The battle marked the largest military triumph of an african state over a european army in the 19th century and helped ethiopia retain its independence during europes scramble for africa. The battle of adwa, african victory in the age of empire. Indeed, it is the only secular episode in the whole history of africa that has been celebrated for more than a century with unabated popular enthusiasm. The adwa victory over european imperialism is an important event in the shared memory of the entire african population. The ethiopian armys victory checked italys attempt to build an empire in africa. The battle of adwa in 1896 qualifies as an historic event in all three senses of the term. D, sarlo distinguished professor of sustainable economic development, dominican university of california april 2014 introduction the defeat of italy by ethiopia on march 1, 1896 at the battle of adwa, then the vibrant.
In 1896, ethiopia fought a desperate battle against a stronger european nation attempting to invade, conquer, and colonize the smaller nation and more importantly, be able to exploit its natural resources. The battle of adwa in 1896 menelick ras alula ras mengesha. As a historic first, it represented the first time since the beginning of european imperial expansion that a nonwhite nation had defeated a european power. The victory had further significance for being the first. The battle of adwa in 1896 also had two fateful consequencesthe preservation of. The ethiopian forces, who had high numerical superiority, better equipment and support by russia and france, defeated an outnumbered and lessequipped italian invading force on sunday 1 march 1896, near the town of adwa. A phenomenon such as adwa is a complex nexus of various historical pro.