ethiopian sword/arab blade???

[Jim McDougall]

Ariel,
Thank you so much for this valuable insight, which I clearly missed in my studies on Ethiopian weapons!! I really had no idea there were Russians in there, and I guess assumed there was so much other nationality presence that such intervention by them was not viable. Clearly they had 'their hands in the cookie jar' in many places not well known.

Here in the US, in California and Western regions all the way to Alaska they loomed large in areas regarded as French, Spanish and British it would seem much in the same manner.


I really appreciate very much these kinds of responses, which illuminate things missed by my own research and probably others as well, and give the topic the proper perspective in a generous and gracious manner. Thank you again
.

Jim

[ariel]

Guys,

I was given so much by the multiple Forumites over the years that even a small payback to the community is a pleasure.


Gentlemen, Please restrict your postings to the original topic. Those interested in discussing or wanting to make comments or state personal opinions on the present or possible future political climent should do so either through PM or email.

Robert

[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???

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

The Battle of Adowa.

The Italians lost big time.