Between the African lion and the Italian leopard

Ethiopia, which was formerly known as Abyssinia, suffered from the greed of many major powers that tried to extend their influence over it because of its privileged location. The colonial conflict between the major powers, especially Italy, was the most prominent feature of Ethiopia''s history. In 1888, King Menelik II repelled an Italian invasion attempt and inflicted a crushing defeat on it at the Battle of Adwa in 1896. Despite this defeat, Italy under Mussolini invaded Ethiopia in 1936, defying all international agreements. This war demonstrated the weakness of the League of Nations in protecting its member states. Italy did not enjoy its new colony for long, as it emerged defeated in 1941, and Emperor Haile Selassie returned to his throne, emphasizing the spirit of resistance and Ethiopian determination.