Aosta, Duke Amadeo of

1898–1942

   Governor of Italian East Africa and Commander in Chief of the Italian Armies in Eritrea and Ethiopia. Aosta, a cousin of the King of Italy, undertook the invasion of British Somaliland in August 1940. His campaign was initially highly successful but as soon as the British were able to concentrate reinforcements, the tide swung in their favor. In April they reoccupied the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, and a month later Aosta himself was forced to surrender at Amba Alagi (16 May 1941). He died the following year in captivity in Kenya. He was liked and respected by friend and enemy alike as a gentleman, a patriot and a brave man.