Dingane kaSenzangakhona Zulu
Also see the chronological list of Zulu Kings
Dingane kaSenzangakhona Zulu (born about 1795-1840) was a Zulu king for about 12 years from 1828 to 1840. While on a military expedition, Dingane was assassinated in Hlatikhulu Forest (in the Lebombo Mountains between Ingwavuma and the Pongola Gorge - on the border with Swaziland) by Zulu Nyawo, Sambane and Nondawana. Dingane was buried beneath a large fig tree, where three large stones mark the grave.
Dingane's seat was at umGungundlovu (previously spelled Ngungunhlovu, meaning
Place of the Elephant), just off the R68 between
The Zulu king Shaka was his half-brother. With the help of his brother Umthlangana, as well as Shaka's advisor Mbopa, they murdered Shaka in order to get the "throne". He was succeeded by his half-brother Mpande.
When the pioneers entered the area, Piet Retief and his companions recovered stolen cattle on behalf of Dingane, and expected land in return. The western concept of land ownership was of course not a common African concept. A deed of cession of lands, written in English, was entered into with the Voortrekkers.
A feast of two days followed, by the end of which, on 6 February 1838, Retief and his party of just over 70 men were killed. Simultaneously an attack was launched on Retief's pioneer party. About 500 Boers (pioneers), including men, women and children, were killed.
Dingane's Zulu warriors, perhaps as many as 10'000, then attacked the 470-strong party of Andries Pretorius on 16 December 1838. At that battle about 3'000 Zulu warriors were killed due to the superior military technology of the pioneers. Afterwards the place was called Blood River.
Skirmishes between the Zulu people and the Europeans continued for at least another two years until Dingane was assassinated.