Italian East Africa

Heraldry in Africa
Marcus Karlsson
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Italian East Africa

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 13 Feb 2014, 20:39

For its Shortlived East Africa Empire that included Ethiopia, Eritrea and the Italian Somaliland these grand Arms was composed uniting the Arms of the Governorates making up the Italian East Africa.

Image
Picture from the Servizio Cartografico del Ministero dell'Africa Italiana (Carthographic Service of the Ministry of Italian Africa) via Wikimedia. The Date for its adoption seems to be 31 August 1939.
The Red Lion with a Star on the shoulder and placed about a field barry wavy Azure and Argent is for Eritrea Governorate, The field showing a Roman Aquila Standard on an mountain is for the Scioa Governorate (Central Part of Ethiopia arround the Capital Addis Abeba), the Arms holding a Sword over a Field Gules bearing a Cross is for the Amhara Governorate (Northern part of Ethiopia), The field with the Leopard and the Stars is for the Italian Somaliland Governorate, the field Argent with a Crescent Vert is for the Harrar Governorate (Eastern Ethiopia) and the Plough over a Fess Wavy is for the Galla-Sidamo Governorate (Western and Southern Ethiopia). In the middle the round Shield bering the Gules a Cross Argent for the Italian Royal House of Savoy. The Supporters are holding Fasces as symbol for the National Fascist Party that ruled Italy at the time. An indication of the uneasy cohabitation of the King Victor Emmanuel III and Benito Mussolini as Primeminister and Head of Government in heraldic form*. The Chain round the Shield appears to the the Annunziata Order (the formost Order of the Kingdom of Italy) and another for me unknown Decoration.

* This was also displayed in the Lesser Arms of the Kingdom of Italy where the Crowned Shield of the Savoy was flanked by two Fasces.

Marcus Karlsson
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Re: Italian East Africa

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 13 Feb 2014, 20:45

This only lasted until 1941 when the Italian East Africa was overrun by the Allies, restoring Haile Sellasie as Emperor of Ethiopia. But Italy acctualy regained Italian Somaliland after the War as a UN trusteeship with the mission to guide it to independence wich followed in 1960. Where the Italian Somaliland was united with the British Somaliand in the north becoming Somalia.

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JMcMillan
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Re: Italian East Africa

Postby JMcMillan » 13 Feb 2014, 22:23

Marcus Karlsson wrote:This only lasted until 1941 when the Italian East Africa was overrun by the Allies, restoring Haile Sellasie as Emperor of Ethiopia. But Italy acctualy regained Italian Somaliland after the War as a UN trusteeship with the mission to guide it to independence wich followed in 1960.


And did one hell of a job, too!
Joseph McMillan
Alexandra, Virginia, USA

Marcus Karlsson
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Re: Italian East Africa

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 14 Feb 2014, 10:46

JMcMillan wrote:
Marcus Karlsson wrote:This only lasted until 1941 when the Italian East Africa was overrun by the Allies, restoring Haile Sellasie as Emperor of Ethiopia. But Italy acctualy regained Italian Somaliland after the War as a UN trusteeship with the mission to guide it to independence wich followed in 1960.


And did one hell of a job, too!


Well Joseph, perhaps a Country where the longest serving goverment post-war was led by Silvio Berlusconi is not the best tutor.

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Mike_Oettle
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Location: Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Re: Italian East Africa

Postby Mike_Oettle » 15 Feb 2015, 19:49

While Africa Orientale Italiana also briefly incorporated British Somaliland, I notice that it is not included among the quarterings.
I used to know a judge of the Supreme Court (Eastern Cape Division) who had been in Berbera shortly after the British recaptured the territory. He said the Italians had trashed the main post office and left it open to all to go in and pick up whatever souvenirs they fancied. These included piles and piles of mint sheets of postage stamps of the British colony (superseded for the brief period of the Italian occupation by stamps inscribed Africa Orientale Italiana).
My father was also in Berbera during that time, but since his occupation was road-building, he probably did not have time to do any sightseeing.
Regards,
Mike
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life.
[Proverbs 14:27]

Jonathan Webster
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Re: Italian East Africa

Postby Jonathan Webster » 30 May 2020, 01:52

Another note: the crown in these arms is not the heraldic-only 'Crown of Savoy' that featured in the national arms of Italy and also the arms of Albania under Italian occupation, but is a wholly new creation that features imperial eagles and fasces at the bottom of the arches as well as crosses of Savoy.

Another heraldic illustration of the uneasy co-existence of the King and il Duce.


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