing the full shock of European conquest and were beginning to search for an answer to the myth of African inferiority.
The Rastafari movement still worship Haile Selassie I as a god….their emblem of true Africanism
