Battle of Blood River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Blood River |
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| Part of the Great Trek | |||||||
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Entrance to the Battle of Blood River Monument in Kwazulu-Natal |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Voortrekkers |
Zulu Kingdom | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Andries Pretorius Sarel Cilliers |
Dambuza Ndlela kaSompisi |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 464 Pioneers + 200 servants a 6lb carronade and a 4lb cannon |
10,000–15,000 men | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 3 wounded | 3,000+ dead | ||||||
The Battle of Blood River is the name given for the battle fought between 464 Voortrekkers ("Pioneers"), led by Andries Pretorius, and an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 Zulu on the bank of the Ncome River on 16 December 1838, in what is today KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Casualties amounted to over 3,000 of King Dingane's soldiers dead, including two Zulu princes competing with Prince Mpande for the Zulu throne.
In the sequel to the Battle of Blood River in January 1840, Prince Mpande finally defeated King Dingane in the Battle of Maqongqe and was subsequently crowned as new king of the Zulu by his alliance partner Andries Pretorius. After these two battles, Dingane's prime minister and commander in both the Battle of Maqongqe and the Battle of Blood River, General Ndlela, was strangled to death by Dingane for high treason. General Ndlela had been the personal protector of Prince Mpande, who after the Battles of Blood River and Maqongqe, became king and founder of the Zulu.
Images for kids
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The carronade used during the battle on an improvised carriage Andries Pretorius brought with him from the Cape.
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An artist's impression of the Battle of Blood River.
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Laager at the Blood River Memorial
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A stone representation at the Voortrekker Monument of the Laager formed at the Battle of Blood River
See also
In Spanish: Batalla del Río Sangriento para niños
