How did Mpande become king?
Mpande’s ascent to the throne was a dramatic turn of events in Zulu history. He became king in 1840 after successfully overthrowing his half-brother Dingane, who had ruled since 1828. The catalyst for this change was Dingane’s defeat at the Battle of Blood River in 1838, which led to unrest within the kingdom. Fearing for his life, Mpande allied with the Boers, who were eager to see Dingane removed from power. With their support, Mpande’s forces defeated Dingane at the Battle of Maqongqo, leading to Dingane’s eventual assassination. Thus, Mpande was proclaimed king, although he later claimed that he had been forced into this role against his wishes.
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