When Dingiswayo is killed, Shaka with his…

1816 CE to 1827 CE

When Dingiswayo is killed, Shaka with his military machine avenges his mentor's death, destroying the Ndwandwe in battle (two of Zwide's generals, Shoshangane and Zwangendaba, flee north and establish kingdoms in present-day Mozambique and southern Tanzania, respectively).

Shaka Zulu was born in 1787, the illegitimate son of Senzangakona, chief of the Zulu clan.

An outcast as a child, Shaka had been brought up among a number of neighboring groups, finally ending with the Mthethwa where had distinguished himself as a skilled warrior in Dingiswayo's army.

Dingiswayo had been so impressed by Shaka that in 1816 he helps him become chief of the Zulu upon the death of Senzangakona.

Among the Zulu, Shaka consolidates a number of military innovations—some developed by Dingiswayo, some dating back to the eighteenth century—to produce a powerful military machine.

All young men are incorporated into age regiments and given military training.

A short stabbing spear is introduced in addition to the traditional long throwing spears, giving Shaka's army an advantage in close combat.

Military strategies, such as the horn" formation by which Zulu regiments encircle their enemies, are perfected.

Locations
Mthethwa Paramountcy KwaZulu-Natal South Africa View →

People
Dingiswayo View → Shaka View → Zwide kaLanga View →

Groups
Khoikhoi View → San (Bushmen) View → Dutch people View → Sotho (Basotho or Basuto) people View → Zulu people View → Portuguese people View → Nguni people View → Portuguese Mozambique View → Huguenots (the “Reformed”) View → Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie or VOC in Dutch, literally "United East Indies Company") View → Cape Colony, Dutch East India Company's View → Boers View → Zululand View → Zulu, Kingdom of the View → Sotho kingdom View →

Topics
Mfecane View → Ndwandwe–Zulu War View → Zulu Expansion View → Gqokli Hill, Battle of View →

Commodities
Weapons View →

Subjects
Labor and Service View → Conflict View → Government View →

Regions

Subregions

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Active Filters
People: Karim Khan Zand
Topic: Anti-Imperial Revolt in China
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