Ulundi
Zululand / South Africa

In the 19th century Ulundi was the centre of the old Zulu Kingdom. King Cetshwayo had built his royal kraal here in 1873. On July 4, 1879, the decisive battle of the Zulus against the British colonial power took place here. After a devastating defeat of the British near Isandlwana, they deployed the biggest army ever seen in southern Africa. 17,000 British troops with the best armament of the time under the command of the experienced Lieutenant General Lord Chelmsford were facing some 24,000 Zulu warriors. Zulu King Cetshwayo had - in anticipation of a British attack - previously bought tens of thousands of muskets and rifles. But most of them were of poor standard, and the Zulus were not properly trained to use them. The Zulus couldn't stand up to the power of the well-prepared British attack which was also supported by cannons. They were overwhelmed by the noise of the firing and the impact of the bullets. After only half an hour the Zulus began to falter. This battle was the end of the Zulu army. Chelmsford ordered his troops to burn the royal kraal of Ulundi. The Zulu chiefs in all of Zululand surrendered. Their King Cetshwayo was captured and taken into exile to the Cape Colony. The British established a Britain-friendly government in Zululand.