The Battle of Maqongqo was fought on 29 January 1840 during the First Zulu Civil War. Due to military defeats, the Zulu king Dingane had lost the respect of a significant portion of the Zulu people. His brother Mpande sought to separate his followers from Dingane and drew support from an alliance with Boer settlers led by Andries Pretorius.
A Zulu warrior contemporary with the battle
Dingane ka Senzangakhona Zulu, commonly referred to as Dingane or Dingaan, was a Zulu prince who became king of the Zulu Kingdom in 1828, after assassinating his half-brother Shaka Zulu. He set up his royal capital, uMgungundlovu, and one of numerous military encampments, or kraals, in the eMakhosini Valley just south of the White Umfolozi River, on the slope of Lion Hill (Singonyama).
Dingane reclining in his hut with his wives shuffling about on their knees in his presence, as depicted by Captain Allen Gardiner. Gardiner visited Dingane in 1835 and 1837 and was instrumental in establishing Reverend Francis Owen's missionary station at the royal capital.
Dingane orders the capture of Piet Retief's party of Voortrekkers while they are spectators to a dancing routine of his soldiers.
Dingane signing a treaty with Piet Retief, as depicted in the Voortrekker Monument
Bronze statue of Dingane at Maropeng, in the Long March to Freedom exhibition
