ackground
In 1889, the Italians signed the Treaty of Wuchale with the
then King Menelik of Shewa. The treaty, signed after the
Italian occupation of Eritrea, recognized Italy's claim over
the coastal colony. In it, Italy also promised to provide
financial assistance and military supplies. A dispute later
arose over the interpretation of the two versions of the
document. The Italian-language version of the disputed
Article 17 of the treaty stated that the Emperor of Ethiopia
was obliged to conduct all foreign affairs through Italian
authorities, effectively making Ethiopia a protectorate of the
Kingdom of Italy. The Amharic version of the article,
however, stated that the Emperor could use the good
offices of the Kingdom of Italy in his relations with foreign
nations if he wished. However, the Italian diplomats
claimed that the original Amharic text included the clause
and that Menelik II knowingly signed a modified copy of the
Treaty. [14]
The Italian government decided on a military solution to
force Ethiopia to abide by the Italian version of the treaty.
As a result, Italy and Ethiopia came into confrontation, in
what was later to be known as the First Italo-Ethiopian War.
In December 1894, Bahta Hagoes led a rebellion against the
Italians in Akele Guzai, in what was then Italian controlled
Eritrea . Units of General Oreste Baratieri's army under Major
Pietro Toselli [ it] crushed the rebellion and killed Bahta. The
Italian army then occupied the Tigrayan capital, Adwa . In
January 1895, Baratieri's army went on to defeat Ras
Mengesha Yohannes in the Battle of Coatit, forcing
Mengesha to retreat further south.
By late 1895, Italian forces had advanced deep into
Ethiopian territory. On 7 December 1895, Ras Makonnen
Wolde Mikael, 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 were then forced to withdraw to more
defensible positions in Tigray Province, where the two main
armies faced each other. By late February 1896, supplies on
both sides were running low. General Oreste Baratieri,
commander of the Italian forces, knew the Ethiopian forces
had been living off the land, and once the supplies of the
local peasants were exhausted, Emperor Menelik II's army
would begin to melt away. However, the Italian government
insisted that General Baratieri act.
The landscape of Adwa
On the evening of 29 February, Baratieri, about to be
replaced by a new governor, General Baldissera, met with
his generals Matteo Albertone , Giuseppe Arimondi , Vittorio
Dabormida , and Giuseppe Ellena, concerning their next
steps. He opened the meeting on a negative note, revealing
to his brigadiers that provisions would be exhausted in less
than five days, and suggested retreating, perhaps as far
back as Asmara . His subordinates argued forcefully for an
attack, insisting that to retreat at this point would only
worsen the poor morale. [15] Dabormida exclaimed, "Italy
would prefer the loss of two or three thousand men to a
dishonorable retreat." Baratieri delayed making a decision
for a few more hours, claiming that he needed to wait for
some last-minute intelligence, but in the end announced
that the attack would start the next morning at 9:00am. [16]
His troops began their march to their starting positions
shortly after midnight.
Ethnic composition of the Ethiopian army
At the Battle of Adwa, Ethiopian fighters from all parts of
the country rallied to the cause and took up positions on
the battlefield that allowed them to come to each other's
aid during combat. Armies who participated in the battle
includes Tekle Haymanot 's Amhara infantry and cavalry;
Ras Mengesha Yohannes and Ras Alula 's Tigrayan army;
Ras Makonnen's Harar army that included Amhara, Oromo
and Gurage soldiers; Fitawrari Tekle's Wallaga Cavalry and
infantry; Wag-shum Gwangul's Agew and Amhara from Wag
and Lasta; and Ras Gugsa Welle 's Semien army. The mehal
sefari or central fighting unit included mostly Shewan
Amhara, Mecha-Tulama Oromo cavalry, Gurage as well as
Taytu Betul 's Begemder armies. The Fitawrari's army,
normally the leader of the advanced guard, was
commanded by Habte Giyorgis Dinagde. The Ethiopian army
at Adwa was, therefore, a mosaic of various ethnic groups
and tribes that marched north for a common, national
cause.
Women and the Battle of
Adwa
Fenet Hailu/ENA/-
Women marched alongside men to the battle at Adwa 123
years ago not as "comfort women", but to fight against
the Italian army that was humiliated by a black African
power.
Adwa, the very first decisive victory of a black African
power, is an important event in the shared memory of the
entire African population. It demonstrated the spirit of
unity, love and friendship among Ethiopians; but foremost,
it showed the genuine role of women.
Just like their men-folk, Ethiopian women were ready to
sacrifice themselves to prevent colonialists from sneaking
into their country, thus forcing their children to live in
servitude.
Empress Taytu Bitul is clearly a symbol of all the patriotic
qualities of women, according to many historians. In his
book "Battle of Adwa: Reflections on Ethiopia's Historic
Victory Against European Colonialism", Paulos Milkias,
said that Empress Taytu was not only a diplomat and
stateswoman with resolve, but also an ingenious
commandant versed in the art of war, a tactician par
excellence.
The first tactic she used is to instruct her 1,000 special
guards to take control of water sources that the Italians
were using before the actual day of the war. As Italians
then ran shortage of water, they were repeatedly driven
back by the empress's forces, according to Paulos. Many
were trampled to death trying to return to the
embankment. The Italians even appealed to her on the
behalf of their commander as they started suffering from
thirst.
This victory at the front was engineered by Ethiopia's
ingenious empress, as recognized by friends and foe.
Empress Taytu later went with her husband, Emperor
Menelik II, to the outer limits of the camp and organized
the defense perimeter with the 5,000 men of her personal
army.
Culture and Tourism Minister Hirut Kassaw said the
empress has shown the capability and personality of
women in leadership role, particularly being cautious,
skeptical, strategic, and tactful; and most importantly
farsightedness.
Moreover, Adwa is a place that ascertained genuine
gender equality, the minister stressed.
For Abel Chala, a history teacher at Kotebe Metropolitan
University, women's role at the battle of Adwa revealed
the truth that nothing can be done without the
participation of women and it would be an exemplary deed
for today's effort to recognize women's participation all
over the world.
"We generally hear that Ethiopia won the battle. But we
ignore the fact that women played decisive role in the
victory. There were ten-thousands of women who
prepared their fathers, brothers, husbands and sons for
the war in which they also took part", he added.
A member of the Ancient Ethiopian Patriots Association
(AEPA), Ms. Mamite Mehretu said women participated in
the war in various ways and with many means. Mostly
they were doctors, servants, psychologists and soldiers.
"Women were the leading force behind the victory of
Adwa, they were preparing food and water, providing
medical care for the wounded and they were following the
solders with a slogan of ' freedom or death, " she pointed
out.