Dingane
Encyclopedia
Dingane kaSenzangakhona Zulu (ca. 1795-1840)—commonly referred to as Dingane or Dingaan—was a Zulu chief who became king
of the Zulu Kingdom
in 1828. He set up his royal capital UmGungundlovu
, and one of numerous military encampments or kraal
s, in the Emakhosini valley just south of the White Umfolozi River
on the slope of Lion Hill (Singonyama).
with the help of another brother, Umhlangana, as well as Mbopa, Shaka's advisor. They were traditionally said to have killed Shaka because of his increase in brutal behavior after the death of his mother Nandi
. The assassination took place at present-day Stanger.
in 1829 and enlarged it five years later. UmGungundlovu was built according to the characteristic layout of a Zulu military settlement (singular: ikhanda, plural: amakhanda). The ikhanda consisted of a large, central circular parade ground (isibaya esikhulu), surrounded by warriors' barracks (uhlangoti) and storage huts for their shields. The isibaya was entered from the north.
The royal enclosure (isigodlo) was situated on the southern side of the complex, directly opposite the main entrance. The king, his mistresses and female attendants (Dingane never married officially), a total of at least 500 people, resided here. The women were divided into two groups, namely the black isigodlo and the white isigodlo. The black isigodlo comprised about 100 privileged women, and within that group another elite called the bheje, a smaller number of girls, favoured by the king as his mistresses. A small settlement was built for them behind the main complex where they could enjoy some privacy. The remainder of the king's women were called the white isigodlo. These consisted mainly of girls presented to the king by his important subjects. He also selected other girls at the annual First fruit ceremony (umkhosi).
A huge half-moon shaped area was included in the black isigodlo; here the women and the king sang and danced. The huts in the black isigodlo were divided into compartments of about three huts each, enclosed by a two-metre-high hedge of intertwined withes
, which created a network of passages.
The king's private hut (ilawu) was located in one such triangular compartment and had three or four entrances. His hut was very large and was kept very neat by attendants; it could easily accommodate 50 people. Modern archaeological excavations have revealed that the floor of this large hut was approximately 10 metres in diameter. Archaeologists found evidence inside the hut of 22 large supporting posts completely covered in glass beads. These had been noted in historical accounts by Piet Retief
, leader of the Voortrekkers
, and the British missionaries Champion and Owen.
On the south side, just behind the main complex, were three separate enclosed groups of huts. The centre group was used by the uBheje women of the black isigodlo. In this area, they initiated chosen young girls into the service of the king.
, and they possessed guns and weaponry far superior to the Zulu spear.
.
, leader of the Voortrekkers. In return for their recovering some stolen cattle, Dingane signed a deed of cession of lands (written in English) to the Voortrekkers. After two days of feasting, on 6 February 1838, the chief had Retief and his diplomatic party killed. At the same time, Dingane's forces ambushed and killed Retief's trek party, about 500 Boers, including men, women and children. The Boers called this the Weenen massacre
. The nearby present-day town of Weenen
(Dutch
for "weeping") was named by early settlers in memory of the massacre.
Dingane ordered his army also to seek and kill the group of Voortrekkers under Andries Pretorius
. The Zulu impis attacked the Voortrekker encampment, but they were crushingly defeated in the ensuing Battle of Blood River
. An estimated 3,000 Zulus were killed, while three Voortrekkers were slightly wounded. Dingane's commander at the battle was Ndlela kaSompisi
.
in his revolt against Dingane, which resulted in the latter's overthrow and death. Zulu Nyawo, Sambane and Nondawana assassinated Dingane in Hlatikhulu Forest
while on a military expedition.
He was succeeded by Mpande as king, who was half-brother to both Dingane and Shaka. His grave is in the middle of Tembe elephant park.
|-
| colspan=3 align=center | King of the Zulu Nation
|-
| align="center" | Preceded by:
Shaka
| align="center" | Reign
1828-1840
| align="center" | Succeeded by:
Mpande
and Marie include versions of some events in Dingane's life.
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
of the Zulu Kingdom
Zulu Kingdom
The Zulu Kingdom, sometimes referred to as the Zulu Empire or, rather imprecisely, Zululand, was a monarchy in Southern Africa that extended along the coast of the Indian Ocean from the Tugela River in the south to Pongola River in the north....
in 1828. He set up his royal capital UmGungundlovu
UmGungundlovu
uMgungundlovu was the royal capital of the Zulu king Dingane and one of several military complexes which he maintained...
