What state existed from 1861, when King Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia was proclaimed King of Italy, was the subject to the plotting of  an insurrection in Italian Eritrea by the government of Ethiopia?
Battle of Halai The Battle of Halai, or the Battle of Halay, which took place in December 1894, was one of the opening battles of the First Italo-Ethiopian War. In the 1890s, the government of Ethiopia began plotting an insurrection in Italian Eritrea to push back against Italian encroachment on their country. On December 15, 1894, Bahta Hagos, the "chief of Okule-Kasai province in northern Tigré," launched a rebellion against the Italian authorities. On December 18, a force of Italian troops, led by Major Pietro Toselli discovered that a small Italian fort at Halai (garrisoned by 220 men) was being besieged by 1,600 of Bahta's rebels. Toselli attacked with 1,500 men, hitting his enemy (who "had almost taken the fort") in the rear. Bahta was killed in the ensuing battle and his army fell apart. In total, eleven Italians were killed and twenty-two wounded in the action.
Duce Duce (] , "leader") is an Italian title, derived from the Latin word "dux", and cognate with "duke". National Fascist Party leader Benito Mussolini was identified by Fascists as "Il Duce" ("The Leader") of the movement. In 1925 it became a reference to the dictatorial position of "Sua Eccellenza Benito Mussolini, Capo del Governo, Duce del Fascismo e Fondatore dell'Impero" (""His Excellency Benito Mussolini, Head of Government, Leader of Fascism and Founder of the Empire""). Mussolini held this title together with that of President of the Council of Ministers: this was the constitutional position which entitled him to rule Italy on behalf of the King of Italy. "Founder of the Empire" was added for the exclusive use by Mussolini in recognition of his founding of an official legal entity of the Italian Empire on behalf of the King in 1936 following Italy's victory in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. The position was held by Mussolini until 1943, when he was removed from office by the King and the position of "Duce" was dismantled, while Marshal Pietro Badoglio was appointed Presidente del Consiglio.