Black Lions (organization)
Encyclopedia
The Black Lions were an anti-fascist
resistance movement during the Italian occupation
of Ethiopia
. As Bahru Zewde notes, in spite of its "marginal impact on the Resistance" the Black Lions were "eloquent attempts to give the struggle coherent ideological and political direction."
Ras Abebe Aregai
, and a number of intellectuals who included the sons of Hakim Worqenah and Heruy Welde Sellase, and Yilma Deressa
. Its chairman was Alemework Beyene, a veterinary surgeon educated in Britain. The organization had a constitution consisting of ten points, which included: asserting the supremacy of the political sphere over the military, injunctions against mistreating peasants and prisoners of war, forbidding its members from seeking exile and urging them to prefer death to capture by the enemy.
The group was effectively disbanded following the surrender of the Ras Imru Haile Selassie
18 December 1936. The majority of its members were killed by the Italians following the unsuccessful attempt on Rodolfo Graziani
's life on 19 February 1937
. The few survivors included Alemework and Yilma.
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
resistance movement during the Italian occupation
Italian East Africa
Italian East Africa was an Italian colonial administrative subdivision established in 1936, resulting from the merger of the Ethiopian Empire with the old colonies of Italian Somaliland and Italian Eritrea. In August 1940, British Somaliland was conquered and annexed to Italian East Africa...
of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. As Bahru Zewde notes, in spite of its "marginal impact on the Resistance" the Black Lions were "eloquent attempts to give the struggle coherent ideological and political direction."
History
The movement was founded in western Ethiopia, and included fighters such as the ShoanShewa
Shewa is a historical region of Ethiopia, formerly an autonomous kingdom within the Ethiopian Empire...
Ras Abebe Aregai
Abebe Aregai
Ras Abebe Aregai was Prime Minister of Ethiopia from 27 November 1957 until his death. During the Italian occupation, he led a group of resistance fighters that operated in Menz and Shewa...
, and a number of intellectuals who included the sons of Hakim Worqenah and Heruy Welde Sellase, and Yilma Deressa
Yilma Deressa
Yilma Deressa was an Ethiopian politician. He served as Finance Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs , Ambassador to the United States, and member of the Ethiopian Senate...
. Its chairman was Alemework Beyene, a veterinary surgeon educated in Britain. The organization had a constitution consisting of ten points, which included: asserting the supremacy of the political sphere over the military, injunctions against mistreating peasants and prisoners of war, forbidding its members from seeking exile and urging them to prefer death to capture by the enemy.
The group was effectively disbanded following the surrender of the Ras Imru Haile Selassie
Imru Haile Selassie
Leul Ras Imru Haile Selassie was an Ethiopian noble, soldier, and diplomat. He was also the cousin of Emperor Haile Selassie.-Biography:...
18 December 1936. The majority of its members were killed by the Italians following the unsuccessful attempt on Rodolfo Graziani
Rodolfo Graziani
Rodolfo Graziani, 1st Marquis of Neghelli , was an officer in the Italian Regio Esercito who led military expeditions in Africa before and during World War II.-Rise to prominence:...
's life on 19 February 1937
Yekatit 12
Yekatit 12 is a date in the Ethiopian calendar, equivalent to 19 February in the Gregorian calendar, which is commonly used to refer to the indiscriminate massacre and imprisonment of Ethiopians by elements of the Italian occupation forces following an attempted assassination of Viceroy Rodolfo...
. The few survivors included Alemework and Yilma.