Battle of Dogali

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The Battle of Dogali was fought on January 24, 1887 between Italy and Ethiopia in Dogali (near Massawa, in present-day Eritrea).

On his own initiative, Ras Alula Engida, then governor of Emperor Yohannes IV, had attacked the Italian-controlled town of Sahati on the day prior. Hundreds of his men were slaughtered by cannon fire, while only 4 Italians were injured, forcing Ras Alula to pull his men back.

On January 24, a battalion of 500 Italians sent to reinforce the Italians at Sahati were ambushed by Ras Alula's men at Dogali. Although the Italians fought heroically all were killed, except for 80 wounded men who were able to escape notice by the Ethiopians and be rescued.

Although a victory for the Ethiopians, Haggai Erlich notes that this incident only encouraged the Italians to intregue with Yohannes' rival, Menelik II, then ruler only of Shewa, and encourage his insubordination towards his Emperor.

This battle was celebrated under the Derg regime, and Mengistu Haile Mariam commemorated the centennial with much attention, including the erection of a monument topped with a red star on the battlefield. Following Eritrean independence, the monument was removed. Paul B. Henze diplomatically notes in a footnote, "When I crossed the battlefield in 1996, I could detect no trace of the monument. Erlich provides more information: when Eritrean troops gained control of the area in 1989, "a prominent commander, now a prominent minister, was delighted to himself blast Mangistu's monument of Ras Alula. This may seem unusual since Alula was Tigrian, the EPLF was majority Tigrian, and the post Derg government was inclusive of Tigrian elements. Observers, including Erlich and others, attribute this to Eritrean Tigrian views of their own relationship with Ethiopia as a whole. Since Alula fought for the Empire and not Tigray itself, he is viewed as a traitor on the Eritrean side of the border, a hero on the Ethiopian side.

Films

Adwa (1999). Directed by Haile Gerima.

Battle of Dogali

Films

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See also