Ethiopia: The Battle of Adwa: An interview with Historian Raymond Jonas Raymond Thomas, PhD University of Washington, Discusses his book: The Battle of .\r \r Emperor Menelik was a king of Shewa before he became the emperor of Ethiopia. He was a son of king Hailemelekot of Shewa.\r \r \r \r WASHINGTON, DC (Ethiomedia) - Professor Raymond Jonas addresses an audience on the 116th anniversary of the Victory of the 1896 Battle of Adwa.\r \r Ethiopian, the island of dignity: It has been 118 years since the resounding victory by the Ethiopian Army at the battle of Adwa against the Italian invaders that .