Italian expansion in the Horn: Eritrea and Italian Somaliland (1885–1912)

1. Italy occupies the Red Sea port of Massawa

   Feb 1, 1885Labels: Massawa, Italian Eritrea

   • Massawa

2. Italy secures Somali protectorate treaties in the north

   Apr 7, 1889Labels: Hobyo Sultanate, Majeerteen Sultanate

   • Italian Somaliland
   • Majeerteen

3. Treaty of Wuchale creates a disputed relationship

   May 2, 1889Labels: Treaty of, Menelik II

   • Britannica
   • Cambridge

4. Italy proclaims the Colony of Eritrea

   Jan 1, 1890Labels: Colony of, Italian administration

   • Italian Eritrea
   • WHE

5. Menelik II repudiates Italy’s protectorate claim

   Sep 1, 1890Labels: Menelik II, Ethiopian repudiation

   • Britannica

6. Italy begins hands-on administration on the Benadir coast

   Jan 1, 1893Labels: Benadir Coast, Mogadishu

   • Italian Somaliland
   • 1911 EB

7. Ethiopia defeats Italy at the Battle of Adwa

   Mar 1, 1896Labels: Battle of, Menelik II

   • Britannica

8. Treaty of Addis Ababa ends the First Italo-Ethiopian War

   Oct 26, 1896Labels: Treaty of, Italy-Ethiopia

   • Britannica
   • Britannica

9. Benadir concession shifts toward stronger Italian control

   Jan 1, 1898Labels: Benadir Company, Benadir Ports

   • 1911 EB
   • Benadir Co

10. Italy and Ethiopia agree on an Eritrea–Ethiopia boundary

    Jul 10, 1900Labels: Eritrea Ethiopia, Addis Ababa

    • Treaty text
    • Britannica

11. Italy purchases the Benadir ports and governs directly

    Mar 19, 1905Labels: Italian Somaliland, Italian government

    • Italian Somaliland
    • 1911 EB

12. Convention defines principles for the Ethiopia–Somaliland frontier

    May 16, 1908Labels: Ethiopia Somaliland, 1908 convention

    • CIA FOIA

13. Italo-Turkish War expands Italy’s imperial ambitions

    Sep 29, 1911Labels: Italo-Turkish War, Italian expansion

    • Britannica

14. Treaty of Ouchy ends the war and closes the period

    Oct 18, 1912Labels: Treaty of, Tripoli and

    • Britannica