“Rather than submit to colonial rule, I would prefer to die.”
Empress Taytu Betul (c.1851–1918), wife of Emperor Menelik II, stands as one of the most powerful symbols of African women’s leadership, courage, and resistance to colonial domination.
Born into a noble family and highly educated for her time, Taytu was politically astute, deeply patriotic, and fiercely protective of Ethiopia’s sovereignty. Long before the Battle of Adwa, she emerged as one of the strongest voices opposing Italian expansion and foreign interference in Ethiopian affairs. She was particularly resolute in rejecting the Treaty of Wuchale (1889) once it became clear that the Italian version falsely claimed Ethiopia was an Italian protectorate. Taytu firmly opposed any compromise, declaring her now-famous resolve:
“Rather than submit to colonial rule, I would prefer to die.”
When war became inevitable, Queen Taytu did not remain behind the lines. She marched to Adwa alongside Emperor Menelik II, commanding her own division of troops, including women who provided logistical, medical, and morale support to the army. Her presence at the battlefield was both practical and symbolic, reinforcing unity and determination at a critical moment.
One of her most decisive contributions during the campaign was strategic. Taytu and her forces secured and controlled vital water wells, particularly at Mai Shum, cutting off Italian troops from water supplies. This action weakened enemy positions and forced many Italian soldiers to surrender, contributing directly to Ethiopia’s victory.
The Victory of Adwa in 1896 was not only a military triumph but a defining moment for Africa and the Black world. Queen Taytu’s leadership before and during the battle demonstrated that women were central actors in defending sovereignty, shaping national destiny, and resisting colonialism.
Today, Queen Taytu Betul remains an enduring example to women and men alike: a leader who stood firmly by her principles, by her people, and by her country—proving that courage, intelligence, and resolve know no gender.