Mbandzeni of Swaziland
Encyclopedia
Mbandzeni (1855 - 7 October 1889) was the King or Supreme Head of Swaziland
between 1875 and 1889. He was a son of Mswati II. His brother Ludvonga II
was chosen as his father's successor, but died before becoming King.
He was acknowledged and appointed king by the ZAR, the Boer Transvaal Republic
. In return, he ceded large portions of his territory to white immigrants. Partly for this reason, land became in short supply and some indigenous Swazi ended up living beyond the borders of their homeland in part of what is known today as the Province of Mpumalanga
.
During his reign the First Boer War
and annexation of his kingdom to the British Empire took place. These conflicts began with the discovery of significant gold deposits at Piggs Peak
and Forbes Reef, attracting many Europeans, miners and prospectors who were in the Eastern Transvaal.
As mentioned above, Mbandzeni granted vast land swathes in these zones to the new "colonists". Mbandzeni died in 1889 and his son, Bhunu was selected as Ngwenyama.
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
between 1875 and 1889. He was a son of Mswati II. His brother Ludvonga II
Ludvonga
Ludvonga II was the Crown Prince of Swaziland, son of Mswati II of Swaziland. His mother's clan was Khumalo.As a result of internal power struggles within the royal family, he was poisoned and died in 1872 before he could take the throne....
was chosen as his father's successor, but died before becoming King.
He was acknowledged and appointed king by the ZAR, the Boer Transvaal Republic
South African Republic
The South African Republic , often informally known as the Transvaal Republic, was an independent Boer-ruled country in Southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century. Not to be confused with the present-day Republic of South Africa, it occupied the area later known as the South African...
. In return, he ceded large portions of his territory to white immigrants. Partly for this reason, land became in short supply and some indigenous Swazi ended up living beyond the borders of their homeland in part of what is known today as the Province of Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga , is a province of South Africa. The name means east or literally "the place where the sun rises" in Swazi, Xhosa, Ndebele and Zulu. Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, north of KwaZulu-Natal and bordering Swaziland and Mozambique. It constitutes 6.5% of South Africa's land area...
.
During his reign the First Boer War
First Boer War
The First Boer War also known as the First Anglo-Boer War or the Transvaal War, was fought from 16 December 1880 until 23 March 1881-1877 annexation:...
and annexation of his kingdom to the British Empire took place. These conflicts began with the discovery of significant gold deposits at Piggs Peak
Piggs Peak
Piggs Peak is a town in north western Swaziland. It was founded around gold prospecting in 1884, but its main industry is now forestry. The Phophonyane Falls lie near the town. Piggs Peak Casino takes its name from the area...
and Forbes Reef, attracting many Europeans, miners and prospectors who were in the Eastern Transvaal.
As mentioned above, Mbandzeni granted vast land swathes in these zones to the new "colonists". Mbandzeni died in 1889 and his son, Bhunu was selected as Ngwenyama.