Shaka
King of the Zulu Kingdom from 1816 to 1828, known for military reforms and expansion.
His military system reigned supreme for more than fifty years after his death.[1] War and diplomacy were the methods Shaka used to enlarge the Zulu Kingdom.[2]
Quick Facts
- Predecessor
- Senzangakhona kaJama
- Successor
- Dingane kaSenzangakhona
- Born
- c. July 1787
- Birthplace
- Mthethwa Paramountcy (today near Melmoth, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa)
- Place of death
- KwaDukuza, Kingdom of Zulu
- Burial place
- KwaDukuza
- Full name
- Sigidi Shaka Mlilwana kaSenzangakhona
- Regnal name
- iLembe
Facts from the source article.
Life and work
After Dingiswayo was murdered by Inkosi Zwide, Shaka sought to avenge his death.[3] Shaka defeated Zwide's forces at the Mhlathuze river after drawing them deep into his own territory.[4] Shaka's half-brothers Dingane and Mhlangana assassinated him in 1828.[5][1] With backing from the Mthethwa Paramountcy, Shaka improved the ibutho military system over a period of several years.[5]
To defend against Ndwandwe raids coming from the north, Shaka created alliances with his smaller neighbors.[5]
What the cited sources add
The bulawayo1872.com account states Shaka's name translates as "intestinal parasite" or "bastard"[1] That same source reports Shaka built a Zulu Nation expanding over a hundred thousand square miles of land.[1] The South African History Online account notes Shaka was given the name Nodumehlezi, meaning "the one who when seated causes the earth to rumble"[4] That source also states Shaka prohibited sandals and toughened warriors' feet by making them run barefoot over rough thorny ground.[4]
The bulawayo1872.com account adds Shaka made his men run on beds of thorns and killed any who cried out.[1] The South African History Online account reports Shaka dreaded producing a legitimate heir.[4]
References
- "History of Shaka (Tshaka), King of the Zulu", bulawayo1872.com. facts only, no text reused. bulawayo1872.com
- Wikipedia, "Shaka" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Eldredge, "The Creation of the Zulu Kingdom, 1815–1828: War, Shaka, and the Consolidation of Power", Cambridge University Press, 2014, p. 1–7 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Shaka" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Stapleton 2010, p. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- "South African History Online", 17 February 2011. facts only, no text reused. sahistory.org.za
- Wikipedia, "Shaka" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Morris 1994, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=tXglDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA107 107] (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Shaka (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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