When discussing European colonial empires, Italy often garners less attention than Britain, France, or Spain. However, Italy’s colonial ambitions, though comparatively short-lived and smaller in scale, left a lasting impact on the regions it controlled and on Italy itself. Italy’s colonial history is a story of late 19th- and early 20th-century ambitions, marked by both military triumphs and catastrophic failures. Its legacy continues to influence cultural, political, and social landscapes today.
The Beginnings: Italy's Late Entry into Colonialism
Italy did not exist as a unified nation until 1861. By the time it unified, the "Scramble for Africa" was already underway, and major colonial powers like Britain, France, and Belgium had claimed vast territories. Nevertheless, driven by a mix of nationalism, a desire for prestige, and economic interests, Italy pursued its own colonial dreams.
Italy's first colonial possession came in 1882 with the purchase of Assab Bay in what is now Eritrea by an Italian shipping company. In 1889, Italy officially established Eritrea as its first colony. This marked the beginning of Italy’s attempts to build an empire primarily in Africa.
Expansion and Early Defeats
Following its initial foothold in Eritrea, Italy sought to expand into Ethiopia (then known as Abyssinia), leading to the First Italo-Ethiopian War (1895–1896). This venture ended disastrously for Italy. The Battle of Adwa in 1896 resulted in a humiliating defeat, the first time an African army decisively defeated a European colonial power. Ethiopia maintained its independence, a rare outcome at the time.
Undeterred, Italy shifted focus elsewhere. It seized the coastal regions of Somalia (Italian Somaliland) and, in 1911, declared war on the Ottoman Empire to acquire territories in North Africa. The resulting Italo-Turkish War led to Italy annexing modern-day Libya (then composed of the regions of Tripolitania, Cyrenaica, and Fezzan).
The Fascist Era and New Ambitions
Italy's colonial ambitions peaked under Benito Mussolini's Fascist regime (1922–1943). Mussolini sought to recreate a "New Roman Empire," using colonial conquest as a tool for both domestic propaganda and international prestige.
Second Italo-Ethiopian War (1935–1936): In a brutal campaign involving chemical weapons and widespread atrocities, Italy invaded and occupied Ethiopia, merging it with Eritrea and Italian Somaliland to form Italian East Africa.
Occupation of Albania (1939): Although not a traditional colony, Italy invaded and annexed Albania as part of its expansionist goals.
World War II: Italy’s imperial aspirations extended during WWII into parts of Greece and the Balkans, although these occupations were short-lived and ultimately unsuccessful.
The Fall of Italy's Empire
Italy’s colonial empire began to crumble during World War II. British and Allied forces drove Italy out of East Africa by 1941. Libya fell in 1943. After the war, Italy formally renounced all claims to its African colonies under the Treaty of Peace (1947). However, Italy was temporarily entrusted with administering Somalia under a United Nations mandate until Somalia gained independence in 1960.
Legacy of Italian Colonialism
Though Italy's colonial empire was relatively short-lived, its legacy remains complex and deeply felt.
In the Colonized Regions
Infrastructure: Italy built roads, ports, and administrative buildings in Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia. Some of these structures remain in use today.
Cultural Influence: Italian language, cuisine, and architecture have left marks in former colonies. In Eritrea’s capital, Asmara, Italian Modernist architecture is still celebrated.
Historical Grievances: Memories of brutal repression, massacres, and forced labor under Italian rule continue to affect relations between Italy and its former colonies. The legacy of violence, especially in Ethiopia, is a source of lingering bitterness.
In Italy Itself
Migration: Former colonial subjects, especially from Somalia and Eritrea, migrated to Italy in the post-war period, shaping parts of Italy’s contemporary multicultural society.
Public Memory: For decades, Italy’s colonial history was minimized or romanticized in public discourse. Only in recent years has there been a more critical reckoning, with growing calls for official apologies and deeper historical education.
Cultural Artefacts: Museums in Italy still hold many artifacts taken during colonial campaigns, prompting debates about repatriation.
Italy’s Colonial History in Perspective
Italy’s colonial history reveals a complex interplay of ambition, violence, cultural exchange, and lasting consequences. While its empire was smaller and shorter-lived than those of Britain or France, the effects on both the colonized peoples and on Italy itself remain significant.
Today, Italy continues to grapple with this legacy, navigating calls for historical accountability while recognizing the cultural interconnections that emerged from its imperial past. Understanding Italy’s colonial history is crucial not only for grasping the nation's modern identity but also for appreciating the enduring impacts on the broader Mediterranean and African worlds.
