A country of eastern Africa, west of the Red Sea. In ancient times, it formed a part of many kingdoms at different periods. Its capital is Asmara. Under Italian rule from 1869 to 1890 and under the British as a protectorate until 1952, it was federated with Ethiopia in 1952 and was made one of its provinces in 1962. In 1991 Eritrea was established as a de facto independent state and became fully independent in 1993. The name Eritrea alludes to its location near the Red Sea since it comes from the Greek erythros, red. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, p376 & Information Section, Embassy of Eritrea, Washington, D.C., 1995; from Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p174).