The Italian-Ethiopian Wars refer to two conflicts between the Kingdom of Italy and the Ethiopian Empire. The first war occurred from 1895 to 1896, when Italy attempted to expand its colonial empire in Africa. The Ethiopian forces, led by Emperor Menelik II, achieved a significant victory at the Battle of Adwa, securing Ethiopian sovereignty and marking a major defeat for Italy. The second conflict took place from 1935 to 1936, during the regime of Benito Mussolini. Italy invaded Ethiopia again, using modern military technology. This time, Ethiopia was occupied, and the country remained under Italian control until 1941, when Allied forces liberated it during World War II.