Ras Mikael of Wollo and the Campaign of Adwa

Abstract

Ethiopian victory over the Italian colonial expansion at the Battle of Adwa in 1896 was the cumulative result of Emperor Menelik and his efficient war generals. Among his abled war leaders was the father of Lij Iyasu (the uncrowned Emperor), the grandfather of Empress Menen (Emperor Haile-Sellassie’s wife), the founder of the town of Dessie and the governor of Wollo Province – Ras Mikaelof Wollo. He played a crucial role at the battle of Adwa which was fought to defend Ethiopia from foreign colonial invasion. Thus this paper tries to examine the contrinbtion of Ras Mikael during the battle of Adwa.