Kinlaza
Encyclopedia
The Kinlaza were members of the Nlaza kanda
or House of Kinlaza, one of the ruling houses of the Kingdom of Kongo
during the 17th century. It was one of the main factions during the Kongo Civil War
along with the Kimpanzu
and Kinkanga a Mvika kandas.
reference to the faction as the "House of Kinlaza" can be understood as the "House of Nlaza".
. The Kinlaza came to power by overthrowing the House of Kimpanzu, which had occupied the throne from Garcia I
's overthrow until Álvaro's ascension. The Kinlaza continued to rule Kongo until its civil war, when Kimpanzu
and Kinlaza kings occupied or claimed the throne. After the restoration of the kingdom in 1709, and Pedro IV
's power sharing scheme, the Kinlaza shared power with the other branches. Its northern branch, founded by João II at Mbula (or Lemba) made a claim on the throne, but the branch of this family that supported Pedro IV and opposed João's sister Elena in the 1710s eventually was able to become kings of Kongo when Garcia IV came to power in 1743. A southern branch, led by Ana Afonso de Leão did not hold power for a long time, and indeed, her home territory of Nkondo (Mucondo) was their primary base. However, in 1779, the southern Kinlazas came to power with the ascent of José I, and held power until when Afonso V succeeded his brother José in 1785. The crisis that followed Afonso's death in 1787 however, left the southern Kinlazas out.
The second king Pedro V (1856-85) may have had connections to the southern Kinlazas in the ninteeenth century, since his base at Mbembe was close to the lands of the Nkondo, though no clear connection has been established.
Kanda (lineage)
Kanda In Kikongo any social or analytical group, but often applied to lineages or groups of associated people who form a faction, band or other group. In Kongo documents written in Portuguese, or in older Portuguese accounts of Kongo it often is translated by "geração"...
or House of Kinlaza, one of the ruling houses of the Kingdom of Kongo
Kingdom of Kongo
The Kingdom of Kongo was an African kingdom located in west central Africa in what are now northern Angola, Cabinda, the Republic of the Congo, and the western portion of the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
during the 17th century. It was one of the main factions during the Kongo Civil War
Kongo Civil War
The Kongo Civil War was an internal conflict between rival houses of the Kingdom of Kongo. The war waged throughout the middle of the 17th and 18th centuries pitting partisans of the House of Kinlaza against the House of Kimpanzu...
along with the Kimpanzu
Kimpanzu
The Kimpanzu were members of the Mpanzu kanda also known as the House of Kimpanzu, one of the lineages from which the kings of Kongo were chosen during the 17th century and following Kongo's reunification under Pedro IV.-Origins:...
and Kinkanga a Mvika kandas.
Etymology
In KiKongo the language of the kingdom of Kongo, the name of the kanda is Nlaza. The class ki- /-i form, which often refers to membership in a category (and thus includes, for example, village names) is Kinlaza. Thus, the PortuguesePortuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
reference to the faction as the "House of Kinlaza" can be understood as the "House of Nlaza".
History
The House of Kinlaza was formed from the dynasty started by King Álvaro VIÁlvaro VI of Kongo
Álvaro VI of Kongo, sometimes called Nimi a Lukeni a Nzenze a Ntumba , was a ruler of the Kingdom of Kongo.Descended through the female line of Anna Ntumba from King Afonso I, he became Duke of Mbemba in 1634...
. The Kinlaza came to power by overthrowing the House of Kimpanzu, which had occupied the throne from Garcia I
Garcia I of Kongo
Garcia I Mvemba a Nkanga was a manikongo of Kongo whom ruled from April 27, 1624 to March 7, 1626.-Early Reign:Garcia I was the son of King Pedro II. He was the second and last king from the House of Nsundi begun by his father in 1622. When Pedro II died in 1624, Garcia succeeded peacefully to...
's overthrow until Álvaro's ascension. The Kinlaza continued to rule Kongo until its civil war, when Kimpanzu
Kimpanzu
The Kimpanzu were members of the Mpanzu kanda also known as the House of Kimpanzu, one of the lineages from which the kings of Kongo were chosen during the 17th century and following Kongo's reunification under Pedro IV.-Origins:...
and Kinlaza kings occupied or claimed the throne. After the restoration of the kingdom in 1709, and Pedro IV
Pedro IV of Kongo
Nusamu a Mvemba. King of Kongo, ruled in 1694–1718. He is noted for restoring the country and ending the civil war which had raged since 1666. It was during his reign that Beatriz Kimpa Vita, the prophetess possessed by Saint Anthony had her career....
's power sharing scheme, the Kinlaza shared power with the other branches. Its northern branch, founded by João II at Mbula (or Lemba) made a claim on the throne, but the branch of this family that supported Pedro IV and opposed João's sister Elena in the 1710s eventually was able to become kings of Kongo when Garcia IV came to power in 1743. A southern branch, led by Ana Afonso de Leão did not hold power for a long time, and indeed, her home territory of Nkondo (Mucondo) was their primary base. However, in 1779, the southern Kinlazas came to power with the ascent of José I, and held power until when Afonso V succeeded his brother José in 1785. The crisis that followed Afonso's death in 1787 however, left the southern Kinlazas out.
The second king Pedro V (1856-85) may have had connections to the southern Kinlazas in the ninteeenth century, since his base at Mbembe was close to the lands of the Nkondo, though no clear connection has been established.
Sources
Graziano Saccardo, Congo e Angola con la storia della missione dei Cappuccini (3 vols, Venice, 1982-83).See also
- Kingdom of KongoKingdom of KongoThe Kingdom of Kongo was an African kingdom located in west central Africa in what are now northern Angola, Cabinda, the Republic of the Congo, and the western portion of the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
- KimpanzuKimpanzuThe Kimpanzu were members of the Mpanzu kanda also known as the House of Kimpanzu, one of the lineages from which the kings of Kongo were chosen during the 17th century and following Kongo's reunification under Pedro IV.-Origins:...
- KinkangaKinkangaThe Kinkanga, usually known as the Kinkanga a Mvika or House of Nsundi, was a royal kanda formed by King Pedro II, which ruled the Kingdom of Kongo from 1622 to 1631...
- Kongo Civil WarKongo Civil WarThe Kongo Civil War was an internal conflict between rival houses of the Kingdom of Kongo. The war waged throughout the middle of the 17th and 18th centuries pitting partisans of the House of Kinlaza against the House of Kimpanzu...
- List of rulers of Kongo