On March 1, 1896 one of the most important events in Western imperial history took place; it was the Battle of Adwa. In this one decisive battle, Ethiopia defeated Italy and threatened to drive the Italians into the sea. Crushed by the Ethiopians, Italy’s entire foreign policy was upended for decades. Hundreds of thousands of men faced each other in the tawny, undulating hills of Ethiopia and, as a consequence, Ethiopia retained her independence and sovereignty. There are few nations in the world which can say the same. This is the story of that battle, but it is more than that, it’s the story of true sovereignty, true power, and true force. It’s all here and it’s all free on Battlecast – the world’s foremost podcast on war and it’s sociopolitical impact.

You can download episode 73 here:download link

Music Source:

Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio /// website: karlcasey.bandcamp.com

Maps and Illustrations:

You can find maps and illustrations of the Battle of Adwa at the historical atlas located here.

References:

The Battle of Adwa: African Victory in the age of Empire by Raymond Jonas. 

History of Italy by C.L. Killinger. 

A Concise History of Italy by Christopher Duggan

Garretson, P.P. (1974). A History of Addis Ababa from its Foundation in 1886 to 1910 [Doctoral Dissertation, University of London].  

Memorie d’Africa (1892-1896) by Oreste Baratieri (1898)

La battaglia di Adua e il popolo italiano by Luigi Guarnieri (1897).

La battaglia d’Adua del 1. ̊Marzo 1896: desunta dale fonti più sicure con annessi due schizzi by Beniamino Melli (1901). 

Haggai, Erlicfi. (1973). A political biography of Ras Alula 1875-1897 [Doctoral Dissertation, University of London].

Armies of the Adowa campaign 1896 by Sean Mclachlin.

Ethiopia by Paul Milkias

Battle of Adwa edited by Paul Milkias and Getachew Metaferia

Sul campo di Adua; diario, marzo-giugno, 1896. Migliaio by Eduardo Ximenes (1897).

The campaign of Adowa and the rise of Menelki by G.F.H. Berkeley.

La battaglia di Adua by Emilio Bellavita