ethiopian sword/arab blade???

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Ariel we are very lucky to have a specialist in such developments of Russian expansionism and how much they were involved in that part of East Africa... Among the weapons supplied to Ethiopia there were 5000 Sabres ...and a huge load of gunpowder weapons...in the mid 1890s...and which won the first of the wars with Italy . It must be considered in the mix and blades could easily have been traded afterwards and rehilted etc.
Please see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Italo-Ethiopian_War and I place a few pictures here …Key to the war was the main battle of Adwa attended by a Russian contingent of about 50 cavalry and 15 Artillery Advisors including Nikolay Leontiev who became a Count see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolay_Leontiev pictured below and a whole load of weapons including 5,000 Russian swords. A lot of damage was done by Ethiopian irregulars with spears and swords ...and of course gunpowder weapons again supplied by Russia. The question is raised as to the blades and swords used in this major battle and what transpired afterwards... as well as captured Italian weapons and swords...

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Here is a vibrant painting of the Battle of Adwa painted in the Ethiopian style (about 1940) and now in the British Museum. Note that those fighting were good verses bad... The Good displayed in full face but the Bad in profile.

[ariel]

I know thic pic from Spring’s book.
Can you find yet another sign identifying the “bad”? :-)))

[Martin Lubojacky]

Interesting book by Russian cavalry officer, who accompanied Ethiopian army racing into souther territories to expand the Ethiopian Empire:
http://www.seltzerbooks.com/ethiopat...ssianeyes.html

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Ariel we are very lucky to have a specialist in such developments of Russian expansionism and how much they were involved in that part of East Africa... Among the weapons supplied to Ethiopia there were 5000 Sabres ...and a huge load of gunpowder weapons...in the mid 1890s...and which won the first of the wars with Italy . It must be considered in the mix and blades could easily have been traded afterwards and rehilted etc.
Please see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Italo-Ethiopian_War and I place a few pictures here …Key to the war was the main battle of Adwa attended by a Russian contingent of about 50 cavalry and 15 Artillery Advisors including Nikolay Leontiev who became a Count see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolay_Leontiev pictured below and a whole load of weapons including 5,000 Russian swords. A lot of damage was done by Ethiopian irregulars with spears and swords ...and of course gunpowder weapons again supplied by Russia. The question is raised as to the blades and swords used in this major battle and what transpired afterwards... as well as captured Italian weapons and swords...

Now THIS is some outstanding perspective, and key to the period of these Russian swords being discussed! Fascinating entry and again.....a whole new view for me into the Russian faction in Ethiopia.


Martin, thank you for adding this book too!


Never stop learning here

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Thank you Jim, Nothing beats a good research subject like this one! there are some superb books and the web is full of little snippets and some big full productions such as the Wikipedia details well advanced in great detail with huge references to explore.. It is said that unless a student understands Ethiopia that essentially he will not understand anything about Africa and that is vital for the 19thC developments in Europe and leading up to WW1. the clues to British involvement in Sudan are on these pages … the war against the Mahdist and all ...are tied to this very essential reading.

please see https://www.africaresource.com/rasta...-for-ethiopia/ and the accompanying artwork below showing the Russians who were at Adwa..

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

The Battle of Adowa.

[roanoa]

Here are two Russian swords from Ethiopia. Both have the two-headed Russian Imperial eagle and the puzzling sun with 4 letters. Initials of an Armenian merchant???

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Just picking up on the two headed eagle insignia and a superb website reference on this subject at http://www.hubert-herald.nl/TwoHeade...eadedeaglewest

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

The Battle of Adowa.

The Italians lost big time.