EMPEROR MENILIK II (1889-1913)
The successor of Yohannes was Menelik originally from Shewa district. Menelik was a king determined to introduce western modernization. After shifting his capital to Addis Ababa, He built the first hotel named after his wife Taytu , railway, the first car... which were completely new to Ethiopia.
Meanwhile the threat of colonial powers which started during his predecessor continued. The Italian army which was unsuccessful in colonizing the country was using different means to occupy Ethiopia. Menelik, who was so determined to reinforce his army, made a historic mistake of selling a significant portion of what is known as the current sovereign country of Eritrea in exchange for riffles and canons. This exchange was governed by treaty known as the treaty of Wuchale. The treaty was drafted both in Italian and Amharic which was signed by both parties. The Italians used Menelik's ignorance of foreign languages to write the Italian version of the agreement with different clauses. While the Amharic version which Menelik reviewed and signed was an endorsement of handing Eritrea and part of the Tigray, the twisted Italian version stipulated that Italy was entitled to the whole of Ethiopia. The Italians used this treaty naively signed by Menelik to make a case among the European powers to justify going to battle with Menelik. The Italian governement sent a messenger to Menelik with an ultimatum, to either surrender his country or face the consequences. Menelik declined. The contraversy of the Wuchale treaty culminated in an all out war between the powerful Italian forces and Menelik.
Menelik mobilized all Ethiopians to join forces in a battle that he himself lead. Tens of thousands marched from his new capital Addis Ababa which ended in a fierce confrontation against a well armed Italian army in the city of Adwa. The Italians were humilitated with a defeat and the battle of Adwa in 1896 was the first and significant African triumph against colonial powers.
The successor of Yohannes was Menelik originally from Shewa district. Menelik was a king determined to introduce western modernization. After shifting his capital to Addis Ababa, He built the first hotel named after his wife Taytu , railway, the first car... which were completely new to Ethiopia.
Meanwhile the threat of colonial powers which started during his predecessor continued. The Italian army which was unsuccessful in colonizing the country was using different means to occupy Ethiopia. Menelik, who was so determined to reinforce his army, made a historic mistake of selling a significant portion of what is known as the current sovereign country of Eritrea in exchange for riffles and canons. This exchange was governed by treaty known as the treaty of Wuchale. The treaty was drafted both in Italian and Amharic which was signed by both parties. The Italians used Menelik's ignorance of foreign languages to write the Italian version of the agreement with different clauses. While the Amharic version which Menelik reviewed and signed was an endorsement of handing Eritrea and part of the Tigray, the twisted Italian version stipulated that Italy was entitled to the whole of Ethiopia. The Italians used this treaty naively signed by Menelik to make a case among the European powers to justify going to battle with Menelik. The Italian governement sent a messenger to Menelik with an ultimatum, to either surrender his country or face the consequences. Menelik declined. The contraversy of the Wuchale treaty culminated in an all out war between the powerful Italian forces and Menelik.
Menelik mobilized all Ethiopians to join forces in a battle that he himself lead. Tens of thousands marched from his new capital Addis Ababa which ended in a fierce confrontation against a well armed Italian army in the city of Adwa. The Italians were humilitated with a defeat and the battle of Adwa in 1896 was the first and significant African triumph against colonial powers.
