Mbandzeni facts for kids

Mbandzeni (also known as Dlamini IV) was the King of Swaziland from 1872 to 1889. He was the son of Mswati II and Nandzi Nkambule. His mother died when he was very young.

Mbandzeni became king after his half-brother, Ludvonga II, passed away before he could rule. Ludvonga's mother, Inkhosikati Lamgangeni, adopted Mbandzeni. This made him the new King and her the Queen Mother. His main royal home was at Mbekelweni.

During his time as king, Mbandzeni signed many agreements. These agreements gave white settlers from Britain and the Transvaal rights to mine, farm, trade, and manage land. Some people tricked the king into signing permanent land deals. The king could not read or write. He was told these were not permanent, but the papers said otherwise. These deals eventually changed Swaziland's borders. They also made Swaziland a protectorate of the South African Republic.

Mbandzeni was a strong leader. He commanded a large Swazi army of over 15,000 men. He helped the British defeat Sekhukhune in 1879. He also stopped the Zulu from entering the Transvaal that same year. Because of his help, Swaziland kept its independence. This was important during the Scramble for Africa, when European countries were taking over many parts of Africa.

Mbandzeni died in 1889 after an illness. He is said to have stated, "the Swazi kingship dies with me." He was buried at Mbilaneni, a royal cemetery. His young son, Mahlokohla, became king after him. His wife, Queen Labotsibeni Mdluli, became the Queen Mother. Today, many places in Swaziland are named after Mbandzeni. These include Mbandzeni House in Mbabane and the Mbandzeni Highway.

Becoming King

After King Mswati II died in 1868, Queen Mother Tsandzile Ndwandwe ruled as Queen Regent. Mswati II's son, Ludvonga II, was chosen to be the next king. However, he died in 1874 before he could take the throne.

The Swazi elders then decided that Ludvonga's mother, LaKhumalo, should choose another child. She picked Mbandzeni, who had lost his own mother when he was very young. So, Mbandzeni became king in 1875. There was another prince, Mbilini waMswati, who wanted to be king. He was friends with the Zulu Kings. But Mbilini never succeeded in becoming the King of Swaziland.

Mbandzeni's Rule

Mbandzeni's time as king had many important events. One big part was the ongoing relationship between the Swazis and the Boers from the Transvaal. King Mswati had already sold some land to the Boers in the 1850s.

During Mbandzeni's rule, many people visited his capital, Mbekelweni. These visitors were settlers and business people. They wanted land, mining rights, and other deals. Mbandzeni signed many agreements with them. He got advice from 'Offy' Shepstone, who was related to a British administrator. Mbandzeni and his officials signed many deals. Sometimes, these deals overlapped, meaning more than one person got rights to the same land. In return, the king received gold, cattle, or other goods. This made Swaziland very interesting to British and Dutch settlers. They saw its potential for farming, mining, and settlement. The discovery of gold in the Transvaal made this even more intense.

Soon after Mbandzeni became king, fighting started between the British and the Boers. Britain took over the Transvaal and made it a colony. The Zulu Kingdom to the south was still independent. But it would soon go to war with Britain.

The Zulu War happened in 1879. Prince Mbilini, who wanted to be the Swazi king, was allied with the Zulu King Cetshwayo. However, Mbandzeni did not help Cetshwayo against the British. In fact, Swazi troops helped stop Zulu raids into the Transvaal. In the same year, British forces asked for Swazi help. They wanted to defeat the Pedi King Sekhukhune. The Pedi had helped another prince who wanted to be the Swazi king. The Pedi faced a British attack. A strong Swazi force of 10,000 men helped. This led to Sekhukhune's capture and the end of his kingdom.

Mbandzeni's support for Britain was rewarded. Britain recognized Swaziland's independence. They also promised to protect Swazis from the Zulu and Boers. However, the land deals Mbandzeni had signed hurt Swaziland's independence later. These deals were used in agreements in 1884 and 1894. Britain did not keep all its promises.

The current borders of Swaziland were decided in these two agreements. Swazi interests were represented by others, not directly by Swazis. Many Swazi homes and royal villages were cut off. This means many Swazis now live in South Africa.

Later Life and Legacy

Mbandzeni died after an illness. This happened during the border discussions, and he had little say in them. He was buried at Mbilaneni. This is the same royal burial site as his father, Mswati II, and grandfather, Sobhuza I.

Like other Swazi kings, Mbandzeni had many wives and children. His wife, Labotsibeni Mdluli, was chosen to be the Queen Mother. Her son, Mahlokohla, was chosen to be the next King of Swaziland. There was a period of about five years when Queen Regent Tibati Nkambule ruled. Then, young Ngwane V took over. During this time, Swaziland became a protectorate of the South African Republic.

People have different views on Mbandzeni's rule. Some think he gave away too much of his country. Some say he "sold the land but kept his country." Others see him as a kind person who did not know when to stop. However, many believe he did his best during a very difficult time for his country.

See also

In Spanish: Mbandzeni de Suazilandia para niños