Cetshwayo+kaMpande

Cetshwayo kaMpande, born in 1826, and died February 8th, 1884 was the ruler of the Zulus during the time of the Battle of Isandlwana and the Anglo-Zulu War (1872-1879). In fact, he was the last king of the independent Zulu Nation.

He gained power of the Zulu Kingdom by brutally killing his younger brother, Mbuyazi, in the Battle of Ndondakusuka. Also killing five more of his own brothers. Although his father was still in power when this happened, he became a stubborn ruler after Mpande kaSenzangakhona passed away. After gaining the throne, he kept close tabs on his and his father's wives and children for any potential threats of dis-loyalties towards him and his rule. In 1861, he ordered one of his wives, along with the children he had with her, to be killed.

As you can see Cetshwayo had many non-ethical ways of running his kingdom compared to many modern day methods. He re-established many rules that his predecessor, Shaka, first set up. For example, he did not allow any European missionaries on his land. In the Anglo-Zulu War, the Zulus lost, but also made an impression of what the Zulus were as a people. One famous battle, Isandlwana, showed how strong the Zulus were, how genius their strategies were. In the end, when the British took over the capital of the Zulu nation, it was over. The Zulus' battle strategies were no match for the British lead and gun powder. Yet the British tried to get Cetshwayo to rule at-least some of the taken territory in 1883, after a feud of opposing opinions about the Zulus, they failed.

To many he was known as the last monarch of the Zulu Kingdom. He was an influence to many to remind them of their powerful ancestors that have been living there for centuries. He has been recognized in many films although usually not portrayed as a good person because of the Apartheid laws.