Emperor Yohannes IV: Ethiopia's Unifier Against Colonialism

In the late 19th century, as European powers scrambled for Africa, Emperor Yohannes IV (also known as Yohannis IV or John IV) fought to hold Ethiopia together. This episode explores his rise from a Tigrayan warlord to the first emperor to face modern colonial armies, his defense of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church against foreign missionaries, and his final stand at the Battle of Metemma against the Mahdist forces of Sudan. We delve into his strategic alliance with Queen Victoria, his conflict with King Menelik of Shewa, and his legacy as a devout Christian monarch who died on the battlefield. Key figures include Ras Alula, Yohannes's brilliant general, and Emperor Tekle Giyorgis II, his defeated rival. We also discuss the Treaty of Hewett, which secured Ethiopia's Red Sea coast but sparked war with Egypt. The conversation highlights Yohannes's role in preserving Ethiopian sovereignty before Menelik II's famous victory at Adwa. #YohannesIV #BattleOfMetemma #RasAlula #MahdistWar #EthiopianEmpire #Tigray #EthiopianOrthodox #TreatyOfHewett #MenelikII #Adwa #TekleGiyorgisII #QueenVictoria #ScrambleForAfrica #19thCentury #EthiopianHistory #ColonialResistance #History #FexingoHistory #AksumiteEmpire #Lalibela Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo