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Nineteenth-Century Ethiopia
The reunification of Ethiopia was begun in the 19th cent. by Kasa (Lij Kasa; c.1818-68), who conquered Amhara, Gojjam, Tigray,
and Shoa, and in 1855 had himself crowned emperor as
Tewodros
II (Theodore II). He began to modernize and centralize the legal
and administrative systems, despite the opposition of local
governors. Tensions developed with Great Britain, and Tewodros
imprisoned (1867) several Britons, including the British consul. A
British military expedition under Robert (later Lord)
Napier
was sent out, and the emperor's forces were easily defeated near
Magdala
(now Amba Mariam) in 1868. To avoid capture, Tewodros committed
suicide.
A brief civil war followed, and in 1872 a chieftain of Tigray
became emperor as John (Yohannes) IV. John's attempts to further
centralize the government led to revolts by local leaders; in
addition, his regime was threatened during 1875-76 by Egyptian
incursions and, after 1881, by raids by followers of the
Mahdi in
Sudan. The opening (1869) of the Suez Canal increased the strategic
importance of Ethiopia, and several European powers (particularly
Italy, France, and Great Britain) sought influence in the area. In
1889, John was killed fighting the Mahdists, and, following a short
succession crisis, the king of Shoa (who had Italian support) was
crowned emperor as Menelik II
.
Menelik signed (1889) a treaty of friendship and cooperation
with Italy at Wuchale. Due to a dispute over the meaning of the
treaty (Italy claimed it had been given a protectorate over
Ethiopia, which Menelik denied), Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1895 but
was decisively defeated by Menelik's forces at Adwa on
Mar. 1, 1896. By the subsequent Treaty of Addis Ababa (Oct., 1896),
the Treaty of Wuchale was annulled, and Italy recognized the
independence of Ethiopia while retaining its Eritrean colonial base.
During his reign, Menelik also greatly expanded the size of
Ethiopia, adding the provinces of Harar (E), Sidamo (S), and Kaffa
(SW). In addition, he further modernized the military and the
government, made (1889) Addis Ababa the capital of the country,
developed the economy, and promoted the building of the country's
first railroad (financed by French capital).
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