Oreste Baratieri

Oreste Baratieri
Governor of Eritrea
In office 1892–1896
Personal details
Born	(1841-11-13)13 November 1841 Condino,Austrian Empire
Died	7 August 1901(1901-08-07)(aged 59) Sterzing,Austria-Hungary
Military service
Branch/service	Italian Army
Rank	Major General
Battles/wars	Expedition of the Thousand Battle of the Volturno Third Italian War of Independence Battle of Custoza Mahdist War Battle of Kassala First Italo–Ethiopian War Battle of Coatit Battle of Senafe Battle of Adwa

Oreste Baratieri(néOreste Baratter,13 November 1841 – 7 August 1901) was an Italian military officer and colonial administrator who served as thegovernor of Eritreafrom 1892 to 1896.

Early career

Baratieri (standing, second from right) pictured with otherRedshirtson 3 October 1860, after theBattle of the Volturno

Born inCondino(County of Tyrol,nowTrentino), Baratieri began his career as a volunteer forGiuseppe Garibaldi'sRedshirts,where he served during theExpedition of the Thousandfrom 1860 to 1861. Following the unification of Italy, Baratieri did fight in theBattle of Mentana(1867), then he pursued a military career joining the regularItalian Armyand fighting at theBattle of Custozaon 24 June 1866. Rising to the rank of general by 1891, Baratieri was appointed commander of Italian forces in colonial Africa and the following year becamegovernor of Eritrea.Baratieri would spend several years fighting with local Ethiopian forces along the border from 1893 to 1895, winning several victories over theMahdists,particularly at theBattle of Kassalaon 17 July 1894.

Italo-Ethiopian War

FollowingEthiopianEmperorMenelik IIand Italy's dispute over theTreaty of Wuchale,Italy launched an invasion of the Ethiopian Empire. Returning briefly to Italy, Baratieri reportedly promised crowds to bring back Menelik in a cage. In late 1895 Baratieri led a force of 25,000 Italian troops andEritrean Ascariinto Ethiopia.

However, Menelik had spent several years re-equipping his soldiers with modern arms and ammunition for such a conflict—at times with Italian help—and called up an army that vastly outnumbered the Italian forces. Baratieri spent nearly a year of theFirst Italo–Ethiopian Warevading a decisive confrontation. In February 1896, however, the impatient Italian government ofFrancesco Crispiordered Baratieri to engage the Ethiopians. Unknown to Baratieri, a confidential Cabinet decision had been made to replace him, and his successor General Baldissera was already on his way to Eritrea.

On the evening of 28 February 1896, Baratieri met in conference with his four Brigade commanders atSauria.The general himself favored a partial withdrawal, noting that the Ethiopian forces under Menelik were believed to be short of supplies and would be obliged soon to disperse. However both his brigadiers and his orders from Rome insisted on an advance into mountainous territory.

On 29 February, Baratieri marched in four separate columns on the Ethiopians atAdowa,where they outnumbered his immediate command of 9,894 men by more than ten to one.The fighting began soon after 5:30 am on 1 March, when a horseman entered the Ethiopian camp with news of the Italian advance. Ethiopian forces were well positioned to receive the Italians in a crossfire, and by noon the battle was effectively over. Around 14,660 Italian regulars and Eritrean Ascaris were killed during the war compared to an estimated 7,000 Ethiopians, Baratieri's casualties accounted for two-thirds of his force. As a result of the disaster, Italy was forced to sign the humiliatingTreaty of Addis Ababaguaranteeing Ethiopian sovereignty.

Baratieri was court-martialed atAsmara;though he was acquitted, he was forced to resign his post the following year. He spent the remainder of his life living in retirement in the Austrian Tyrol until his death on 7 August 1901 atSterzing,aged 59.

External links

• Works by or about Oreste Baratieriat theInternet Archive