Mswati II facts for kids

King Mswati II (born around 1820, died 1868) was a powerful leader. He was also known as Mswati or Mavuso III. He ruled as the king of Eswatini from 1850 to 1868. The country of Eswatini is named after him. Many people remember Mswati as one of Eswatini's greatest fighting kings.

During his time as king, Eswatini grew much larger. Mswati was the son of Sobhuza I and Tsandzile Ndwandwe. His mother was also known as "LaZidze". After Sobhuza died, Mswati became king. His mother became the Queen Mother and later the Queen Regent. When Mswati took over, his kingdom stretched far. It reached areas like modern-day Barberton in the north. It also included the Nomahasha area in what is now Mozambique.

Mswati's military strength grew in the late 1850s. At first, there were some fights with his brothers. But he soon became very powerful. When Mswati's armies attacked other Bantu groups, they often sought cattle and captives. They did not always aim to make these groups part of Eswatini. During this time, European settlers called Trekboers arrived. They came to what would become the Transvaal republic. This was the first time the Swazi people met Europeans. Mswati greatly expanded the country's borders. He set up military camps and royal villages. Places like Mbhuleni and Mekemeke became important outposts. King Mswati II died in August 1868. His death marked the end of a time of great expansion for Eswatini. It also led to many different groups of people becoming one nation.

Early Life of King Mswati II

Ingwenyama Mswati II was the son of Sobhuza I and Queen Tsandzile Ndwandwe. His mother was the daughter of Zwide Ndwandwe. Zwide was a strong leader of the Ndwandwe clan. This clan lived south of the Pongola River. The Swazi clans, led by Sobhuza I, often fought with the Ndwandwe. To make peace, Sobhuza offered to marry one of Zwide's daughters. Tsandzile was chosen to be the wife who would give birth to Sobhuza's heir.

Mswati's early life was difficult after his father Sobhuza died. There were disagreements with his brothers about who should be king. Because of this, Mswati and his mother were put in their positions quickly. They were not fully ready for their roles. Some people believe these early challenges made him a strong and decisive ruler later on. When Mswati became king, his country was already quite large. It was said to reach Barberton in the north and the Pongola River in the south.

King Mswati II's Reign

After becoming king in 1850, King Mswati II began many large military actions. He often targeted the rich lands of tribes north of Eswatini. He became very wealthy from these actions. His best fighting groups, like the Nyatsi and Malalane, were feared far away. They even reached areas in what is now Zimbabwe and Mozambique. These special groups were also used against local chiefs within Swazi territory.

In 1852, Swazi regiments drove out the Mbayi people. These people lived in the foothills of the Drakensberg mountains. The Mbayi then moved north, settling between the Crocodile and Sabie Rivers. King Mswati II also used his power to influence events in the Gaza Empire. This kingdom was east of the Lubombo mountains. He also bravely defended his country against attacks from the Zulu.

Building Military Outposts

Mswati built a line of military camps from west to east. These were along the 'Little Crocodile River' (Kaap River). At each camp, he placed some of his fighting groups. Their job was to watch for and stop the Abapedi people from returning to their old homes. Important outposts included Mbhuleni and Mekemeke. Mbhuleni was on the upper Komati River. Mekemeke was east of the Mbayiyane mountains. From Mekemeke, they could watch the Crocodile River.

Mswati moved his main capital and military bases to Hhohho. This was on the northern bank of the Mlumati River. From here, he continued his attacks on various tribes. These included the Bapedi, the Baphalaborwa, the Lobedu, and the Venda. His armies even reached as far as Great Zimbabwe and the plains of Mozambique. A historian named A. T. Bryant said that Mswati slowly expanded his borders. He gained more people and made his kingdom stronger and richer. Bryant even called him 'a true Shaka of the north' . This shows how powerful his army was.

New People in the Kingdom

The weakening of other kingdoms made Mswati's power even greater. Many people from distant tribes sought his protection. King Mswati II settled loyal groups in areas with few people. Sometimes he placed them under their own leaders. In other places, he put royal princes and trusted commoners in charge. These new groups and people who moved in became known as Emafikamuva. This means "those who arrived after."

Later Life and Legacy

Mswati died at his royal home in Hhohho in August 1865. He was about forty years old. He was buried at the royal burial hill at Mbilaneni. This was next to his father and great-grandfather. King Mswati II's death marked the end of a time of great expansion for the Swazi nation. It also completed the joining of many different peoples into one country.

Mswati's successor was his eleven-year-old son, Ludvonga. However, Ludvonga died in 1874 without having any children. So, Mbandzeni became the new King in June 1875. He was known as Dlamini IV. Ludvonga's older half-brother, Mabhedla, was seen as a threat to the new king. He had to leave Eswatini around 1872 or 1873. He lived in a few places before settling near the Leolo mountains. He died in 1895 and is buried there.

See also

In Spanish: Mswati II de Suazilandia para niños