Menelik II, the visionary emperor who modernized Ethiopia and defended its sovereignty, died on this day in 1913. His reign (1889–1913) was marked by significant modernization, including the introduction of railroads, schools, hospitals, and telecommunication systems.
He is best remembered for his leadership during the Battle of Adwa (1896), where Ethiopian forces decisively defeated the Italian army — a rare victory for an African nation against European colonizers during the Scramble for Africa. This triumph made Ethiopia a symbol of Black independence and pride around the world.
Even after his stroke in 1906, Menelik’s legacy of independence and progress lived on, deeply shaping modern Ethiopia and African resistance movements.
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