Battle of Gura

Battle of Gura
Part of Ethiopian–Egyptian War
Date March 7–9, 1876 Location Gura, Eritrea Result Ethiopian victory
Belligerents
Egypt	Ethiopia
Commanders and leaders
Isma'il Pasha Civil War veterans European mercenaries	Yohannes IV Alula Engida
Strength
20,000[1]	30,000
Casualties and losses
?	?

The Battle of Gura was fought on March 7–9, 1876 between the Ethiopian Empire and the Khedivate of Egypt near the town of Gura in Eritrea. It was the decisive battle of the Ethiopian–Egyptian War. The Egyptians invaded from their coastal possessions in what is now Eritrea. The armies of Yohannes and Isma'il met at Gundet on the morning of 16 November 1875. There was a crushing rout of the vastly-outnumbered but well equipped invading Egyptian force at the hands of the defending Ethiopian force. News of this huge defeat was suppressed in Egypt for fear that it would undermine the government of the Khedivate. After the defeat at Gundet, the Egyptians sent another, much larger force, which was armed to the teeth to invade from the north. They built a fort there but were again defeated at the Battle of Gura in March 1876.

See also

• Ethiopian–Egyptian War
• Battle of Adwa
• Military history of Ethiopia

References