1890s Map MASSAWA MITSIEA ERITREA Italy ,1894 Antique Colour Map

HISTORICAL MAP CHART - RAIL AND ROUTE MAP

Massawa or Mitsiwa (15°36?33?N, 39°26?43?E) is a port on the Red Sea coast of Eritrea. Important for many centuries, it has been colonised by Portugal, Egypt, the Ottoman Empire, Britain and finally Italy from 1885. It became the capital of Eritrea until this was moved to Asmara in 1897.Massawa is first mentioned in the Royal Chronicle of Negus of Axum Yeshaq, when the Emperor's deputy stationed there revolted.1. Originally only covering Wushti Batsi (Massawa Island), the city grew to cover Taulud Island and the mainland, which are now linked by causeways. Originally a part of Bahri Negash, under the rule of his powerful noble the Bahr negus, Massawa was captured by the Ottoman Empire in 1557, who then used it as a base in an attempt to conquer the rest of Eritrea and province of Tigray. Once they had been clearly defeated by Emperor Sarsa Dengel, the Ottoman authorities placed the city and its immediate hinterlands under the control of one of the aristocrats of the Beja people, whom they appointed Naib of Massawa and answerable to the Ottoman governor at Suakin. During the 19th century, along with much of the African coast of the Red Sea, it was ruled by Egypt with Ottoman consent. Following the Egyptian defeat at the Battle of Gura, Egyptian control of the port withered, and with the help of the British, Massawa came under Italian control as part of their colony of Eritrea in 1885.

1890s Wood Engraving, Antique Map

Approximate Overall Size: 6 X 9 1/2 inches

CONDITION: Book Plate Map - Excellent Condition. As Scanned. German Text. Beautiful with excellent detail. Map Print has Text on the back