The Royal Corps of Somali Colonial Troops ( it, Regio corpo truppe coloniali della Somalia italiana) was the
colonial body of the
Royal Italian Army
The Royal Italian Army ( it, Regio Esercito, , Royal Army) was the land force of the Kingdom of Italy, established with the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy. During the 19th century Italy started to unify into one country, and in 1861 Manf ...
based in
Italian Somaliland
Italian Somalia ( it, Somalia Italiana; ar, الصومال الإيطالي, Al-Sumal Al-Italiy; so, Dhulka Talyaaniga ee Soomaalida), was a protectorate and later colony of the Kingdom of Italy in present-day Somalia. Ruled in the 19th centu ...
, in present-day northeastern, central and southern
Somalia
Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constitut ...
.
History
Establishment
In the late 19th century,
Mogadishu
Mogadishu (, also ; so, Muqdisho or ; ar, مقديشو ; it, Mogadiscio ), locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and List of cities in Somalia by population, most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port ...
was under the joint control of the
Somali
Somali may refer to:
Horn of Africa
* Somalis, an inhabitant or ethnicity associated with Greater Somali Region
** Proto-Somali, the ancestors of modern Somalis
** Somali culture
** Somali cuisine
** Somali language, a Cushitic language
** Somali ...
Geledi Sultanate
The Sultanate of the Geledi ( so, Saldanadda Geledi, ar, سلطنة غلدي) also known as the Gobroon Dynasty Somali Sultanate: The Geledi City-state Over 150 Years - Virginia Luling (2002) Page 229 was a Somali kingdom that ruled parts of th ...
(which, also holding sway over the
Shebelle region in the interior, was at the height of its power),
Hiraab Imamate
The Hiraab Imamate ( so, Saldanadda Hiraab) also known as the Yacquubi Dynasty was a Somali kingdom that ruled parts of the Horn of Africa during the late 17th century and 19th century until it was incorporated into Italian Somaliland. The Imamate ...
and the
Oman
Oman ( ; ar, عُمَان ' ), officially the Sultanate of Oman ( ar, سلْطنةُ عُمان ), is an Arabian country located in southwestern Asia. It is situated on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and spans the mouth of ...
i
Sultan of Zanzibar
The sultans of Zanzibar ( ar, سلاطين زنجبار) were the rulers of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, which was created on 19 October 1856 after the death of Said bin Sultan, who had ruled Oman and Zanzibar as the sultan of Oman since 1804. Th ...
.
[I. M. Lewis, ''A modern history of Somalia: nation and state in the Horn of Africa'', (Westview Press: 1988), p.38] Mogadishu was thereafter made the capital of the newly established
Italian Somaliland
Italian Somalia ( it, Somalia Italiana; ar, الصومال الإيطالي, Al-Sumal Al-Italiy; so, Dhulka Talyaaniga ee Soomaalida), was a protectorate and later colony of the Kingdom of Italy in present-day Somalia. Ruled in the 19th centu ...
colony.
On 5 April 1908, the Royal Corps of Somali Colonial Troops was established, after the Italians had captured the southern
Benadir region from the Sultan of Zanzibar. The troops were originally referred to as "Guard Corps of Benadir" (''Corpo della Guardia di Benadir'' in
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
). However, after the territory was renamed from ''Benadir Coast Italian Protectorate'' to ''Italian Somaliland'', the troops officially became known as the ''Royal Corps of Somali Colonial Troops''.
In 1908, the Royal Corps assumed the final name 'Regio corpo truppe coloniali della Somalia italiana''. This included a command, a department of
Zaptie, 5 local companies, and a company of local cannon-gunners.
In 1907, the rebels Bimal lost again at Dongab and
Danane
Danane ( so, Danaane, ar, دنانه) is a coastal town in the southern Lower Shebelle province of Somalia. It is located approximately to the southwest of the nation's capital Mogadishu.
History
In the past the Italians set a concentrati ...
