Battles & Campaigns · 1884
Hewett Treaty
Adwa, Tigray, Ethiopia
What happened
Emperor Yohannes IV of Ethiopia, Britain's Admiral William Hewett and Mason Bey for Egypt agreed the treaty. Egypt and Ethiopia had been in conflict for years, and Egyptian garrisons in Sudan were threatened by the Mahdist uprising. The treaty, signed at Adwa, promised Ethiopia free passage of goods through the port of Massawa and the return of the Bogos region. In return, Ethiopia helped evacuate Egyptian garrisons.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It ended the long conflict between Egypt and Ethiopia. It also drew Ethiopia into the Mahdist War.
What came next
Soon after, Italy occupied Massawa with Britain's quiet approval, which led to war between Italy and Ethiopia.
Did you know?
Yohannes IV had earlier won two great victories over Egypt, at Gundet and Gura.
Timeline
- 16 November 1875Ethiopian victory at Gundet.
- 3 June 1884The Hewett Treaty is signed at Adwa.
- 1887–1889Italo-Ethiopian War.
- 10 March 1889Yohannes IV dies at Gallabat.