Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
EMPEROR YOHANNES
In the aftermath of Tewodros' death, there arose another battle for succession. Using his
weaponry gained from the British in exchange for his support of their Maqdala expedition,
Kassa Mercha of Tigray rose to the fore. In 1871, at the battle of Assam, he defeated the
newly crowned Emperor Tekla Giorgis.
After proclaiming himself Emperor Yohannes the following year, Kassa reigned for the
next 17 years. In contrast to Tewodros, Yohannes staunchly supported the Church and re-
cognised the independence of local lords.
Yohannes also proved himself a skilful soldier. In 1875, after the Egyptians had ad-
vanced into Ethiopia from the coastal area, Yohannes drew them into battle and resound-
ingly routed them at Gundat and then again at Gura in 1876.
But soon another power threatened: the Italians. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869
greatly increased the strategic value of the Red Sea, which again became a passageway to
the East and beyond.
In 1885 the Italians arrived in Massawa (in
present-day Eritrea), and soon blockaded arms
to Yohannes. The failure of the British to im-
pede the arrival of the Italians made Yohannes
furious. He accused them of contravening the
1884 Hewett Treaty. Though protesting other-
wise, Britain privately welcomed the Italians,
both to counter French influence on the Somali coast (in present-day Djibouti), and to deter
Turkish ambitions.
Meanwhile, the Mahadists (or Dervishes) were raising their heads in the West. Dis-
lodging the Egyptians and British, they overran Sudan before arriving in Ethiopia and
eventually sacking Gonder in 1888.
Yohannes rushed to meet the Dervishes at Qallabat in 1889 but, at the close of yet anoth-
er victory, he fell, mortally wounded by a sniper's bullet.
Donald N Levine's imaginative
Wax & Gold
provides outstanding insight into Amharic culture,
though chapter six is rather far-fetched!
