History Behind a Name:

Grevy's Zebra

When Napoleon started his conquest of Africa in the late 18th century, he brought scientists who traveled with his army. Many animals and plants they found were new to European science. Many animals received names in the language of the discoverers. It's possible to find many animals and plants in Africa that have French names. But few animals received their names in the manner of the Grevy's Zebra.

A new challenge for Napoleon's army
In 1798, France was looking for economic strength. An opportunity for French colonization of Africa came after Napoleon conquered Austria and Prussia when Napoleon suggested using his army to invade and claim African territories for France. By doing so, Napoleon would be able to maintain the successful army he had built and match Britain's interests in Africa. French political authorities agreed and between 1798 and 1801 Napoleon successfully started French colonies in Africa. By the late 1800s, many European nations were interested in colonizing Africa for political and economic reasons.

Ethiopia, Britain and France
The French, political relationship with Ethiopia did not come from conquest, but grew slowly from political events. In 1867, King Theodore II of Abyssinia (which would eventually become Ethiopia) made a request to Britain asking for guns, ammunition and the experts to use them effectively. Modern weapons of the time were of value in defense of African nations. Britain ignored the request and Theodore discovered his British consul had visited Egypt, a country that Theodore considered to be his enemy. Theodore saw this as a threat to his country. When the King had a chance, he held the British consul, his family and other British subjects hostage until he received a reply from Britain concerning his requests for weapons.

Britain, fearing for the hostages' safety, successfully attacked King Theodore's fortress at Magdala. King Theodore was found dead when the siege ended. One of King Theodore's noblemen, Kasa Mercha, gave little resistance to the British soldiers on their way to Magdala. As a reward, the British forces gave Kasa Mercha mortars, howitzers, ammunition and muskets as they left. With these weapons Kasa Mercha waged war against other Abyssinian noblemen who opposed his self-appointed kingship now that Theodore was dead.

France and Ethiopia's resentment of Britain.
During Kasa Mercha's war for the throne, France purchased a port at Obock on the coast of Somalia, a neighboring country to Ethiopia. The Obock port would serve France from 1862 to 1891 and was of major importance since it was a refueling station for French ships of trade. In 1869, France finished building the Suez Canal, a great achievement in engineering. Shortly after, Britain began to secretly invest money in France's canal. Eventually Britain gained complete control of the canal by right of ownership. The proximity of the French in Somalia to neighboring Abyssinia and political relations both countries have with Britain would play a role in the friendship between France and Abyssinia.

Kasa Mercha's rise and fall
By 1871 Kasa Mercha was able to overpower most of his fellow noblemen and declared himself Emperor Yohannes IV of Ethiopia. Mercha did this even though there were still battles being waged against Ethiopian noblemen over who should inherit Theodore's title of Negus (king of kings) of Ethiopia. Among the disagreeing noblemen was King Menelik II, the king of the Shewa province in Ethiopia from 1865 until 1889. King Menelik II befriended the French and imported weapons and experts to use them. The power balance within Abyssinia changed even more when Britain's Egyptian ruler, called the Khedive of Egypt took control of Abyssinia's ocean port at Massowah. The Khedive prevented the Abyssinia King Kasa Mercha from importing weapons of his own from Europe.

Things became more complicated when British-Egyptian army garrisons near Ethiopia were attacked as a result of a revolution. Britain and the Khedive of Egypt asked for King Kasa Mercha's help. Kasa Mercha agreed provided Egypt and Britain gave back territories belonging to Abyssinia, including the port of Massowah, and allowed resumption of trade with Europe. Britain and the Egyptian Khedive agreed, but Abyssinia is allowed to use the port only under British protection. King Kasa Mercha agreed to the terms. The British then gave the port to the Italians who took control of it in 1885 with plans to make Abyssinia an Italian colony. During these times of political dealings with Europe, Kasa Mercha was still fighting aggressively in an attempt to unite Abyssinia. Eventually, he was killed in battle against his own countrymen in 1889.

King Menelik's rise to power
Nobleman and provincial, King Menelik II had built a strong army during Yohannes reign as emperor. Menelik II became the Emperor of Ethiopia after the death of King Yohannes. Menelik was also successful in uniting his country through political means. By the time Italy proclaimed Abyssinia a protectorate in 1896, Menelik had a strong army and united country which he successfully used to repel the Italians. The Italian's colony in Ethiopia was short lived and Menelik II had achieved something that hadn't happened in Africa before: it was the first time a European country had been expelled from an African country. Menelik II is considered one of Africa's great kings.

What does all this have to do with a zebra??
When Menelik was still a provincial king, he sent a live zebra to France as a gift in 1882. After all, guns and ammunition for his army had come from France, which at the time was on bad terms with the British. Sadly, the animal died upon arrival. It was mounted and put on exhibit in the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, in Paris. The skin was a new scientific find and was named Equus grevyi to honor the President of France. (Jules Grevy is also considered a great man and a President of France's Third Republic.) An interesting gift considering precious minerals, jewels or artwork were not chosen. Africa's finest most beautiful natural resource that was fit for a gift from king to president was a zebra.