IMPERIALISTS WREKT

Explanation: In the 19th century, every European power worth their salt decided to imperialize Africa, one supposes because they could and because human beings are shitty whenever there’s a power imbalance available to exploit. Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, and even Belgium got in on it. The Kingdom of Italy, then newly-reunited, felt left out, and so occupied some of North Africa. Feeling that wasn’t impressive enough, they then attempted to tangle with the ancient East African kingdom of Ethiopia - first by subterfuge, then by war.

Italy first signed a treaty with Ethiopia with two separate versions - the version readable to the Ethiopians being effectively a treaty of friendship, while the Italian-language version being effective vassalage. The Italians paraded this new ‘vassal’ in Europe to the polite applause of their colonizing peers. Finally, a ‘real’ Italian colonial empire!

Unfortunately for Italy, Ethiopia was pursuing a more vigorous diplomatic policy after centuries of isolation, and happened to send a letter to Queen Victoria. Queen Victoria, aware of only the Italian-language treaty, returned a letter chastising Ethiopia for trying to conduct independent diplomacy after signing away that right to the Italians!

The Ethiopians, confused by this response, did some digging with their European contacts, and discovered the deception. Denouncing the dual-form treaty and emphasizing the version that they read and signed, the rejection of Italian vassalage was humiliating to the Kingdom of Italy, and Italy subsequently declared war and invaded Ethiopia with the assistance of African mercenaries and colonial conscripts.

Interestingly, the Russian Empire supported Ethiopia, as Ethiopia was majority Oriental Orthodox Christian, and Russia was majority Eastern Orthodox Christian - they saw Ethiopia as their coreligionists more than the Catholic Christian Italians. Rare moment of based religious prejudice? Russia sent some advisors to assist the training of Ethiopian gunners, and a few shipments of modern artillery and rifles, but for the most part, Ethiopia was on its own.

At the Battle of Adwa, a massive Ethiopian army assembled to meet this invasion foiled a dawn surprise attack by Italy because Christian Ethiopians traditionally get up early to celebrate mass. Since they were already awake and aware instead of bleary-eyed and off-guard, they formed defensive positions and threw back the Italian attack, resulting in significant Italian losses and Ethiopia preserving its independence in the face of Italian colonialism - the only native African polity to survive the brutal period of the 19th century uncolonized by European powers!

Italy’s international reputation was not enhanced by this incident.

Because it was a major event in modern Ethiopian history, you can find some really cool depictions in traditional Ethiopian style - some pieces which were made in the modern day, others contemporary with the period - of the battle.