Abyssinia thus became divided into a num ber of petty independent states and, save for visits from occasional explorers such as James Bruce in 1769, remained shut off from the world until the 19th century. A remarkable, but, as it proved, quite futile attempt to resuscitate the unity and power of the ancient kingdom was begun about the middle of the 19th century by King Theodore, who aimed at the restora tion of the ancient kingdom of Ethiopia, with himself for its sovereign. He introduced European artisans, and went to work wisely in many ways, but his cruelty and tyranny counter acted his politic measures. In consequence of a slight, real or fancied, which he had received at the hands of the British government, he threw Consul Cameron and a number of other British subjects into prison in 1864, and refused to give them up. To effect their release an army of about 16,000 men under Sir Robert Napier was dispatched from Bombay in 1867; it landed at Zulla on the Gulf of Aden in Janu ary 1868, and after marching 400 miles besieged Magdala, Theodore's capital, which was taken by storm 13 April. Theodore was found among the slain, the general opinion being that he had fallen by his own hand.
After the withdrawal of the English, fight ing immediately began among the chiefs of the different provinces, the three mostpowerful, Kassa of Tigre, Gobasie and Mcnelek, strug gling for the supremacy. This state of matters continued for some time; but at last the country was divided between Kassa, who secured the northern and larger portion and assumed the name of Johannes, and Menelek, who gained possession of Shoa. In 1872 Johannes made himself supreme ruler, with the title of emperor, or king of kings (Negus Negusti). Taking advantage of the troubles in Abyssinia the Egyptians annexed Massowa and adjoining ter ritory on the Red Sea, and hostilities were repeatedly carried on between them and Jo hannes. In 1885 the Egyptian forces were with drawn, and Italy, with the consent of Great Britain, declared a protectorate over Massowa and the strip of territory along the coast of the Red Sea. the following year the Italians pushed inward to Saati, a few miles west of Massowa, an action which led to war with Johannes. An Abyssinian force was sent in 1887 to recover Saati; but though a small Italian force was cut to pieces at Dogali the Italians maintained their position.
On the death of Johannes in 1889, while fighting against the Mandists, Menelek, who had concluded an alliance with Italy, known as the treaty of Nchali, raised himself to the imperial throne. The result of this was the strengthening of the Italian hold on the country. The Italians regarded their treaty with Menelek as giving them a protectorate over Abyssinia, and by 1892 the whole of Ethiopia was generally recognized as within the Italian sphere. Proceeding to extend and strengthen their posi tion, the Italians in 1889 occupied Keren, capital of the Gogos country, situated 60 miles west of Massowa, and also fortified Asmara, south west of Massowa. Adowa, the capital of Tigre, and the centre of opposition to Menelek, was occupied in the following year. The Mandists were also defeated, and Kassala in the Sudan was occupied by the Italians. Menelek, how ever, later repudiated the Italian protectorate, broke with his former allies, and in 1896 his troops inflicted on them such a defeat at Adowa as gave a death-blow to their claim of a pro tectorate over all Abyssinia. The treaty of
Addis Abeba concluded in that year between Menelek and the Italians practically abrogated the treaty of seven years before, but left Italy in possession of a strip along the Red Sea coast from the French colony of Obok on the south to Ras Kasar on the north, known officially as Eritrea (Erythrma), the frontiers of which were definitely settled in 1908. A British mis sion in 1897 was favorably received by the Emperor, a treaty of commerce was concluded and the boundaries between Abyssinia and the British Somali protectorate were arranged. In 1908 a further agreement with Great Britain regulated the boundary between Abyssinia and the Sudan down to 6 N. lat. Abyssinia also has her comprehensive commercial treaties with the United States (1903), Germany and Austria Hungary (1905), and France (1908). Each of these treaties was to remain in force for a period of 10 years, when it could be terminated at a year's notice. Menelek (b. 1842) died in December 1913 and was succeeded by his grand son Lidj Yasu (b. 1896), who on account of the illness of the Emperor had been virtually ruler, under regents, since 1909.
On 27 Sept. 1916, during the Emperor Lidj Yasu's absence at Harrar, the Metropolitan Abuna Mathaeos released the people and chiefs from their allegiance and deposed the Emperor. In his stead they elected Waizern Zauditu, daughter of the late Emperor Menelek, as Empress of Abyssinia, and designated Degiac Tassari Makonnen as heir to the throne. The deposed monarch, who is a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (G.C.V.O.), is a son of Menelek's second daughter. The young emperor had received an excellent European education, and at the age of 14 could speak fluently English, French and German. In May 1909, when 13 years old, Lidj Yasu was mar ried to Princess Romani, a granddaughter of the late Emperor John, who had fought against and defeated Menelek (when King of*Shoa) in 1877. Sentimentality or favoritism found no part in Menelek's nature; the welfare of his country was his first preoccupation, and it was a well-known fact in Abyssinia that he had carefully studied the nature and character of the youth before he took the step of appointing him as his successor. During the World War, Abyssinian troops were allied with the British in the East African campaign.
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