, and one of numerous military encampments or kraal
Kraal
Kraal is an Afrikaans and Dutch word for an enclosure for cattle or other livestock, located within an African settlement or village surrounded by a palisade, mud wall, or other fencing, roughly circular in form.In the Dutch language a kraal is a term derived from the Portuguese word , cognate...
s, in the Emakhosini valley just south of the White Umfolozi River
White Umfolozi River
The White Umfolozi River originates just south of Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and joins the Black Umfolozi River at to form the Umfolozi River, before it flows east towards the Indian Ocean.- See also :* List of rivers of South Africa...
on the slope of Lion Hill (Singonyama).
Rise to power
Dingane came to power in 1828 after assassinating his half-brother ShakaShaka
Shaka kaSenzangakhona , also known as Shaka Zulu , was the most influential leader of the Zulu Kingdom....
with the help of another brother, Umhlangana, as well as Mbopa, Shaka's advisor. They were traditionally said to have killed Shaka because of his increase in brutal behavior after the death of his mother Nandi
Nandi (mother of Shaka)
Nandi was a daughter of Bhebhe, a past chief of the Langeni tribe and the mother of the legendary Shaka, King of the Zulus.Shaka's father was Senzangakona, chieftain of the Zulu clan, which was small and insignificant at the time...
. The assassination took place at present-day Stanger.
Royal enclosure (isigodlo) at UmGungundlovu
Dingane built his capital city of UmGungundlovuUmGungundlovu
uMgungundlovu was the royal capital of the Zulu king Dingane and one of several military complexes which he maintained...
in 1829 and enlarged it five years later. UmGungundlovu was built according to the characteristic layout of a Zulu military settlement (singular: ikhanda, plural: amakhanda). The ikhanda consisted of a large, central circular parade ground (isibaya esikhulu), surrounded by warriors' barracks (uhlangoti) and storage huts for their shields. The isibaya was entered from the north.
The royal enclosure (isigodlo) was situated on the southern side of the complex, directly opposite the main entrance. The king, his mistresses and female attendants (Dingane never married officially), a total of at least 500 people, resided here. The women were divided into two groups, namely the black isigodlo and the white isigodlo. The black isigodlo comprised about 100 privileged women, and within that group another elite called the bheje, a smaller number of girls, favoured by the king as his mistresses. A small settlement was built for them behind the main complex where they could enjoy some privacy. The remainder of the king's women were called the white isigodlo. These consisted mainly of girls presented to the king by his important subjects. He also selected other girls at the annual First fruit ceremony (umkhosi).
A huge half-moon shaped area was included in the black isigodlo; here the women and the king sang and danced. The huts in the black isigodlo were divided into compartments of about three huts each, enclosed by a two-metre-high hedge of intertwined withes
Withy
Withy or withe is a strong flexible willow stem that is typically used in thatching and for gardening. An advantage of using this type of material is said to be a greater resistance to woodworm....
, which created a network of passages.
The king's private hut (ilawu) was located in one such triangular compartment and had three or four entrances. His hut was very large and was kept very neat by attendants; it could easily accommodate 50 people. Modern archaeological excavations have revealed that the floor of this large hut was approximately 10 metres in diameter. Archaeologists found evidence inside the hut of 22 large supporting posts completely covered in glass beads. These had been noted in historical accounts by Piet Retief
Piet Retief
Pieter Mauritz Retief was a South African Boer leader. Settling in 1814 in the frontier region of the Cape Colony, he assumed command of punitive expeditions in response to raiding parties from the adjacent Xhosa territory...
, leader of the Voortrekkers
Voortrekkers
The Voortrekkers were emigrants during the 1830s and 1840s who left the Cape Colony moving into the interior of what is now South Africa...
, and the British missionaries Champion and Owen.
On the south side, just behind the main complex, were three separate enclosed groups of huts. The centre group was used by the uBheje women of the black isigodlo. In this area, they initiated chosen young girls into the service of the king.
Challenges of European advance
Some modern historians have assessed Dingane as the king responsible for the decline of the Zulu military superiority in southern Africa. He was a popular leader among the people and came into power at a challenging time. The fall of the Zulu kingdom to the European colonists might have occurred even under Shaka's rule. Numerous ethnic European colonists were entering the area from the Cape ColonyCape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
, and they possessed guns and weaponry far superior to the Zulu spear.
Rebellion
Dingane lacked Shaka's military and leadership skills; rebel chiefs broke away from his rule. Their dissension was exacerbated by armed conflict with the newly arrived VoortrekkersVoortrekkers
The Voortrekkers were emigrants during the 1830s and 1840s who left the Cape Colony moving into the interior of what is now South Africa...
