Battle of Anchem

Battle of Anchem
Part of Gugsa Wale's rebellion
Date31 March 1930
Location
Debre Zebit in Semien, Ethiopia
Result Gugsa Welle defeated and King Tafari Makonnen proclaimed as Emperor Haile Selassie I
Belligerents
Pro-Empress Zewditu faction
Yejju (arrived late)		 Pro-King Tafari Makonnen faction
Commanders and leaders
Gugsa Welle † Tafari Makonnen
Zewditu I
Mulugeta Yeggazu
Strength
Army of Begemder
10,000[1]
(down from a high of 35,000)[2]		 Army of the Center and about four provincial armies
20,000[1]
(of a total of 32,000)[2]
Casualties and losses
Entire army disintegrated Unknown

The Battle of Anchem (also Battle of Anchiem or Battle of Anchim) was fought between two factions of the Royal family in the Ethiopian Empire (Mangista Iteeyop'p'ya). The battle was fought to determine who would rule the empire, Empress (Nigiste Negest)[nb 1] Zewditu or King (Negus)[nb 2] Tafari Makonnen.

The Battle of Anchem is memorable because the pro-Zewditu forces were not openly supported by Empress Zewditu. The battle is also memorable for the use of both psychological warfare and aerial warfare by the pro-Tafari forces.

  1. ^ a b "Luckless Empress". Time
  2. ^ a b Mockler, Haile Sellassie's War, p. 10 (Number quoted for January.)


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