KwaZulu-Natal: A brief background 4 - Shaka Zulu, consolidation.

The death of Sezangakhona and the assassination of Sigujana

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The year is 1816, Sezangakhona has died, Sigujana, his son has been assassinated on the orders of Shaka, a new era for the Zulu people is about to come about. Shaka had proved himself a fearsome and canny warrior and was an attentive pupil of Dingiswayo who had moulded his armies into an effective force. Shaka during his time with Dingiswayo had formulated his own ideas and was therefore at this time ready to put his plans into action. His friendship with Dingiswayo stood him in good stead.

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Myths and facts

At this point I would like to settle some myths about Shaka as a leader. In the early 1900’s some historian’s claimed that Shaka or Dingiswayo must have had contact with white people in order to have formulated his tactics and strategies, there is no evidence to back this up. The first contact Shaka had with Europeans was with Farewell and Fynn a number of years later. I will be covering this meeting in a later post.

Image - Pixabay

Tactics

A brief explanation of Shaka’s tactical innovation will show his skill and intelligence in matters military. He divided his force into three sections, the “chest” made up of his best military veterans, two wings called the “horns of the buffalo” which would fan out on each side, encircling the enemy, while the chest took on the main force holding the enemy in check and attacking with their short stabbing spears, the Iklwa. A reserve force called the “loins” would sit behind the chest with their back to them so as not to be intimidated by the fighting taking place.

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After the death of Sigujana, Dingiswayo gave Shaka a strong escort of warriors and with his followers and the backing of the Mthethwa chief, Shaka marched into Sigujana’s camp and took control. His half- brother Dingane made a wise decision not to antagonise him. This was a good move on his part but would later prove Shaka’s undoing.

Dingane

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Shaka king of the Zulus

Shaka ordered a new kraal built and later had all his enemies brought to him where judgement was passed on them and they were immediately clubbed to death. His revenge against those that had slighted him and his mother Nandi was without mercy. The fear amongst the Zulu and the Langeni, his mother’s clan can only be imagined.

Shaka was now chief of the Zulu clan but remained a vassal of Dingiswayo who was still the most powerful chief in the region. The enemy of the Mthethwa were the Ndwandwe led by their chief Zwide. At this time Shaka’s forces were pretty limited not numbering more than 400 but this was to change. The Ndwandwe and the Mthethwa were roughly equal in size and power, so a showdown between the two was inevitable.

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Death of Dingiswayo

Dingiswayo continued to call upon Shaka for assistance in conflicts with other clans, then in 1817 Shaka was asked to join in battle with Dingiswayo against Zwide. For reasons, which are still unclear, some say it was treachery on Shaka’s part, Fynn in his writings appears to hold this view, others disagree. The result of the battle was that Dingiswayo was killed leaving Shaka as the only viable chief in the area. The Mthethwa swore allegiance to Shaka and Shaka in his turn killed the claimant to Mthethwa chieftainship and placed a follower of his own in power. The stage was set for the showdown between Shaka and Zwide.

Sources:

Sons of Zulu - Aubrey Elliott
Wikipedia
The Zulu people - A.T. Bryant
Shaka's country - T.V. Bulpin

KwaZulu –Natal: A brief background 1 https://steemit.com/zulu/@petruska13/kwazulu-natal-a-brief-background-1

KwaZulu –Natal: A brief background 2 https://steemit.com/zululand/@petruska13/kwazulu-natal-a-brief-background-2

KwaZulu-Natal: A brief background 3 - Shaka Zulu, the early years https://steemit.com/shaka/@petruska13/kwazulu-natal-a-brief-background-3-shaka-zulu-the-early-years

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