The British realized that Menelik's southward expansion was heading towards their East African colony, "British East Africa" (Kenya). They knew they could only stop him by controlling those regions, but they lacked money and soldiers. They compensated for this by appointing a traveling border commissioner and signing an agreement with him, which defined its southern borders.

The states were incorporated under two systems, following the method of their annexation: The states that were incorporated by agreement retained a degree of autonomy in exchange for an annual tribute. Among these were: Jimma, Wollo, Gonder, Gojjam, Wollo, and Western Gojjam. The states that were incorporated after military operations had their rule assigned to the military commanders who played the greatest role in their occupation. Among the benefits of the newly incorporated states was that they represented comfortable settlements for the Amhara who migrated from the narrow and unproductive plateau lands to the plains and valleys of the lowlands. Accompanied by the new administration, they brought their language and religion, thus imprinting these states with their Amhara culture and language. Priests followed them, spreading Orthodox Christianity.

These regions did not pose a serious threat to Menelik's rule and submitted to him completely, with only some objections or weak resistance to the taxes they agreed to. Even in the north, Menelik managed to suppress the troublesome Tigray opposition after Ras Mengesha, son of Emperor Yohannes, surrendered to him and was imprisoned until his death. The only exception was the struggle of Muhammad Abdullah Hassan (the Mahdi) in Somalia, who launched fierce resistance against the four powers that divided Somalia (Italy, France, Britain, and Ethiopia) and engaged in continuous battles with them for more than twenty years (1897-1920).

Menelik also, by agreement with the Italians, divided Tigray between Eritrea and Abyssinia, after leaving them a large part of the Tigrayan highlands that Emperor Yohannes had ruled. Fortune also favored Menelik with the death of the last of the great kings, Ras Adal, King Tekle Haymanot, ruler of Gojjam. Menelik divided his province into three districts, diminishing its historical importance.

Menelik had 90,000 armed men with rifles, of whom 60,000 were permanent soldiers equipped with machine guns and cannons. This parade, held in celebration of the victory of "Adwa," indicated that the reign...