Zulu Kingdom under Mpande 1840 - 1872

Zulu Kingdom under Mpande 1840 - 1872

His reign was the longest in Zulu history as it took 32 years, with uneventful period of relative peace and prosperity the Zulu people.
Mpande was not interested in expanding Zulu influence and was aware of the superior weapons of the Europeans. He avoided open conflict and allowed some white settlement in his territory.
Even though in 1843 he was not a vassal of the whites, he maintained the policy of conflict. This may have been what the Zulu needed to recover from the upheavals of the previous generation, but this was not appreciated by the younger Zulu, who wanted revival of military success and charisma, as it had been in the days of Shaka- Zulu.
For many Zulu, Mpande's reign was a humiliating experience. Long before the end of his reign, a succession struggle began between his eldest sons, Cetshwayo and Mbulazi.
Cetshwayo assumed leadership of the Zulu nation. This was after the tremendous battle near the mouth of the Tugela River in 1856.
Achievements of Mpande
His rule was long from 1840 to 1872 (33 years)
His was a diplomat and a man of peace.
His reign was full of relative peace and prosperity.
He avoided any fresh invasion of his territory by the whites.
His power saw recovery and power consolidation .
He followed a peaceful cooperation with the whites.
Mpande reasserted his control over the whole area between the Tugela and the Pongolo areas.
He defended his northern frontiers.
A new Capital city was built
Population growth was seen in Zulu land.
In 1854 he delegated some of the Zulu official responsibilities to chiefs and his son, Cetewayo. Encouraged food production among the peasants.
The Boer and British settlers brought some sort of development among the Zulu.
Problems faced by Mpande.
The Boers by 1840 regarded him as their subject and not ally.
The Boers by 1840 took 60,000 herds of cattle and many 'apprentices' as payment.
Pretorius by 1840 claimed that Mpande (now king of the Zulu) was a tributary of the Natal Republic.
The Zulu royal members remained critical of his peaceful policy.
The Boers and the British remained a threat to his rule.
The Boers established the Republic of Natalia up to 1843.
The British annexed part of his country after 1843.
His warriors tried in failure to defend the western area of Zululand.
The Boers wanted his people as laborers and servants on their farms and estates.
Many Zulus and their refugees flocked Natal under the Boers.
Many Boers lived amidst the Zulu in Natal as mobile Boer population(s).
The Zulu regiments relaxed war and militaristic effort(s).
In 1872 he was killed by his half brother Clu-Clu,
Rivalry continued between his sons notable Cetewayo (Utswayo) and Mbulazi (up to 1854).
The Zululand hunger had grown worse. Zulu land was encircled by white -controlled territory so that state expansion was impossible.
The whites disfavored the peak of size and efficiency of the Zulu state.