Talk:Treaty of Wuchale

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[edit] Ceding parts of Eritrea to Italy

This passage is contested by many. This is based on the fact that the Ethiopian kingodms did not excercise administrative control over Hamasien, Akkele Guzay and Seraye...rather they only extracted tribute. "The treaty ceded territories previously part of Ethiopia, namely the provinces of Bogos, Hamasien, Akkele Guzay, Serae, and parts of Tigray and is the origin of the Italian colony and modern state of Eritrea." Merhawie 22:27, 26 March 2007 (UTC)

Firstly, who is many? Secondly, what do you define as "administrative control?" Not all provinces were under the direct administration of the Emperor. Most were in fact ruled by local dynasties who paid tribute to the Emperor and ruled in his name, as was the case in Gojjam and the areas you noted above. Anyway, at the time that they were ceded to Italy, they were under direct administration in this way, as Ras Alula had replaced the old Hamasien dynasty and had been ruling the region for quite some time, then (I think 15 years by 1889). — ዮም | (Yom) | Talk • contribs • Ethiopia 00:37, 27 March 2007 (UTC)

Amongst others, David Pool, Kennedy Trevaskis, etc. But this is their point exactly. Is tribute alone a proof of sovereignty or is there something more. Merhawie 03:44, 27 March 2007 (UTC)