Battle of Dogali: Ethiopian army defeat the invading Italians

Date: 26 Jan 1887
Updated: 24 Jan 2020

Stock Photo - The Battle of Dogali, January 26, 1887. Italian Colonialism in East Africa, 19th century. Bologna, Museo Civico Del Risorgimento (Historical Museum)

The battle of Dogali was a skirmish that was part of a larger conflict between the Italians and the Ethiopians. At this time Ethiopians had the most well equipped standing army on the African continent. The Italians by contrast had only recently emerged as a unified country and, even though they showed spirit in fighting, they were not prepared in terms of manpower, equipment, intelligence and experience. This battle was to be a stunning victory for the Ethiopian forces, as they totally routed the invading Italians on 26 January 1887.

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How we know this

01Ethiopedia, (2013), Ras Alula, from Ethiopedia, 8 September, [online], Available at www.ethiopedia.com [Accessed: 07 January 2014]
02Finaldi, G (2002), Italy's scramble for Africa from Agali to Adowa, chapter from the book Disastro! disasters in Italy since 1860 : culture, politics, society, from google books, 23 February, [online], Available at books.google.co.za [Accessed: 13 January 2010]

Last updated · 24 Jan 2020

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Battle of Dogali: Ethiopian army defeat the invading Italians. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011115

South African History Online (2011) 'Battle of Dogali: Ethiopian army defeat the invading Italians', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011115 (Accessed: 11 August 2026).

South African History Online, Battle of Dogali: Ethiopian army defeat the invading Italians [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011115, (accessed 11 August 2026).

"Battle of Dogali: Ethiopian army defeat the invading Italians." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011115. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "Battle of Dogali: Ethiopian army defeat the invading Italians." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011115.