While East Africa was discussing the war against the Boers, the Italians had already taken the first step, completing the first phase of their invasion of the Abyssinian Empire. The Italian expeditionary force led by Samuel captured Dessie, an important city in the eastern Abyssinian Empire.
The flag of the Kingdom of Italy flew above Dessie, setting off a new wave of turmoil in the Abyssinian Empire. The princes and ministers in the imperial capital hurled accusations at one another.
Shewa Kingdom: "It was the Central Government's stupidity that allowed the white-skinned Europeans to invade imperial territory. They must answer for this disgraceful act of losing the nation and humiliating its sovereignty."
The rulers and ministers of Tigray: "Bastards! It was clearly because you opposed us at every turn and paid lip service while defying the Central Government's decisions that the enemy found an opening. The fall of Dessie has everything to do with you."
The Abyssinian Empire's principal feudal separatist kingdoms were Tigray in the north and Shewa in the south. In addition, several important provinces such as Gojjam, Wollo, and Semien were also completely independent.
Later, Theodore II unified these regions and restored centralized rule to the Abyssinian Empire. But good times did not last; Theodore II was soon destroyed by the British.
The above regions once again formed separatist forces. Prince Kassa of Tigray was the first to ascend the imperial throne, being crowned Johannes IV in the ancient city of Axum.
However, Johannes IV's imperial title was little more than an empty shell. He had risen to power by stabbing Theodore II in the back and currying favor with the British. Even as a descendant of the Solomonic dynasty, he could not win the people's support.
Moreover, he made enemies everywhere and was at odds with