British-Egyptian expeditions (1885–1889) Ethiopian campaigns (1885–1889) Italian campaigns (1890–1894) British-Egyptian reconquest (1896–1899) The Battle of Madana was a military confrontation that took place in June 1887 between the army of the Ethiopian Empire led by Tekle Haymanot of Gojjam and the Mahdist army led by Mohammad Wad Arbab.

[1][2][3] After the Hewett Treaty, relations between the Ethiopian Empire and Mahdist Sudan had deteriorated.

With that situation at hand, the Mahdist Emir Mohammad Wad Arbab raided Ethiopian territory and destroyed some churches; an act which angered Tekle Haymanot of Gojjam, a powerful nobleman of the Empire.

When they vehemently refused this, he invaded the Mahdist State at the head of an army 30,000 strong.

The Ethiopians followed up their victory with a devastating raid on Mahdist territory including the city of Gallabat which they sacked, slaughtering the population and enslaving the women and children.