Era · 1840 – 1884
Mpande and Cetshwayo
Mpande's long reign, the succession struggle at Ndondakusuka, Cetshwayo's coronation, the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 and the partition of the kingdom that followed.
Editorial summary drafted from standard published histories — awaiting expert review.
Periods in this era
King Mpande1840 – 1872
The longest reign of the nineteenth century. The kingdom is bordered by the Natal colony, and succession rivalry between Cetshwayo and Mbuyazi ends at Ndondakusuka.
King Cetshwayo & the Anglo-Zulu War1872 – 1879
Ondini becomes the royal capital. The British ultimatum of 1878 leads to the war of 1879: Isandlwana, Rorke's Drift, Hlobane, Kambula and Ulundi.
People
Places
Events
- Battle of Ndondakusuka · 2 December 1856
- Coronation of Cetshwayo · 1873
- Battle of Isandlwana · 22 January 1879
- Defence of Rorke's Drift · 22–23 January 1879
- Battle of Hlobane · 28 March 1879
- Battle of Kambula · 29 March 1879
- Battle of Ulundi · 4 July 1879
- Attack on oNdini · July 1883
Sources from this period
Questions to research
- Which Zulu accounts of 1879 survive, and who recorded them?
- How did the 1879 settlement redraw authority on the ground?