.
Conflict with Voortrekkers
In November 1837 Dingane met with Piet RetiefPiet Retief
Pieter Mauritz Retief was a South African Boer leader. Settling in 1814 in the frontier region of the Cape Colony, he assumed command of punitive expeditions in response to raiding parties from the adjacent Xhosa territory...
, leader of the Voortrekkers. In return for their recovering some stolen cattle, Dingane signed a deed of cession of lands (written in English) to the Voortrekkers. After two days of feasting, on 6 February 1838, the chief had Retief and his diplomatic party killed. At the same time, Dingane's forces ambushed and killed Retief's trek party, about 500 Boers, including men, women and children. The Boers called this the Weenen massacre
Weenen massacre
The Weenen Massacre was the massacre of Voortrekkers by the Zulu on 17 February 1838. After the murder of Piet Retief and his delegation, the Zulu chief Dingane sent his impis to exterminate the remaining voortrekkers who were camped at Doringkop, Bloukrans The Weenen Massacre was the massacre of...
. The nearby present-day town of Weenen
Weenen, KwaZulu-Natal
Weenen is the second oldest European settlement in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is situated on the banks of the Bushman River. The farms around the town grow vegetables, lucerne, groundnuts, and citrus fruit. The town was laid out in 1838 at the site of a massacre by the Zulus following...
(Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
for "weeping") was named by early settlers in memory of the massacre.
Dingane ordered his army also to seek and kill the group of Voortrekkers under Andries Pretorius
Andries Pretorius
Andries Wilhelmus Jacobus Pretorius was a leader of the Boers who was instrumental in the creation of the Transvaal Republic, as well as the earlier but short-lived Natalia Republic, in present-day South Africa....
. The Zulu impis attacked the Voortrekker encampment, but they were crushingly defeated in the ensuing Battle of Blood River
Battle of Blood River
The Battle of Blood River, so called due to the colour of water in the Ncome River turning red with blood, was fought between 470 Voortrekkers led by Andries Pretorius, and an estimated 10,000–15,000 Zulu attackers on the bank of the Ncome River on 16 December 1838, in what is today KwaZulu-Natal,...
. An estimated 3,000 Zulus were killed, while three Voortrekkers were slightly wounded. Dingane's commander at the battle was Ndlela kaSompisi
Ndlela kaSompisi
Ndlela kaSompisi was a key general to Zulu Kings Shaka and Dingane.-Upbringing:Ndlela grew up in the Zulu household where his father Sompisi ka Gugqa was an influential advisor to King Senzangakona. His sister Bibi was one of Senzangakona's wives...
.
Overthrow and death
In January 1840, Pretorius and a force of 400 burghers (Dutch for "citizens") helped MpandeMpande
Mpande , uMsimude owavela ngesiluba phakathi kwamaNgisi namaQadasi, as he was praised, was king of the Zulu nation from 1840 to 1872, making him the longest reigning Zulu king. He was a half-brother of Shaka and Dingane, who both preceded him as kings of the Zulu...
in his revolt against Dingane, which resulted in the latter's overthrow and death. Zulu Nyawo, Sambane and Nondawana assassinated Dingane in Hlatikhulu Forest
Hlatikhulu Forest
Hlatikulu Forest is a Coastal Scarp Forest in the Lebombo Mountains of South Africa, between Ingwavuma and the Pongola Gorge. The forest is also known as the Gwaliweni Forest.-History:...
while on a military expedition.
He was succeeded by Mpande as king, who was half-brother to both Dingane and Shaka. His grave is in the middle of Tembe elephant park.
|-
| colspan=3 align=center | King of the Zulu Nation
|-
| align="center" | Preceded by:
Shaka
Shaka
Shaka kaSenzangakhona , also known as Shaka Zulu , was the most influential leader of the Zulu Kingdom....
| align="center" | Reign
1828-1840
| align="center" | Succeeded by:
Mpande
Mpande
Mpande , uMsimude owavela ngesiluba phakathi kwamaNgisi namaQadasi, as he was praised, was king of the Zulu nation from 1840 to 1872, making him the longest reigning Zulu king. He was a half-brother of Shaka and Dingane, who both preceded him as kings of the Zulu...
Literary accounts
Sir Henry Rider Haggard's novels Nada the LilyNada the Lily
Nada the Lily is an historical novel by English writer H. Rider Haggard, written in 1892. It is said to be inspired by Haggard's time in South Africa ....
and Marie include versions of some events in Dingane's life.