, defeated by 500 Somali troops and
Eritrean Ascari under Captain Vitali. The forces were supported by the Royal ship N "Relay". Between 11 and 12 July 1908, troops led by major
Antonino Di Giorgio
Antonino Di Giorgio (San Fratello, 22 September 1867 – Palermo, 17 April 1932) was an Italian general and politician, who fought in the First Italo-Ethiopian War
The First Italo-Ethiopian War, lit. ''Abyssinian War'' was fought between ...
conquereded the city of
Merca
Merca ( so, Marka, Maay: ''Marky'', ar, مركة) is a historic port city in the southern Lower Shebelle province of Somalia. It is located approximately to the southwest of the nation's capital Mogadishu. Merca is the traditional home territory ...
, after clashing with rebels in Merére and occupying
Afgooye
Afgooye ( so, Afgooye, ar, أفجويى, it, Afgoi) is a town in the southwestern Somalia Lower Shebelle (Shabellaha Hoose) region of Somalia. It is the center of the Afgooye District. Afgooye is the third largest city of Southwest State. Afg ...
. Following a series of Italian victories, the Sultan of Geledi and his 5,000 strong army were subdued.
Somaliland Campaign
The British became convinced of their need of Italian assistance in their campaign against the
Dervish
Dervish, Darvesh, or Darwīsh (from fa, درویش, ''Darvīsh'') in Islam can refer broadly to members of a Sufi fraternity (''tariqah''), or more narrowly to a religious mendicant, who chose or accepted material poverty. The latter usage i ...
forces of
Diiriye Guure.
However, memories of the disastrous
Battle of Adowa
The Battle of Adwa (; ti, ውግእ ዓድዋ; , also spelled ''Adowa'') was the climactic battle of the First Italo-Ethiopian War. The Ethiopian forces defeated the Italian invading force on Sunday 1 March 1896, near the town of Adwa. The de ...
inhibited any Italian fervour for action in the Horn region. In 1903, the Italian
Foreign Ministry In many countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the government department responsible for the state's diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral relations affairs as well as for providing support for a country's citizens who are abroad. The entit ...
permitted the British to land forces at
Hobyo
Hobyo (; so, Hobyo), is an ancient port city in Galmudug state in the north-central Mudug region of Somalia.
Hobyo was founded as a coastal outpost by the Ajuran Empire during the 13th century.Lee V. Cassanelli, ''The shaping of Somali society: ...
(Obbia). An Italian naval commander off Hobyo feared "that the expedition will end in a fiasco; the Mad Mullah will become a myth for the British, who will never come across him, and a serious worry for ... our sphere of influence."
The relationship between the
Sultanate of Hobyo
The Sultanate of Hobyo ( so, Saldanadda Hobyo, ar, سلطنة هوبيو), also known as the Sultanate of Obbia,''New International Encyclopedia'', Volume 21, (Dodd, Mead: 1916), p.283. was a 19th-century Somali kingdom in present-day northeaste ...
and Italy soured when Sultan
Yusuf Ali Kenadid
Yusuf Ali Kenadid ( so, Yuusuf Cali Keenadiid; 1837 - 14 August 1911) was a Somali Sultan. He was the founder of the Sultanate of Hobyo in April 1878. He was succeeded atop the throne by his son Ali Yusuf Kenadid.
Family
Yusuf Ali Kenadid was bo ...
refused the Italians' proposal to allow British troops to disembark in his Sultanate so that they might then pursue their battle against
Diiriye Guure's Dervish forces.
Viewed as too much of a threat by the Italians, Kenadid was exiled first to the British-controlled
Aden Protectorate
The Aden Protectorate ( ar, محمية عدن ') was a British protectorate in South Arabia which evolved in the hinterland of the port of Aden and in the Hadhramaut following the conquest of Aden by the Bombay Presidency of British India ...
, and then to
Italian Eritrea
Italian Eritrea ( it, Colonia Eritrea, "Colony of Eritrea") was a colony of the Kingdom of Italy in the territory of present-day Eritrea. The first Italian establishment in the area was the purchase of Assab by the Rubattino Shipping Company in 1 ...
, as was his son Ali Yusuf, the heir apparent to his throne.
[Sheik-ʻAbdi (1993), 129] In May, the British
Foreign Office
Foreign may refer to:
Government
* Foreign policy, how a country interacts with other countries
* Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in many countries
** Foreign Office, a department of the UK government
** Foreign office and foreign minister
* Unit ...
realised the error, and had Kenadid's son appointed regent, just in time to forestall an attack in
Mudug
Mudug ( so, Mudug; it, Mudugh) is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in north-central Somalia. The population of Mudug is 131,455 as of 2005.
