Dingane Orders the Piet Retief Delegation Massacre,1838

Dingane Orders the Piet Retief Delegation Massacre,1838

Dingane orders the killing of Piet Retief's party of Voortrekkers,1838. Dingane kaSenzangakhona Zulu (1795–1840) was a Zulu chief. He came to power in 1828 after assassinating his half-brother Shaka. He was a popular leader among the people and came into power at a challenging time. Numerous ethnic European colonists were entering the area from the Cape Colony, and they possessed guns and weaponry far superior to the Zulu spear. Dingane lacked Shaka's military and leadership skills; rebel chiefs broke away from his rule. In 1837 Dingane met with Piet Retief, 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. On February 6, 1838, after two days of feasting, the chief had Retief and his diplomatic party killed. In January 1840, a force of 400 Boers helped Mpande (Dingane's half-brother) in his revolt against Dingane. At the Battle of Maqongqo many of Dingane's own men deserted to Mpande's army. Dingane had his general Ndlela kaSompisi executed, and with a few followers he sought refuge in Nayawo territory on the Lubombo mountains. A group of Nyawo and Swazi assassinated him in Hlatikhulu Forest.

ZULU (19th century)

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