AngloZulu

AngloZulu refers to the historical relationship between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom in southern Africa, most prominently in the events surrounding the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. The term is used to describe both military conflict and the broader political interactions between colonial power and the Zulu state during the late 19th century.

Background and causes include the British annexation of Natal in 1843 and the growing pressure on Zulu sovereignty as the Zulu kingdom under Cetshwayo kaMpande sought to maintain autonomy amid changing regional dynamics. In 1878 the British issued an ultimatum demanding disbandment of the Zulu army and acceptance of a form of indirect rule. Cetshwayo refused, and Britain declared war in December 1878.

The war began in earnest in January 1879. The Zulu impi achieved a notable early victory at Isandlwana on January 22, overwhelming a British column. The same day, a smaller British garrison at Rorke’s Drift held out against a larger assault. British and colonial forces conducted a series of campaigns through Zululand, culminating in the capture of the Zulu capital, Ulundi, on July 4, 1879. Cetshwayo was captured and later exiled to the Cape, marking a decisive British victory.

Aftermath and legacy include the fragmentation of the Zulu kingdom into smaller chiefdoms administered under British oversight, with the royal line temporarily diminished. The war influenced imperial policy in southern Africa and left a lasting imprint on regional memory and historiography. It remains a focal point in studies of colonial expansion, indigenous resistance, and the dynamics of 19th-century African and British imperial history.