Cetshwayo kaMpande

Cetshwayo kaMpande
Photo of Cetshwayo by Alexander Bassano in Old Bond Street, London
Born	circa 1826
Died	8 February 1884
Other names	Cetawayo, Cetewayo, Cetywajo and Ketchwayo
Title	King of the Zulu Kingdom
Successor	Dinizulu
Children	Dinizulu
Parents	Mpande and Ngqumbazi
Relatives	Shaka (uncle) Mbuyazi and Umtonga (brothers)

Cetshwayo kaMpande (Zulu: [kǀétʃwajo kámpande]; 1826–1884) was the King of the Zulu Kingdom from 1872 to 1879 and their leader during the Anglo-Zulu War (1879). His name has been transliterated as Cetawayo, Cetewayo, Cetywajo and Ketchwayo.

Early life

Cetshwayo was a son of Zulu king Mpande and Queen Ngqumbazi, half-nephew of Zulu king Shaka and grandson of Senzangakhona kaJama. In 1856 he defeated and killed in battle his younger brother Mbuyazi, Mpande's favourite, and became the effective ruler of the Zulu people. He did not ascend to the throne, however, as his father was still alive.

His other brother, Umtonga, was still a potential rival. In 1861, Umtonga fled to the Boers' side of the border and Cetshwayo had to make deals with the Boers to get him back. In 1865, Umtonga did the same thing, apparently making Cetshwayo believe that Umtonga would organize help from the Boers against him, the same way his father had overthrown his predecessor, Dingaan.

Reign

Mpande died in 1873 and Cetshwayo became king on 1 September. Sir Theophilus Shepstone, who annexed the Transvaal for Britain, was present at Cetshwayo's coronation, but turned on the Zulus as he felt he was undermined by Cetshwayo's skillful negotiating for land area compromised by encroaching Boers.^[1] As was customary, he created a new capital for the nation and called it Ulundi (the high place). He expanded his army and readopted many methods of Shaka. He also equipped his impis with muskets. He banished European missionaries from his land. He might have incited other native African peoples to rebel against Boers in Transvaal.

Anglo-Zulu War

Cetshwayo (called Cettiwayo in the caption of the photo above), during the Anglo-Zulu War. He led several victories against the British army early in the War.

In 1878, Sir Henry Bartle Frere, British Commissioner for South Africa, began to demand reparations for border infractions. They mainly angered Cetshwayo who kept his calm until Frere demanded that he should effectively disband his army. His refusal led to the Zulu War in 1879. After initial defeats, such as the Battle of Isandlwana, the British eventually began to gain victories. After Cetshwayo's capital Ulundi was captured and torched on 4 July, he was deposed and exiled to London, returning only in 1883.

From 1881, his cause had been taken up by Lady Florence Dixie, correspondent of the London Morning Post, who wrote articles and books in his support.

Later life

By 1882 differences between two Zulu factions – pro-Cetshwayo uSuthus and three rival chiefs UZibhebhu – had erupted into a blood feuds and civil war. In 1883, the British tried to restore Cetshwayo to rule at least part of his previous territory but the attempt failed. With the aid of Boer mercenaries, Chief UZibhebhu started a war contesting the succession and on 22 July 1883 he attacked Cetshwayo's new kraal in Ulundi. Cetshwayo was wounded but escaped to Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal forest. After pleas from the Resident Commissioner, Sir Melmoth Osborne, the king moved to Eshowe, where he died a few months later, presumably from a heart attack, though possibly he was poisoned.^[2] His body was buried within sight of the forest, to the south near Nkunzane River. The remains of the wagon which carried his corpse to the site was placed on the grave, and its remains may be seen at Ondini Museum, near Ulundi.

He died in February 1884 as the last king of an independent Zulu nation. His son Dinizulu, as heir to the throne, was proclaimed king on 20 May 1884, supported by (other) Boer mercenaries.

A character in the opera Leo, the Royal Cadet by Oscar Ferdinand Telgmann and George Frederick Cameron was named in his honour in 1889.

References

1. ^ Martin Meredith, Diamonds, Gold, & War (New York: Public Affairs, 2007), 88.
2. ^ "Biography of Cetshwayo kaMpande, the last king of an independent Zulu nation". http://africanhistory.about.com/library/biographies/blbio-cetshwayo.htm. Retrieved 2006-12-17. 

Preceded by Mpande

King of the Zulu Nation Reign 1872–1879, 1883–1884

Succeeded by Dinizulu

Persondata
Name	Cetshwayo Kampande
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1826
Place of birth
Date of death	1884
Place of death