Knowra Menelik II Menelik II Menelik II was emperor of Ethiopia from 1889 to 1913. He expanded the empire, founded Addis Ababa as its capital, and led Ethiopia to victory over Italy at Adwa.
Battle of Adwa : A 1896 battle in which Ethiopian forces defeated an Italian invasion army. Menelik’s victory at Adwa preserved Ethiopian independence and secured his rule.
Treaty of Wuchale : A 1889 treaty between Ethiopia and Italy whose competing language versions produced a sovereignty dispute. Its disputed wording helped trigger the conflict that Menelik fought to defend Ethiopia’s independence.
Taytu Betul : An Ethiopian empress and political figure who influenced diplomacy and court affairs during Menelik II’s reign. Taytu opposed concessions to Italy and played a prominent role in the court’s response.
Ethiopian historiography : The study and interpretation of Ethiopia’s past through written, oral, archaeological, and other evidence. Accounts of Menelik’s state-building differ over its costs, motives, and historical meaning.
First Italo-Ethiopian War : The 1885–1896 conflict between Italy and Ethiopia over Italian expansion and Ethiopian sovereignty. The war culminated in Adwa and exposed the limits of Italy’s colonial ambitions.
Ethiopian Army : The organized land forces of the Ethiopian state, shaped by regional levies and imperial authority. Menelik mobilized regional armies on a scale that enabled the victory at Adwa.
Empress Zewditu : Empress of Ethiopia from 1916 to 1930 and daughter of Menelik II. Her succession followed the political crisis surrounding Menelik’s declining health and death.
Oromo people : A Cushitic-speaking people native to the Horn of Africa, especially Ethiopia. Imperial expansion incorporated many Oromo territories, a legacy interpreted in competing ways.
Addis Ababa : The capital and largest city of Ethiopia, founded in the late nineteenth century. Menelik established the city as his capital, making it a center of imperial government.
Ras Makonnen : An Ethiopian noble and military commander who served Menelik and governed Harar. His diplomacy and command helped extend imperial power in eastern Ethiopia.
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