Zulu

Early Period

In the early 19th century, the Nguni, under Shaka, united the Zulu clan of the Nguni with other Nguni people in Natal, forming the Zulu nation. Shaka used his clan name, Zulu, for the united peoples. Through expansive conquest and use of new principles of warfare, Shaka formed the powerful Zulu Empire.

Shaka was born about 1787 to the Zulu clan of the Nguni, and his father was a Zulu chieftain. Shaka had a turbulent childhood. His parents split up when he was about 6 years old. When he was around 15, his mother's people, the Langeni clan, drove him and his mother out. They found refuge with the Dietsheni clan. This clan belonged to the Mtetwa people, a very powerful group. Shaka stayed with the Mtetwa as a warrior until his father died in 1816 and he became the Zulu chief.

It was at this time that Shaka showed his military skill. He reorganized the military in such a way as to change warfare from a series of skirmishes into a bloody ordeal. Swords replaced spears, leading to close-quarter fighting. Shaka developed new tactics: He divided the army into four parts and trained each unit to surround the enemy. In a brief time, he had built up his Empire.

Historically, the Zulu were farmers who kept large herds of cattle. They kept up the size of these herds through cattle raids. During the 19th century, European settlers fought the Zulu, taking grazing and water resources from them. The Zulu had little option but to hire themselves out for labor on European farms or in urban areas. Shaka's heirs had little time to enjoy the fruits of their conquest. They found themselves battling with Boer settlers migrating north into Natal. These Boers, Dutch descendants who were farmers, were moving away from British settlers and their government, a movement called The Great Trek. Dingane, the Zulu chief, ambushed Boers moving through his territory, killing around 500 people. This massacre occurred in 1838. Andries Pretorious, a Boer general, retaliated at the Battle of Blood River, killing about 3,000 Zulus. In1840, the Boer intruded into Zulu domestic politics, resulting in the toppling of Dingane and the rise to power of Mpande, who became a vassal of the Boer republic of Natal.

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