Overview
Physiographically, Mudug is bordered to the west by Ethiopia,Országismertető - Szomália ...
by the Sultan's army.
[Hess (1964), 421.]
The expedition ended in failure soon after.
Diiriye Guure forces defeated a British detachment near
Gumburru and then another near
Daratoleh. With 1,200–1,500 rifles, 4,000 ponies and some spearmen, he occupied the
Nugal Valley from Halin in the British protectorate to Ilig (or Illig) on the Italian-held coast. The main British force near
Galad (Galadi) under General
William Manning retreated north along the line
Bohotleh–
Burao
Burao, also spelt Bur'o or Bur'ao (; so, Burco, , ar, برعو) is the capital of the Togdheer region and the second largest city in Somaliland. Burao was also the third largest city of Somalia. Burao was the site of the declaration of an in ...
–
Sheekh
Sheikh ( so, Sheekh, ar, شَيخ), also known as Shiikh, is a town in the northwestern Sahil[Somalilan ...](_blank)
. This "old-established line" had already been breached by Guure when he invaded the Nugal. By the end of June, the withdrawal was complete.
In 1925, the
Dubats were established. These irregular Somali troops initially served under major Camillo Bechis as guerrilla forces of the Royal Corps, sometimes using camels. The troops mainly operated in the
Ogaden
Ogaden (pronounced and often spelled ''Ogadēn''; so, Ogaadeen, am, ውጋዴ/ውጋዴን) is one of the historical names given to the modern Somali Region, the territory comprising the eastern portion of Ethiopia formerly part of the Harargh ...
region.
Second Italo-Ethiopian War & Italian East Africa
During the
Second Italo-Ethiopian War
The Second Italo-Ethiopian War, also referred to as the Second Italo-Abyssinian War, was a war of aggression which was fought between Fascist Italy (1922–1943), Italy and Ethiopian Empire, Ethiopia from October 1935 to February 1937. In Ethio ...
, the Somali Colonial Troops served alongside soldiers from Italy and
Eritrea
Eritrea ( ; ti, ኤርትራ, Ertra, ; ar, إرتريا, ʾIritriyā), officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa region of Eastern Africa, with its capital and largest city at Asmara. It is bordered by Ethiopi ...
in a second attempt by Italian troops to defeat the Ethiopian forces.
In the
Battle of the Ogaden
The Battle of the Ogaden was fought in 1936 in the southern front of the Second Italo-Abyssinian War. The battle consisted of attacks by the Italian forces of General Rodolfo Graziani, the commander-in-chief of the forces on the "southern fr ...
, commanded by General
Luigi Frusci
Luigi Frusci (16 January 1879 – 1949) was an officer in the Italian Royal Army (''Regio Esercito'') during the Italian conquest of Ethiopia and World War II. He was the last Italian Governor of Eritrea and Amhara.
Biography
Ordine militare ...
who was to move forward to the pivotal point of the "Hindenburg Wall" of Ethiopian defenses under
Wehib Pasha
Wehib Pasha also known as Vehip Pasha, Mehmed Wehib Pasha, Mehmet Vehip Pasha (modern Turkish: ''Kaçı Vehip Paşa'' or ''Mehmet Vehip (Kaçı)'', 1877–1940), was a general in the Ottoman Army. He fought in the Balkan Wars and in several the ...
(a military advisor to the Ethiopian army), the Royal Corps of Somali Colonial troops in April 1936 fought bravely defeating the Ethiopian troops. They received an Italian "Military Gold Medal" award mainly for this victory.
On 5 May 1936, Italian troops captured
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa (; am, አዲስ አበባ, , new flower ; also known as , lit. "natural spring" in Oromo), is the capital and largest city of Ethiopia. It is also served as major administrative center of the Oromia Region. In the 2007 census, t ...
after defeating Ethiopia during the
Second Italo-Abyssinian War
The Second Italo-Ethiopian War, also referred to as the Second Italo-Abyssinian War, was a war of aggression which was fought between Italy and Ethiopia from October 1935 to February 1937. In Ethiopia it is often referred to simply as the Ita ...
