How did Menilek II prepare Ethiopia to fight Italy before the Battle of Adwa?

To prepare for the conflict with Italy, Emperor Menilek II employed both diplomatic and strategic military measures:

• Diplomatic Rejection: After discovering that Italy had used a mistranslation of Article XVII of the Treaty of Wichale to claim a protectorate over Ethiopia, Menilek first sought a diplomatic solution before formally repudiating the treaty in 1893.12
• Acquisition of Modern Arms: Between 1891 and 1893, Menilek sent expeditions to the south and east to secure commodities such as gold, ivory, coffee, and hides. He traded these goods for modern weapons and munitions. He also utilized his connections with other European powers, such as France and Russia, to continue acquiring modern weaponry.13
• Strategic Mobilization: By December 1895, after ensuring the country's granaries were full, Menilek moved a massive, well-armed force of approximately 100,000 fighters into Tigray.12
• Psychological Warfare: Menilek shrewdly downplayed his military strength by leaking false reports to the Italians, suggesting he had fewer troops and that his forces were suffering from internal discord.2

These preparations allowed Ethiopia to decisively defeat the Italian forces at the Battle of Adwa in 1896, preserving the nation's independence.12