Relic of an Earlier Age: Amedeo Guillet, 1909-2010

An Italian military hero with connections to both the Middle East and the horn of Africa died last month (though it's taken some time to come to my attention) has died at the venerable age of 101. Amedeo Guillet, the "Devil Commander," served in Libya, commanded Moroccan troops during the Spanish Civil War as part of Mussolini's support for Franco, then campaigned in Ethiopia against the Ethiopians and the British (and is said to have led the last cavalry charge faced by the British Army). He fled to Yemen, where he befriended the Imam and lived for some years. After World War II he served Italy as a diplomat, with postings in Egypt, Yemen, Jordan, Morocco, and India. He's said to be one of the most decorated figures in Italian history. A Daily Telegraph appreciation is here; and his Wikipedia entry is here.