Battles & Campaigns · 1896
Siege of Mekelle
Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia
What happened
In the First Italo-Ethiopian War, the Italians had built a fort above the town of Mekelle. Ethiopian troops surrounded it in December 1895, and after weeks of bombardment they cut off its water supply. The Italian commander then surrendered.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was an Ethiopian victory. Menelik let the Italian garrison leave and even gave them mules and pack animals.
What came next
Menelik won the decisive Battle of Adwa on 1 March 1896. The Treaty of Addis Ababa in October 1896 made Italy recognise Ethiopia's full independence.
Did you know?
Menelik said he freed the soldiers to show his Christian faith, and that his quarrel was with the Italian government, not its soldiers.
Timeline
- October 1895Italians build a fort near Mekelle.
- 18 December 1895Ras Makonnen surrounds the fort.
- January 1896The garrison surrenders.
- 1 March 1896Battle of Adwa.