19th century – 19th century
Horn of Africa
Italian Eritrea emerged from Italy’s acquisition of Red Sea territory during the Scramble for Africa. Italy’s private shipping company Società Rubattino acquired Assab in 1869, and the port was declared an Italian colony in 1882. After Italy seized Massawa in 1885 and advanced inland, it occupied a northern Ethiopian plateau and established the colony of Eritrea, with Asmara as its capital, by the end of 1889.
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The Story
Italian expansion in the Horn of Africa began at the Red Sea port of Assab. In 1869, the Italian Lazarist missionary Giuseppe Sapeto purchased the port from a local sultan for 6,000 Maria Theresa dollars. Assab became the property of the Società Rubattino, a private Italian shipping company, and Italy declared it an Italian colony in 1882.
Italy expanded from Assab after Egypt’s withdrawal weakened the political order along the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden coasts. With British consent, Italian forces seized Massawa on 3 February 1885. They then halted Ethiopian arms supplies and advanced inland toward Sahati and Wia, provoking resistance from Yohannes IV and Ras Alula.
After the confrontation at Dogali in January 1887, Italy fortified disputed areas and continued reinforcing its position. Yohannes rejected proposals mediated by Britain that would have recognized Italian occupation of Sahati, Wia, and the Senahit or Bogos area. By the end of 1889, Italian forces had occupied a stretch of the northern plateau and established Eritrea, whose capital was Asmara.
19th century – 19th century
Horn of Africa
Italian Eritrea emerged from Italy’s acquisition of Red Sea territory during the Scramble for Africa. Italy’s private shipping company Società Rubattino acquired Assab in 1869, and the port was declared an Italian colony in 1882. After Italy seized Massawa in 1885 and advanced inland, it occupied a northern Ethiopian plateau and established the colony of Eritrea, with Asmara as its capital, by the end of 1889.
Continue exploring
The Story
Italian expansion in the Horn of Africa began at the Red Sea port of Assab. In 1869, the Italian Lazarist missionary Giuseppe Sapeto purchased the port from a local sultan for 6,000 Maria Theresa dollars. Assab became the property of the Società Rubattino, a private Italian shipping company, and Italy declared it an Italian colony in 1882.
Italy expanded from Assab after Egypt’s withdrawal weakened the political order along the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden coasts. With British consent, Italian forces seized Massawa on 3 February 1885. They then halted Ethiopian arms supplies and advanced inland toward Sahati and Wia, provoking resistance from Yohannes IV and Ras Alula.
After the confrontation at Dogali in January 1887, Italy fortified disputed areas and continued reinforcing its position. Yohannes rejected proposals mediated by Britain that would have recognized Italian occupation of Sahati, Wia, and the Senahit or Bogos area. By the end of 1889, Italian forces had occupied a stretch of the northern plateau and established Eritrea, whose capital was Asmara.
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