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Italy warned by Menelik of dealing with the Ottoman Sultan
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Italy warned by Menelik of dealing with the Ottoman Sultan
The Italians in Libya - Italo-Turkish War. Menelik I, the Emperor of Ethiopia (who had defeated Italy in 1889) warns Italy (represented by a lute-playing Signorina being ferried across the Mediterranean Sea in a gondola rowed by King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy) that the Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II is even worse than he is! The Sultan holds out his hand in freindship, yet has a large club semi-hidden behind his back!! Date: circa 1905
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Media ID 14343542
© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection
Abdul Behind Danger Dangerous Ethiopia Ethiopian Hamid Hidden Hides Libya Libyan Menelik Sultan Warn Warning Warns Italo Turkish Ottoman
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This image, circa 1905, depicts a prophetic encounter between Italy and Ethiopia as they navigate the complexities of imperial power in North Africa. The scene unfolds on the Mediterranean Sea, where an apprehensive Signorina, representing Italy, strums a lute as she is rowed across the water by King Victor Emmanuel III. They are approached by Menelik I, the regal Emperor of Ethiopia, who had famously defeated Italy in the Battle of Adwa in 1889. Menelik, clad in traditional Ethiopian attire, extends a hand of caution, warning the Italians about the impending danger of dealing with the Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II. His ominous tone is underscored by the Ottoman Sultan's deceptive appearance in the background. Seemingly extending a hand of friendship, the Sultan hides a large club behind his back, symbolizing the hidden threats and dangers that lie beneath his welcoming facade. The Italo-Turkish War (1911-1912) would soon follow, as Italy sought to expand its colonial empire in Libya and clashed with the Ottoman Empire. This striking photograph serves as a poignant reminder of the intricate web of alliances and rivalries that characterized the European scramble for Africa, with Menelik's warning echoing through history as a testament to the unpredictable nature of international relations.
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