Dingiswayo

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Dingiswayo [ ˌdiŋɡisˈʷaːjo ] (* around 1780 , † around 1817 ; born as Godongwana or Ngodongwa ) was the leader of the Mthethwa Confederation . He was temporarily mentor of the young war leader Shaka , who later rose to become ruler of the Zulu .

Life

Dingiswayo was born as Godongwana or Ngodongwa. His father was the Mthethwa chief Jobe, under whose rule Shaka and his mother Nandi sought protection. Godongwana and his brother Tana planned to overthrow their father. However, the plan was revealed. Tana was killed while Dingiswayo managed to escape despite being injured. He found refuge in the foothills of the Drakensberg and from then on called himself Dingiswayo, in German about "The Exile". He bought the horse and rifle of a slain British man and learned European war tactics - so he recognized the advantage of standing armies . After the death of his father, he returned to take his place. He had his brother Mawewe, who had taken power in the meantime, killed.

With Shaka as general, Dingiswayo attacked the Amangwane under Matiwane around 1816 and pushed them across the Buffalo River . This began the time of the Mfecane , in which many peoples were driven from their ancestral areas. Dingiswayo allied himself in 1817 with the north-east living Tsonga to with the Portuguese trading on the Delagoa Bay to drive, and therefore called for the in the area of today's city Nongoma living Ndwandwe under Zwide out. Zwide killed Dingiswayo's brother-in-law. It was presumably Shaka who betrayed Dingiswayo to Zwide, who then killed Dingiswayo in battle without Shaka's assistance. His grave is in KheKheKhe's Kraal on the north bank of the Tugela.

Dingiswayo was the first ruler of the region who could raise a disciplined, tightly organized army. His successor was Shaka, who succeeded in enforcing this attitude in the whole people through rigorous measures.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e portrait at sahistory.co.za (English), accessed on February 11, 2014
personal data
SURNAME Dingiswayo
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Godongwana (maiden name); Ngodongwa (alternative maiden name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Head of the Mthethwa Confederation
DATE OF BIRTH around 1780
DATE OF DEATH around 1817