page_title: Mpande kaSenzangakhona
section_title: Succession conflicts
hierarchical_section_title: Mpande kaSenzangakhona / Biography / Succession conflicts
caption_attribution_description: English: Photograph of a photographic image from a Victorian glass magic lantern slide, South Africa c1875, labelled "Cetewayo". Deutsch: Cetshwayo kaMpande, König der Zulu
context_page_description: Mpande was monarch of the Zulu Kingdom from 1840 to 1872, making him the longest-reigning Zulu king. He was a half-brother of Sigujana, Shaka and Dingane, who preceded him as Zulu kings. He came to power after he had overthrown Dingane in 1840.
  His reign was lengthy, but for the latter part of his reign, he was king in name only. His son Cetshwayo became de facto ruler in 1856. Mpande himself claimed that he preferred a quiet life and that he had been forced to become king.
context_section_description: Cetshwayo's success as a leader led to a conflict with Mpande's second, and favourite, son Mbuyazi. Though Cetshwayo was the oldest, he was not officially successor, as his mother had not been declared the king's Great Wife. Either brother could inherit if Mpande chose their mother as his Great Wife, which he did not. Cetshwayo felt that his father was favouring Mbuyazi, and both sides developed factions of followers. Mpande ceded territory to Mbuyazi on the Tugela River, where he and his followers settled. Mbuyazi also cultivated support from European settlers led by John Dunn. Cetshwayo, who was supported by most of the territorial sub-chiefs, decided to settle the matter militarily. He invaded Mbuyazi's lands and crushed his followers at the Battle of Ndondakusuka, massacring survivors, including five of his brothers. Dunn escaped and later became an adviser to Cetshwayo.
  After this Cetshwayo became de facto ruler, though his father continued to carry out ceremonial functions. Cetshwayo continued his father's policy of maintaining links with both the British and the Boers and balancing out concessions. Cetshwayo also kept an eye on his father's new wives and children for potential rivals, ordering the death of his favourite wife Nomantshali and her children in 1861. Nomantshali and her daughters were hacked to death. Though two sons escaped, the youngest was murdered in front of the king.
  According to Gibson, "in his later days he became so fat he was unable to walk". The exact date of his death in late 1872 is unclear, as it was kept secret to secure a smooth transition of power to Cetshwayo.
caption: Mpande's son Cetshwayo
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