Baldassarre Orero

Born in Novara in 1841, Alessandro Baldassarre Orero (better known by his second name), began his military career during the Italian second war of independence, distinguishing himself in the 1860 campaign during the siege of Borgo Pio and Gaeta. In 1866 he had earned the "Savoy cross" after the battle of Pozzolano.

Promoted to the rank of major general in 1887, he decided to undertake his military activities in the Italian colonies in Africa, being called on November 4, 1889 to replace General Antonio Baldissera in the command of the Italian troops in Eritrea with the title of "Superior Commander of the troops of Massawa ".

During his own regency which took effect from December 20 of that same 1889, the Italian colonies in the area were now ripe to be reunited under the name of Eritrea and as such Orero himself found himself with the role of Military commander of Eritrea, from January 1, 1890 and remaining in office until June 30 of that same year.

In these months he conquered Adua in northern Ethiopia.

He died in Novara in 1914 shortly before the outbreak of the First World War.

• Military Order of Savoy
• Maurician medal
• Commemorative Medal of the Unity of Italy

• F. Bandini, Gli italiani in Africa: Storia delle guerre coloniali. (1882-1943), Longanesi, 1971