| Ethiopia At War
Haile Selassie continued Menelik's modernisation efforts but, like
him, was to become best-known as a warrior king. It was Ethiopia's
role in the Second World War that defined the nation's identity
internationally for the second half of the twentieth century. Italy
had never forgotten her humiliating defeat at Adwa. Seeking to
expand beyond its Somalian dominions, Fascist Italy had coveted
Ethiopian lands for some years, provoking a border dispute which the
emperor sought to resolve peacefully. Despite the disagreement,
relations with Italy seemed cordial, and in 1930 Haile Selassie
 accepted
the Order of the Annunciation from King Victor Emmanuel III.
Unfortunately, the establishment of a vast colonial empire was
integral to Fascist foreign policy, and the Italians invaded
Ethiopia on 3 October 1935, with no declaration of war. (Thus the
precise terms of the Pact of Paris, or Kellogg-Briand Pact, were not
actually violated.) Despite heroic efforts which significantly
delayed the enemy advance, the Imperial troops were overwhelmed by
the Italians, who made early use, even against the civilian
population, of poison gas, flame throwers and other weapons outlawed
by international treaty. Just prior to the fall of Addis Ababa in
early May, the emperor, his staff, and part of what remained of his
army, retreated into exile. Stopping briefly to pray at one of
Ethiopia's famous rock churches, Haile Selassie vowed to return, but
whether he could make good on his promise remained to be seen.
Italy-Ethiopian Wars
With the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, the Red Sea coast had
become increasingly attractive to the European powers as an object
for colonization. Italy focused its attention on Ethiopia, seizing
Aseb in 1872 and Massawa in 1885. In 1889 Menelik and the Italians
signed the Treaty of Wichale (Ucciali). The treaty was one of
friendship and cooperation, but the Amharic and Italian versions of
it differed, and the Italians claimed that it made all of Ethiopia
their protectorate. As a result, war broke out between Italy and
Ethiopia in 1895, and Italian forces were decisively defeated at
Adwa (Aduwa) the following year. Italy was forced to recognize the
independence of Ethiopia, and Menelik’s present-day boundaries. The
successor of Menelik, Emperor Lij Iyasu (reigned 1913-1916), was
deposed in favor of his aunt, crowned Empress Zauditu. Tafari Makonnen,
her cousin, was selected as heir apparent; he succeeded to the
throne as Haile Selassie I. In 1931 he granted Ethiopia its first
constitution.
With the rise of the dictator Benito Mussolini, Italian designs
toward Ethiopia were revived, and in October 1935 Italy invaded the
country (see Italy: The Ethiopian Campaign).
An attempt by the League of Nations to halt the conquest failed.
Addis Ababa fell to the invaders, and in May 1936 Mussolini
proclaimed Italy's King Victor Emmanuel III emperor of Ethiopia.
Haile Selassie was forced to flee the country and take refuge in
England, but he was restored to the throne by British and Ethiopian
forces in 1941. |
