The Forgotten Zulu Victory
The Battle of Hlobane
The Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 is limited to just two engagements in popular culture. The impressive Zulu victory at Isandlwana is paired with the spectacular British defence at Rorke’s Drift. The war ends there for most casual students of history. But in reality, this was only the beginning.
To his credit, Cetshwayo, the Zulu king, had done his utmost to avoid a war. The British administration had pushed for it, striving to escalate every minor border dispute. Cetshwayo still showed restraint even after the declaration of war, commanding his soldiers to concentrate on killing the British regulars in their distinctive red coats rather than the colonial levies.
Unfortunately for the Zulus, they were a victim of their own success. Isandlwana had been a spectacular victory but far from deterring the British, it had only spurred them on. They were hungry for revenge, aghast that a native army had killed over 1,000 of their soldiers. Both sides pulled back to lick their wounds but it was clear the British would advance again and Cetshwayo had forbidden his troops from invading Natal.
The Armies
An estimated 5,000 Zulu soldiers had died in the January battles but they still possessed a formidable army, nearly 30,000 in strength. Cetshwayo’s uncle Shaka had…
