We saw last week how Emperor Yohannes IV succeeded in defeating Egyptian incursions into Ethiopia, but, as we shall now see, faced an even greater threat from other enemies. The British Occupation of Egypt, and the Mahdist Revolution in Sudan In Egypt meanwhile the military revolt of Ahmad `Urabi in 1881 led directly in the following years to the British occupation of that country, as well as of Egyptian-occupied Sudan. This coincided with the spectacular rise in Sudan of its…

The death of Emperor Tewodros at Maqdala in 1868 left Ethiopia, as often in the past, divided, and without an overall rules. Three rival personalities by then held power in different areas. The first to gain prominence was perhaps Ras Gobaze, the ruler of Amhara, Wag and Lasta, who was crowned as Emperor Takla Giyorgis at Gondar. He was, however, soon effectively challenged by Dajazmach Kasa of Tegray, who was militarily more powerful, partly on account of the gift of…