BY WOSSENSEGED ASSEFA
125 years ago, on March 1, 1896 a battle that would later be deemed as a fundamental turning point in Ethiopian history took place at Adwa, Ethiopia. This battle was first sparked by a disagreement on an article in the Treaty of Wichale that was signed on May 2, 1889.
Article XVII (which was the issue of conflict) was reportedly interpreted by King Menelik (in the Amharic version) as meaning that Ethiopia could choose to utilize the Italian government in dealing with other foreign powers.
Italian premier Francesco Crispi interpreted it (in the Italian version) as meaning that Ethiopia must utilize the Italian government, thereby implying the declaration of an Italian protectorate over Ethiopia.
At first King Menelik refused to accept that specific article after the differences between the two versions came to light, but later rejected the whole treaty. This was the spark that started the fire and the Italian troops began planning a scheme to invade Ethiopia.
At first, the Italians tried bribing the king himself by using rounds of ammunition. However, to the Italians’ surprise, the King still rejected the treaty, despite their attempt to influence the king with 2 million rounds of ammunition. He would have none of it and denounced them as liars who had attempted to cheat himself and Ethiopia.
When bribery failed Italy did what so many colonizers had tried throughout history, creating and controlling a rival faction. To kick off this plan they attempted to set up Ras Mengasha of Tigray as a rival by promising to support him with money and weapons, and hoped he would overthrow Menelik II who had denounced Italy.
However, again to their surprise this plan also failed when Ras Mengesha also rejected this idea. Seeing that force was their only way forward, the Italians turned to Baratieri, who had shown some promise in his handling of government affairs in Eritrea to lead an expedition to conquer the Ethiopian empire.
Although initially succeeding at the beginning of the campaign in the northern areas of Ethiopia in an attack against some of the local kings, things would change when Menelik mobilized a massive army of more than 120,000 troops from all parts of the country. Ill prepared for such an army, tricked into believing that his military tactics were superior and pressured into action by Italy, Baratieri launched an attack in the cover of night on February 29, 1896.
This however would prove to be a fatal mistake as the Italian troops weren’t familiar with the terrain and being outnumbered and overpowered by the Ethiopian troops the Italian troops were crushed by the united troops of Ethiopia.
The loss suffered by the invasive force sent shockwaves throughout Italy, leading to protests in Italy and to the resignation of the then Prime Minister Francesco Crispi. This is how Chris Prouty explains the response in Italy to the news: “When news of the calamity reached
Italy there were street demonstrations in most major cities. In Rome, to prevent these violent protests, the universities and theatres were closed. Police were called out to disperse rock-throwers in front of Prime Minister Crispi’s residence. Crispi resigned on 9 March. Troops were called out to quell demonstrations in Naples.
In Pavia, crowds-built barricades on the railroad tracks to prevent a troop train from leaving the station. The Association of Women of Rome, Turin, Milan and Pavia called for the return of all military forces in Africa. Funeral masses were intoned for the known and unknown dead.
Families began sending to the newspapers letters they had received before Adwa in which their menfolk described their poor living conditions and their fears at the size of the army they were going to face.
King Umberto declared his birthday (14 March) a day of mourning. Italian communities in St. Petersburg, London, New York, Chicago, Buenos Aires and Jerusalem collected money for the families of the dead and for the Italian Red Cross.”
The Battle of Adwa later on became a point of pride and encouragement for other African nationalists fighting against colonization and for the independence of their countries. So, what can we learn from such a historic victory? The greatest lesson to take is that great strength comes through unity.
It is safe to conclude that if we as a country didn’t unite to face the challenge that country faced as a whole, we would have had a greater chance of being colonized instead of living in a country with its freedom and integrity preserved.
This was clearly shown by the initial victories the Italian army had over some of the northern regional kings. If our fathers hadn’t united as one to fight the challenge and obstacle that the country was facing, the chances of Ethiopia being colonized would have greatly increased. This is the central theme of The Battle of Adwa. The problem that Ethiopians faced was one that came after the whole nation.
We faced the problem as a united country therefore we left the battle field with our freedom, pride and unity unhindered; in fact, we left the battle field with greater pride and unity than before. The Battle of Adwa wasn’t a victory because King Menelik or a specific regional lord fought alone.
It wasn’t and isn’t a victory of The King or any other regional king alone; it was the victory of the Ethiopian people who were willing to sacrifice the most precious thing any human being could have, their lives, for the freedom of their country, for the freedom of you and me.
In his famous fable “The Bullocks and the Lion” Aesop explains the power of unity cleverly like this; A Lion had been watching three Bullocks feeding in an open field. He had tried to attack them several times, but they had kept together, and helped each other to drive him off. The Lion had little hope of eating them, for he was no match for three
strong Bullocks with their sharp horns and hoofs. But he could not keep away from that field, for it is hard to resist watching a good meal, even when there is little chance of getting it. Then one day the Bullocks had a quarrel, and when the hungry Lion came to look at them and lick his chops as he was accustomed to do, he found them in separate corners of the field, as far away from one another as they could get. It was now an easy matter for the Lion to attack them one at a time, and this he proceeded to do with the greatest satisfaction and relish.
This fable brilliantly portrays what happens when there is no unity among people, and when division is commonplace we are all prone to fall for any obstacle. Our country has gone through many obstacles and challenges throughout history and time. We have passed most if not all by being united and working towards a common goal.
That is our strength. When divided we should know we are at our weakest and highly inclined to loss and defeat. From history we have seen what our unity can achieve and from recent times we have seen what unity can achieve; the greatest example being the renaissance dam. We must remember that a house divided cannot stand and that if Ethiopia is not for all it will be for none.
No Power Can Break A United Ethiopia!
The Ethiopian Herald March 5/2021
