Kasanje Kingdom facts for kids
The Kasanje Kingdom, also known as the Jaga Kingdom, was an important state in Central Africa long before European countries took control. It existed from about 1620 to 1910. This kingdom was started by a group of skilled fighters called the Imbangala. They had been working for the Portuguese but then left to form their own group.
The kingdom got its name from Kasanje, the leader of these fighters, who settled his people near the upper Kwango River. The Kasanje people were led by a king known as the Jaga. This king was chosen from three main family groups that helped create the kingdom.
Quick facts for kids
Kingdom of Kansanje
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| Early 1600s–1912 | |||||||||
| Government | Kingdom | ||||||||
| King of Kasanje | |||||||||
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• c. 1620
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Kalanda ka Imbe | ||||||||
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• 1911-1912
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Ngwangwa | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
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• Established
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Early 1600s | ||||||||
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• Disestablished
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1912 | ||||||||
| Population | |||||||||
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• 1680
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~300,000 | ||||||||
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| Today part of | Lunda Norte Province | ||||||||
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In 1680, a Portuguese traveler named António de Oliveira de Cadornega guessed that the Kasanje Kingdom had about 300,000 people. He thought that 100,000 of these people were strong enough to be soldiers. However, historians today think this number might have been much higher than the actual population.
The Kasanje Kingdom often had conflicts with its neighbors. One of its main rivals was the Kingdom of Matamba, which was led by the famous Queen Nzinga Mbande.
The Imbangala state grew into a very important trading hub. People came from far and wide to trade goods there. However, by the 1850s, new trade routes opened up that were controlled by the Ovimbundu people. This made Kasanje less important for trade.
Finally, between 1910 and 1911, the Kasanje Kingdom became part of Portuguese Angola. This marked the end of Kasanje as an independent state.
Kings of Kasanje
The Kasanje Kingdom was ruled by many kings over its long history. Here is a list of some of the rulers, based on historical records.
| King name | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zimbo | c. 1500s? | Historians are not sure if this king really existed. |
| Tembandumba | c. 1500s? | Historians are not sure if this king really existed. |
| Kulembe | 1560s? | |
| Kinguri | 1560s? | |
| Kalanda ka Imbe | c. 1600s | Met an English traveler named Andrew Battel around 1601-1603. |
| Kulashingo | c. 1610-1616 | Became friends with the Portuguese around 1612-1616. |
| Kasanje ka Kulashingo | c. 1616-1620s | |
| Kasanje Kingdom started around 1620 | ||
| Kalunga ka Kilombo | c. 1630s-1650 | |
| Ngongo a Mbande | c. 1650-1680 | A missionary named Cavazzi knew him personally. |
| "Dom. Pascoal Machado" | 1680 | Died in a fight against armies from Matamba and Mbundu people. |
| Kingwangwa kya Kima | c. 1680-1681 | Took power illegally; possibly known as "Luiz Dala". |
| Kitamba kya Keta | 1681-1690? | Possibly known as "Luiz Dala". |
| Mwanya a Kasanje | c. 1690s? | |
| Kiluanje kya Ngonga | c. 1690s-1700s? | |
| Kinguri kya Kasombe | c. 1700s? | |
| Kitumba kya Kalunga | c. 1710s | |
| Kambamba ka Kinguri | c. 1720s? | |
| Kasanje ka Kiluanje | c. 1730s? | |
| Lubame lwa Kipungo | c. 1739-1750s? | |
| Ngunza a Kambamba | c. 1750-1770 | Was a very strong ruler. |
| Lukala lwa Njinje | Early 1770s? | |
| Kalunga ka Luhame | Mid 1770s? | |
| Kitumba kya Wanga | Late 1770s-Early 1780s? | |
| Kisweya kya Kambamba | Mid 1780s? | |
| Kitamba kya Shiba | c. 1785-1792 | |
| Malenge a Ngonga | 1792-c. 1810 | Lost a battle to Félix Velazco Galiano, a commander from Pungo Andongo, in 1805. |
| Kitumba kya Ngonga | c. 1810-1820 | |
| Kansanje kya Kambolo | c. 1820s | |
| Kihengo kya Kambolo | Early 1830s | |
| Kamasa ka Kiwende | Mid 1830s | |
| Mbumba a Kinguri | c. 1840-1850 | Forced out by a Portuguese army in 1850. |
| Kalunga ka Kisanga | 1850 | Ruled under Portuguese control; was killed in late 1850 by people loyal to Mbumba a Kinguri. |
| Kambolo ka Ngonga | 1851-1856 | Known as "Dom Fernando Accacio Ferreira" to the Portuguese. |
| Kamweje ka Kalunga | 1856-1857 | Died under strange circumstances. |
| Mbumba a Kinguri | 1857-1873 | Ruled a second time, likely involved in Kamweje ka Kalunga's death. The kingdom faced a civil war after his death. |
| Civil War, 1873-1883 | ||
| Malenge a Kitumba | 1873 | Died in battle. |
| Kwango | 1883-1885 | Swore loyalty to Luis I of Portugal. |
| Kasanje ka Kalanyi | 1888 | Had little power. After he died, there was no clear ruler until 1896. |
| Kinguri kya Kiluanje | 1896 | Also known as Mushabata; was immediately forced out, and another period without a clear ruler lasted until 1911. |
| Ngwangwa | 1911-1912 | Defeated both fighting groups. He led a rebellion against the Portuguese in 1912, but it failed, leading to the end of the kingdom. |
Where was Kasanje located?
The Kasanje Kingdom was located along the upper part of the Kwango River. This area is now part of the country of Angola.
