Sites

Archive Import: The principal homestead of Cetshwayo. After his part inMpande's successful first incursion into Swaziland in the mid 1840's, Cetswayo, the eldest of Mpande's sons, nephew of Shaka, established a military complex (Ikhanda) with his Usuthu at Ondini, Cetshwayo became king of the Zulus in 1872. The battle site where Cetshwayo's warrioirs were defeated by the British on 4th July 1879.
History: The Battle of Ulundi took place in 1879 between the British and Cetshwayo’s Zulu army. The battlefield was very close to the site of Mpande’s kraal, Nodwengu, and barely three kilometres due west of Cetshwayo’s kraal, Ondini.
The Zulu War broke out in the beginning of January, 1879. After the disaster at Isandhlwana, the British Commander in Chief, Lord Chelmsford, reorganized his forces, relieved Col. C. Pearson at Eshowe, and advanced on Cetshwayo’s headquarters at Ulundi. His force now consisted of detachments of the 17th Lancers, the 1st Dragoon Guards and the 13th, 21st, 58th, 90th and 94th Regiments—altogether 4 062 White and 1 103 Bantu troops. This force was accompanied by an artillery unit with twelve field pieces and two Gatlings.
On 2nd July this force camped just south of the White Umfolozi, directly opposite Ulundi. On the next day the cavalry under command of Col. Redvers Buller crossed the river on a reconnaissance expedition and made contact with a strong Zulu force, some of whom had firearms. He was obliged to retreat rapidly to the laager, losing three men killed and four wounded. On the following day Chelmsford left 650 men to guard the camp and advanced across the river with the rest of his force. The cavalry forged ahead, followed by the main body which advanced in the formation of an open square with the Bantu force and the ammunition wagons in the centre.
At 8.45 in the morning the mounted force made contact with the Zulus on the surrounding hills. Mean- while the main body moved past the old Nodwengu kraal, swung right and halted on favourable ground 3 km west of Cetshwayo’s royal kraal, Ondini. The cavalry fell back within the square which was surrounded within a few minutes by a Zulu force variously estimated at from twelve thousand to twenty-five thousand strong. They went into the attack with the disregard for danger that was typical of the Zulu warrior and actually reached within thirty metres of the British line. However, they were met with a devastating rifle and cannon-fire that dispersed them within half an hour. Chelmsford then ordered a charge by the cavalry and Lancers on the wavering horde and put the Zulus to flight. The Zulu losses were estimated by various observers at from 800 to 1 500, while the British lost fifteen Whites and three Bantu. This battle brought the war to an end.
The position of the square formed by the troops is marked by four cairns of white-washed stones and nearby is the small cemetery where the fallen lie buried. A fine monument on the battlefield bears the significant inscription:
In memory of the brave warriors who fell here in 1879 in defence of the old Zulu order."
Visual Description: Partial reconstruction of the largest of Cetshwayo's homesteads on open grassland site sloping down.
Colours:
Site Features: Bare sloping grassy plain
Condition: Good
Construction Date: 1873c
Materials:
Catalogue: , No: , Significance Category: