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History–Tours
18961 March 1896 · Adwa

Battle of Adwa

The mountains around Adwa in northern Ethiopia, where Ethiopian forces defeated Italy in 1896
Photo: Jnyssen. CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Emperor Menelik II's army, with Empress Taytu commanding her own troops, defeated an Italian invasion force in the mountains around Adwa, killing or capturing thousands. Italy recognised Ethiopia's independence by treaty later that year. Adwa made Ethiopia a symbol of African resistance during the Scramble for Africa, and the anniversary is a national holiday.

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Sites

  1. Site 1: Adwa battlefield and surrounding peaksJagged mountains around the valleys where the Italian columns were defeated.Map ↗

More from the 18th & 19th Century

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