NORTH ETHIOPIA

Adua

Located in northern Ethiopia, south of Asmara, Eritrea and between Axum and Adigrat.

Its geographical importance led to Adowa being the site of the final battle of the First Italo-Abyssinian War, where Shewa ruler Menelik II fought for Ethiopia's independence against Italy. Menelik led the Ethiopian Army to a decisive victory against the Italians, which ensured an independent Ethiopia until the Italians invaded again on the eve of World War Two.