.
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (; 29 July 188328 April 1945) was an Italian politician and journalist who founded and led the National Fascist Party. He was Prime Minister of Italy from the March on Rome in 1922 until his deposition in ...
then proclaimed the establishment of
Italian East Africa
Italian East Africa ( it, Africa Orientale Italiana, AOI) was an Italian colony in the Horn of Africa. It was formed in 1936 through the merger of Italian Somalia, Italian Eritrea, and the newly occupied Ethiopian Empire, conquered in the S ...
, which unified
Italian Eritrea
Italian Eritrea ( it, Colonia Eritrea, "Colony of Eritrea") was a colony of the Kingdom of Italy in the territory of present-day Eritrea. The first Italian establishment in the area was the purchase of Assab by the Rubattino Shipping Company in 1 ...
and Italian Somaliland with defeated Ethiopia. Addis Ababa was later made the capital city of Italian East Africa.
The Somali Colonial Troops would then be merged with other
Royal troops, creating even the
Italian African Police
140px, Badge
The Italian African Police (Italian: ''Polizia dell'Africa Italiana'', or PAI), was the police force of Italian North Africa and Italian East Africa from 1 June 1936 to 1 December 1945.
Characteristics
Towards the end of the war ...
and the Somali "Carabinieri" (
Zaptie).
In 1940, the Somali Colonial Troops were officially added to the
Italian Army
"The safeguard of the republic shall be the supreme law"
, colors =
, colors_labels =
, march = ''Parata d'Eroi'' ("Heroes's parade") by Francesco Pellegrino, ''4 Maggio'' (May 4) ...
, establishing the
Italian Somali Divisions (101 and 102).
After
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
, a former member of the Zaptìé corps,
Siad Barre
Mohamed Siad Barre ( so, Maxamed Siyaad Barre, Osmanya script: ; ar, محمد سياد بري; c. 1910 – 2 January 1995) was a Somali head of state and general who served as the 3rd president of the Somali Democratic Republic from 1969 to 19 ...
, became President of Somalia from 1969 to 1991.
Honors
Gold Medal of Military Valor
The Gold Medal of Military Valour ( it, Medaglia d'oro al valor militare) is an Italian medal established on 21 May 1793 by King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia for deeds of outstanding gallantry in war by junior officers and soldiers.
The f ...
- Awarded for heroism during the Italo-Ethiopian War of October 3, 1935 to May 5, 1936.
See also
*
Italian empire
The Italian colonial empire ( it, Impero coloniale italiano), known as the Italian Empire (''Impero Italiano'') between 1936 and 1943, began in Africa in the 19th century and comprised the colonies, protectorates, concessions and dependenci ...
*
Italian Armed Forces
The Italian Armed Forces ( it, Forze armate italiane, ) encompass the Italian Army, the Italian Navy and the Italian Air Force. A fourth branch of the armed forces, known as the Carabinieri, take on the role as the nation's military police and a ...
*
Italian Somaliland
Italian Somalia ( it, Somalia Italiana; ar, الصومال الإيطالي, Al-Sumal Al-Italiy; so, Dhulka Talyaaniga ee Soomaalida), was a protectorate and later colony of the Kingdom of Italy in present-day Somalia. Ruled in the 19th centu ...
*
Italian Somali Divisions (101 and 102)
*
Dubats
*
Zaptie
Notes
References
*Hess, Robert L. (1964). "The ‘Mad Mullah’ and Northern Somalia." ''The Journal of African History'' 5 (3): 415–33.
*Cunliffe-Owen, Frederick. (1905). "The Somaliland Operations: June, 1903, to May, 1904." ''Royal United Service Institution Journal'' 49 (1): 169–83.
*
{{Italian colonial empire
Military units and formations of Italy
Italian Somaliland
Somali
Somali may refer to:
Horn of Africa
* Somalis, an inhabitant or ethnicity associated with Greater Somali Region
** Proto-Somali, the ancestors of modern Somalis
** Somali culture
** Somali cuisine
** Somali language, a Cushitic language
** Somali ...