Battle of Coatit opens the First Italo-Ethiopian War

Background. By 1894, relations between Italian colonialists and Ethiopians were strained. The conflict originated from the disputed Treaty of Wuchale, which Italians claimed made Ethiopia a protectorate. In December 1894, Bahta Hagos led a rebellion in Akkele Guzay, claiming support from Ras Mengesha Yohannes. This rebellion set the stage for open warfare between the Italians and the Ethiopians. Separately, after Menelik repudiated the treaty in 1893, the Italians had mounted a military campaign across the Mareb River into Tigray in December 1894.

The Engagement. General Baratieri suspected that Ras Mengesha would invade Eritrea. On 12 January 1895, advance scouts located Mengesha's forces encamped nearby. The battle took place on 13 January 1895. Italian troops from Eritrea achieved initial successes against Tigrayan warlords at Coatit, rebuffing an invasion force. This was a significant victory for the Italians, marking the opening battle of the war.

Significance. The battle was a significant victory for the Italians as they rebuffed an invasion force. It was the opening battle of the First Italo-Ethiopian War. However, the defeated force was specifically Ras Mengesha Yohannes' Tigrayan army, not the central Ethiopian forces led by Emperor Menelik II, who would later reinforce the region with a large army.