António I of Kongo

António I Nvita a Nkanga was a mwenekongo of the Kingdom of Kongo whom ruled from 1661 to his defeat and death at the Battle of Mbwila on October 29, 1665. He was elected following the death of King Garcia II. Like the former king, António I pursued a foreign policy focused at removing the Portuguese from his region.

Policy against the Portuguese

Since 1620, Kongo and Portugal had been in a near-constant state of war with the only intervals coming after decisive BaKongo victories. After almost 30 years of decline in the face of BaKongo, Mbundu and Dutch military victories, the Portuguese had retaken their colonial possession in Luanda while establishing a tenuous peace with their old enemies. Feeling threatened by Portugal's return on Kongo's southern border, António I sought to renew Kongo's war against the Portuguese with a new alliance similar to the one at the Battle of Kitombo. Unable to rely on the Dutch for assistance, he sent emissaries to Spain but failed to procure an alliance. He also contacted Kongo's Mbundu allies in Matamba and the semi-independent kingdoms of Dembos and Mbwila.

Death at the Battle of Mbwila

The Portuguese got wind of these plans and were also pressing claims to sovereignty over the small kingdom of Mbwila. When a succession dispute between Mbwila king (supported by Kongo) and his aunt (supported by Portugal) erupted, the rivals both came with armies to settle the dispute. At the Battle of Mbwila the BaKongo suffered their worse military defeat, resulting in the death of hundreds including King António whom had led a contingent of 400 swordsmen into the battle. King António I was decapitated during or shortly after the battle (his head buried with regal honors by the Portuguese) while his crown and sceptre were taken to Portugal as trophies.

Aftermath

King António died with no heir apparent. Many of the men whom could have taken his place died or were captured at the battle including his seven year old son. The ruling House of Kinlaza and the opposing House of Kimpanzu fought furiously over the throne causing a devastating civil war. The heydey of the Kingdom of Kongo was at an end, and it would take forty years for the kingdom to be reunited.

ee also

*Kingdom of Kongo
*Battle of Mbwila
*House of Kinlaza