Page 30 - All About History - Issue 12-14

Heroes & Villains

SHAKA, KING OF THE ZULUS

Shaka’s tactics deadly efficiently. to completely destroy Zwide’s forces. The survivors
Dingiswayo was impressed by these reforms
and their womenfolk were incorporated into the
Shaka completely revolutionised the way and the victories Shaka stacked up during his Zulu kingdom. In the space of three years, Shaka
Zulus waged war during his reign as king. early years as a warrior. He had found a powerful had expanded a small village group into a growing
Tribal conflicts would never again be merely ally and had been proven correct to welcome him nation to be feared across the continent.
small raids for cattle or posturing to display
strength. Unlike the African armies of old, into his village when no one else would accept With his new army behind him and the
Shaka’s military was designed to do one thing: him. As a way of showing his gratitude destruction of his immediate enemies
crush the opposition and grind rival tribes into for his service, Dingiswayo helped complete, Shaka set about subjugating all
the dust. He devised a new Impi system where Shaka return to his father’s tribe the peoples within the Natal region,
all males would serve him for a fixed term as chief in 1816. The men who whether they were hostile or not.
in his army, which by 1820 numbered nearly had insisted on his banishment Shaka was born He organised his new kingdom
40,000 men. shortly after his birth were along military lines – he had no
He introduced the iklwa, or short stabbing during a period of
spear, which suited Shaka’s preference for quickly brought to heel extreme famine in the intention of being cast out again
leading his warriors into hand-to-hand combat by Shaka’s fearsome Zulu or killed through weakness, so
with the enemy. Close combat required a warriors. Dingiswayo restored south-eastern region he built up his military prowess.
heavier shield, so he introduced the cowhide- his honour and the honour of of South Africa All men within his domain were
covered Impi shield, which was used with his mother and in return Shaka now eligible for military service.
the stabbing spear to keep the warrior alive offered his undying loyalty. It They were organised in their Impis
long enough for him to deal out death on the
plains. The greatest innovation brought to the was this loyalty that inspired Shaka according to age, with the rest of the
Zulu military doctrine was Shaka’s bull-and- to take action when Dingiswayo was kingdom providing the war machine
horns tactic. He would order his men to close killed by tribesmen of the Ndwandwe. Shaka with food and weapons. Conscription could last
in on the enemy, which was the bull charging was compelled to take revenge on his patron’s years and soldiers were housed within purpose-
in, and at the last moment order troops to killers and he quickly merged his tribe with built barracks so their king could call on them
sweep around onto the enemy flanks, creating Dingiswayo’s to create a fledgling Zulu Kingdom. whenever he needed military muscle to satisfy his
the horns, crushing them in a pincer. With
these developments, Shaka’s kingdom swept He then launched a campaign of conquest against whims. The Zulu nation had become a country
through the South African plains like wildfire, the Ndwandwe and their chief, Zwide and they met completely dedicated to warfare and conquest
carving out the Zulu Kingdom. in battle near the Mhlatuse River. Shaka led the under the leadership of Shaka.
charge and used his new bull-and-horns formation As a champion fighter and king to his warriors,

“ In three years, Shaka

had expanded a small
village group into a
nation to be feared”

Defining moment
Shaka crowned king
of the Zulus 1818
After Dingiswayo is captured and killed by a
neighbouring tribe, the Ndwandwe under the
ferocious Zwide, Shaka makes a courageous bid
to unite all of the Zulus under his rule. After a
number of ritual displays of courage and with the
presence of his loyal warriors behind him, Shaka
manages to convince Dingiswayo’s tribe that a
united Zulu nation would conquer all of Africa
and bring Dingiswayo’s killers to justice. He is
crowned king of the Zulus and quickly sets about
reforming the military system in preparation to
confront Zwide and the Ndwandwe across the
Timeline Mhlatuse River.

1787
O Birth of a warrior O First kill O Shaka joins his Impi O Retakes his O Victory against Zwide
Shaka is born to Shaka is charged with Shaka approaches birthright Shaka uses his superior fighting ability, as well as the new skills
the Zulu chief guarding a prized bull manhood, joins his Impi After 26 years of he has taught his Zulu warriors, to completely destroy the
Senzangakhona by Dingiswayo, his or age regiment and exile, Shaka retakes Ndwandwe war host assembled at the Mhlatuse River and bring
kaJama and his lover new chief. A black becomes a warrior for the tribe he was born the killers of his great patron to justice. The battle is unlike
Nandi. Despite his mamba kills the bull Dingiswayo. His large into by successfully anything fought by warriors living in the region before. Rather
noble birth, he is so Shaka attacks the size and reputation as beating his illegitimate than a small skirmish or a nonviolent gesture to prove superior
rejected by his father poisonous snake, an uncompromising and half-brothers. He uses fighting ability, Shaka orders an all-out attack and his Zulu
and he and his mother dodges its venomous brave warrior quickly the military muscle of warriors quickly move into close combat using the bull-and-horns
flee his father’s court. blows and kills it. impresses his chief. Dingiswayo to do this. tactic to slaughter Zwide’s men.
1787 1800 1809 1816 1819

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