Battle of Coatit: Difference between revisions

|combatant1= [[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)|Kingdom of Italy]]

The '''Battle of Coatit''' was fought on [[January 13]], [[1895]] between [[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)|Italy]] and [[Ethiopian Empire|Ethiopia]]n [[Proxy war|proxies]] led by [[Tigray Province|Tigrian]] warlord [[Ras Mengesha Yohannes]] in what is now present day [[Eritrea]]. It was the opening battle of the [[First Italo–Ethiopian War]], and was a significant victory for the Italians, as they rebuffed an invasion force.

By [[1894]], the relationship between the Italian colonialists and the native [[Eritria]]ns and Ethiopians had become strained. Ethiopian emperor [[Menelik|MenelikMenelek II of Ethiopia|Menelik]] had repudiated the [[Treaty of Wuchale]], and was consolidating his power with plans to oust the Italians. Former Italian allies, the Tigrian warlords Ras Mengesha Yohannes, [[Ras Alula]], [[Bahta Hagos]] and [[Wolde Mikael]] traveled to [[Addis Ababa]] to seek forgiveness from the [[Negus]] for their dealings with the colonial governor, General [[Oreste Baratieri]]<ref>{{cite book| last=Henze | first=Paul | title=Layers of Time: A History of Ethiopia |id= ISBN 0312227191 | publisher=Palgrave | year=2000}}</ref>. Menelik forgave them and offered Mengesha the crown of Tigray in exchange for his loyalty and help in evicting the Italians. In December 1894, [[Bahta Hagos]] led a rebellion in [[Akkele Guzay]], which set the stage for open warfare between the Italians and the Ethiopians.