Giuseppe Galliano facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Giuseppe Galliano
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 27 September 1846 Vicoforte, Kingdom of Sardinia |
| Died | 1 March 1896 (aged 49) Adwa, Ethiopian Empire |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Italy |
| Service/ |
 Royal Italian Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Battles/wars |
|
| Awards | Gold Medal of Military Valor |
Giuseppe Galliano (born in Vicoforte, Italy, on September 27, 1846 – died in Adwa, Ethiopia, on March 1, 1896) was a brave officer in the Royal Italian Army. He is best known for his important role during the First Italo-Ethiopian War. He sadly lost his life in the Battle of Adwa. After his death, he was given the Gold Medal of Military Valour, a very high honor for bravery.
Contents
Who Was Giuseppe Galliano?
Giuseppe Galliano was born in 1846. His father was also a military officer. In 1854, at just eight years old, Giuseppe began his military education at the Military College in Asti. He continued his studies at the Military School. In 1866, he became a second lieutenant in the Infantry. He even took part in a war against Austria that same year.
Early Military Career and Promotions
By 1870, Galliano was promoted to Lieutenant. A few years later, in 1873, he joined the new Alpini corps, which were mountain troops. He became a captain in 1883. In 1887, he traveled to Eritrea in Africa. This was part of an Italian effort after a difficult battle at Dogali. However, the mission ended without major fighting, and Galliano returned to Italy. In 1890, he was sent back to Eritrea.
Adventures in Africa
Giuseppe Galliano spent several years serving in Italy's African colonies. He became known for his leadership and bravery in various battles.
The Battle of Agordat: A Brave Stand
In 1893, Captain Galliano led a battalion of Eritrean colonial soldiers and Sudanese artillery in the Second Battle of Agordat. At first, his troops were doing well. However, the enemy soldiers, known as Dervishes, launched a strong attack. Galliano had to order a retreat. But he quickly turned things around. He led a powerful counterattack with bayonets, riding his horse at the front. The Dervishes were surprised and quickly fled. The Italian forces captured many weapons and flags, including a famous green banner.
For his courage and leadership at Agordat, King Umberto I awarded Captain Galliano the Gold Medal of Military Valour. Galliano felt proud but also wished his officers, who fought alongside him, had received similar high honors. He was very skilled at training local troops to become strong and united units.
Victory at Coatit
In January 1895, another important battle took place at Coatit. Italian troops fought against the forces of Ras Mangascià, a governor from the Tigray Region in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian forces were defeated. Major Galliano, who had been promoted after Agordat, played a big part in this victory. For his actions, he received a Silver Medal of Military Valour. He was also honored with the Knight Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus.
Defending the Fort of Mek'ele
_Fort,_Mek%27ele,_Ethiopia,_ca._1890.JPG)
In late 1895, the Italian army had taken control of the Tigray region. However, the Ethiopian Emperor, Menelik II, said that Italy was occupying land that belonged to Ethiopia according to a treaty. Emperor Menelik II gathered a huge army of about 100,000 soldiers. He planned to march against the Italian forces.
The Italian army was divided. Major Galliano was left with about 1,300 men to defend the fort of Enda Yesus near Mek'ele. Emperor Menelik II's large army began to surround the fort. Galliano and his men bravely defended the fort for two months. They faced constant attacks from the much larger Ethiopian army. The small group of defenders suffered many losses, especially from sickness. But they refused to give up.
During this time, there were talks about peace. Emperor Menelik II offered to let the Italian soldiers in Mek'ele go free if Italy would cancel the treaty. The Italian government wanted their soldiers freed but also wanted the treaty to continue. Eventually, Emperor Menelik II agreed to let Galliano's army leave the fort and negotiate. This was good news for Galliano, as his soldiers were running out of water and supplies. Galliano and his men then joined other Italian forces. For his heroic defense of the fort, which was later called "Fort Galliano" in his honor, he received another Silver Medal of Military Valour. In January 1896, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
The Final Battle of Adwa
By late February 1896, the Italian army was in a difficult situation. They had very few supplies left. The generals had to decide whether to retreat or to advance and attack the Ethiopian army at Adwa. The Italian government leader, Francesco Crispi, sent a strong message urging immediate action.
On the night of February 29, the Italian army, with about 20,000 soldiers, decided to attack Emperor Menelik II's army of 100,000. Colonel Galliano was part of the central column of the Italian forces. On Rajo Mount, he tried to protect the left side of his brigade by holding back the Ethiopian soldiers. In this fierce fight, Colonel Galliano and all his soldiers bravely fought until they fell.
After his death, Giuseppe Galliano was awarded a second Gold Medal of Military Valour. He was the first officer to receive this high honor twice.
Remembering a Hero
Giuseppe Galliano is remembered as a brave and dedicated officer. In Ceva, Italy, there is a museum dedicated to him. Several public buildings and a bronze monument also honor his memory. Interestingly, a famous herbal drink called Galliano is also named after him.
Awards and Recognition
- Knight of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus
- Awarded by the Monarch in 1896.
Knight of the Order of the Crown of Italy
Silver Medal of Military Valour
- For his bravery in the battles of Coatit in 1893.
Gold Medal of Military Valour
- For the decisive victory over the Dervishes at Agordat, Eritrea, in December 1893.
- Silver Medal of Military Valour
- For his heroic defense of the fort of Enda Yesus (Mek'ele) in 1896.
- Gold Medal of Military Valour
- Awarded after his death for his valor at Adwa, Ethiopia, on March 1, 1896. He fought bravely even after being wounded, urging his soldiers to fight with honor until he was killed.
See Also
