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The Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 - Ulundi

Index

Ulundi's background

What makes Ulundi such a great example?

Ulundi's background

The Battle of Ulundi, on 4 July 1879, was the final, decisive battle of the Anglo-Zulu War. Frederic Thesiger [Lord Chelmsford] led around 5,000 British and colonial troops, formed into a large hollow square with artillery and Gatling guns at its corners, against an estimated 20,000 Zulu warriors defending King Cetshwayo's capital. The disciplined firepower of the square broke the Zulu attack within about 45 minutes; some 1,500 to 2,000 Zulus were killed against 13 British dead. Chelmsford ordered the royal kraal at Ulundi burned, effectively ending Zulu independence.

What makes Ulundi such a great example?

Frederic Thesiger and the Victory at Ulundi

Ulundi is a good counterpoint to Hlobane, fought only just over three months earlier: the same commander, Frederic Thesiger, going from one of the worst British defeats of the war to its decisive, war-ending victory. Taken together the two events are a good test of whether a single chart can be read as containing both extremes.

The chart shown is the birth of Frederic Thesiger, set at midday, with transits for the Battle of Ulundi on 4 July 1879 set at midday.