Battle of Gallabat
| Battle of Gallabat | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Mahdist War | |||||||
The battle of Gallabat between Emperor Yohannes against the Mahdists | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Mahdist State | Ethiopian Empire | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Zeki Tummal |
Yohannes IV of Ethiopia † Ras Mengesha Yohannes Ras Mikael of Wollo Ras Alula | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 85,000 men | 130,000 foot soldiers, 20,000 cavalry | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| ~15,000 killed | ~15,000 killed | ||||||
The Battle of Gallabat, also known as the Battle of Metemma, was fought on 9–10 March 1889 during the Mahdist War between the Mahdist Sudanese and Ethiopian forces. It is a critical event in Ethiopian history because Nəgusä Nägäst (or Emperor) Yohannes IV was killed in this battle, and because it was the last major battle on the Ethiopian front of the Mahdist War. The fighting occurred at the site of the twin settlements of Gallabat (in modern-day Sudan) and Metemma (in modern-day Ethiopia).