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.
Whv Dingane lost war in 1840 to
Mpande.
The Zulu royal family and their
subjects were in a civil war and succession dispute by 1840.
Mpande grouped at the Tugela
location to attack Dingane.
Mpande received the support and
protection of the Boers.
Dingane did receive overwhelming
support from his people.
Mpande outsmarted Dingane with
military powers of horses, guns and cannons.
The Zulus were divided along tribal,
ideological and religious lines.
Dingane's dislike for war made him
unpopular among his people and the Zulu warriors (impis).
Generally Dingane was unpopular
among his people because of; His peaceful policy and relaxation of militarism
at first. He had eliminated his own brothers - Skaka Zulu and Mhlangane.
The Boers were determined to defeat
Dinganc using the rebel Chief Mpande.
Many Zulu refugees/ fugitives in
Natalia and Port D'urban supported Mpande.
By 1840 Dingane was military worked
compared to Mpande. At the battle of Magongo, Mpande was overwhelmingly
victorious.
The way Dingane handled the
Boer-land problems made the former lose support of his people.
Dingane's hold onto the conquered
Chiefdoms and the impact cost him support from the Zulu people. Mpande had a
large band of warriors with the help of Anderius Pretorius.
By 1840, Dingane sued for peace and
a diplomatic approach but it was too late.
By the end of 1840, Dingane was
fighting a hopeless and isolated battle against Mpande and the whites.
His exile in Swaziland (Ngwane)
country created a vacuum for Mpande to fill, as the Zulu leader.
Dingane was deserted by his own
warriors and supporters.
By 1840 the Zulu lacked a mixed
economy.
By 1840 Dingane's warriors grappled
with the problem of famine and drought and epidemics.
The worst fire at his capital in
1840 demoralized his warriors who ran in disally.
By 1840 Dingane could not provide
leadership to his people.
Dingane had amenity with his
neighbors who could not support him
Hatred and political factionalism
had emerged in Zulu land.
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