Shaka's military career started at about the same time as Napoleon's came to an end at Waterlo. Neither men had ever heard of the other, yet they had a suprising amount in common, particularly in theirgeniusfor war and politics had Shaka been born in the Europe? He too might well havealteredthe course of world affairs. As it was, he build the Zulu nation. And he would have destroyed it had it not been for the courage of a minorchieftainnamed Gala.
When he was still only 21, Shaka seized thethroneof the Zulus. It took him very little time to turn the Zulu people in to a first class fighting race because he was absolutely ruthless, never moving without and escort of 'slayers', whose job it was to kill anyone who displeased him in any way. If his warriors couldn't run 50 miles a day, they died; if they were unable to dance barefoot on a carpet of jungle torns, they died; if they showed anything less then suicidial courage in battle, they will be unhesitatingly murdered by the slayers. Shaka was inhuman, perhaps, but he build up aformidablearmy in a very short time.
Shaka has already increased his kingdom from 100 square miles to 100000 when personal tragedy struct: his mother, Nandi, died, Nandi was the one person for whom Shaka felt deep affection, and on her death something seemed tosnapin his mind. What followed was unbelievable, but it was recorded by an Englishman named Flynn who was in the area at the time.
Nandi was buried, and 12000warriorswere ordered to guard her grave for a year. Then Shaka sent his impis orregimentstoscoutthe countryside and punish all those who had failed to be present at the funeral. Only after this had been done did he announce his orders for mourning: no crops were to be planted the following year; no milk was to be used - it was to be drawn from cow and poured on earth; and all women who were found with child during the following year to be put to death with their husbands. As thestaplediet of the Zulus consisted of grain and milk products, this order was little less than a sentence of national starvation.
Shaka now developed a brooding and bitter spirit:
"I have conquered the world but lost my mother" he would cry "and all taste has gone out of my life." After two months of intensive mourning over Nandi's death, the country was in desperate state. The fields were overgrown withweedsand one of the staple diets, namely milk, was no longer on the food list. Total ruin now faced the Zulu nation, and it was obvious that those who had not been killed by Shaka would certainly starve to death.
Finally, one of Shaka's warriors, Gala, determined to end the tranny. "It is enough" he told to his family. "Someone must tell the Great Elephant. I shall do it." Gala's family stared at him in horror: to challange the King's wishes at such a moment was to ask for instant death. But Gala took his warrior's stick and went to Bulawayo to see Shaka. When he reached the right distance from the royal enclosure he shouted: "O King, you have destroyed the country. What will youreignover? Will you create a new race? Shall we all die because your mother died? You have destroyed the country. Your country will be inhabited by other kings, for your people will die of hunger. As for me, O King, I say you are dead yourself through this mother of yours."
"Stuff a stone into your stomach. This is not the first time anyone has died in Zululand!"
This was the Zulu way of saying: "pull yourself together." There was a gasp of horror from theonlookers, and slayers took agripon theirclubs. That man should dare to the King in such way was unthinkable, and Gala's life seemed to measured in seconds. But Shaka turned to his Councillors and said: "What use are you to me? You never dared, like Gala, to tell me to stuff a stone in my stomach. Now let my men know that crops are to be planted as usual and milk may be drunk again and as for you," said Shaka turning to Gala, "you should gift of manycattle."
Shaka - Zulus'un Kralı - Shaka - King of Zulus
Shaka - King of the Zulus
Shaka's military career started at about the same time as Napoleon's came to an end at Waterlo. Neither men had ever heard of the other, yet they had a suprising amount in common, particularly in theirgeniusfor war and politics had Shaka been born in the Europe? He too might well havealteredthe course of world affairs. As it was, he build the Zulu nation. And he would have destroyed it had it not been for the courage of a minorchieftainnamed Gala.
When he was still only 21, Shaka seized thethroneof the Zulus. It took him very little time to turn the Zulu people in to a first class fighting race because he was absolutely ruthless, never moving without and escort of 'slayers', whose job it was to kill anyone who displeased him in any way. If his warriors couldn't run 50 miles a day, they died; if they were unable to dance barefoot on a carpet of jungle torns, they died; if they showed anything less then suicidial courage in battle, they will be unhesitatingly murdered by the slayers. Shaka was inhuman, perhaps, but he build up aformidablearmy in a very short time.
Shaka has already increased his kingdom from 100 square miles to 100000 when personal tragedy struct: his mother, Nandi, died, Nandi was the one person for whom Shaka felt deep affection, and on her death something seemed tosnapin his mind. What followed was unbelievable, but it was recorded by an Englishman named Flynn who was in the area at the time.
Nandi was buried, and 12000warriorswere ordered to guard her grave for a year. Then Shaka sent his impis orregimentstoscoutthe countryside and punish all those who had failed to be present at the funeral. Only after this had been done did he announce his orders for mourning: no crops were to be planted the following year; no milk was to be used - it was to be drawn from cow and poured on earth; and all women who were found with child during the following year to be put to death with their husbands. As thestaplediet of the Zulus consisted of grain and milk products, this order was little less than a sentence of national starvation.
Shaka now developed a brooding and bitter spirit:
"I have conquered the world but lost my mother" he would cry "and all taste has gone out of my life." After two months of intensive mourning over Nandi's death, the country was in desperate state. The fields were overgrown withweedsand one of the staple diets, namely milk, was no longer on the food list. Total ruin now faced the Zulu nation, and it was obvious that those who had not been killed by Shaka would certainly starve to death.Finally, one of Shaka's warriors, Gala, determined to end the tranny. "It is enough" he told to his family. "Someone must tell the Great Elephant. I shall do it." Gala's family stared at him in horror: to challange the King's wishes at such a moment was to ask for instant death. But Gala took his warrior's stick and went to Bulawayo to see Shaka. When he reached the right distance from the royal enclosure he shouted: "O King, you have destroyed the country. What will youreignover? Will you create a new race? Shall we all die because your mother died? You have destroyed the country. Your country will be inhabited by other kings, for your people will die of hunger. As for me, O King, I say you are dead yourself through this mother of yours."
"Stuff a stone into your stomach. This is not the first time anyone has died in Zululand!"
This was the Zulu way of saying: "pull yourself together." There was a gasp of horror from theonlookers, and slayers took agripon theirclubs. That man should dare to the King in such way was unthinkable, and Gala's life seemed to measured in seconds. But Shaka turned to his Councillors and said: "What use are you to me? You never dared, like Gala, to tell me to stuff a stone in my stomach. Now let my men know that crops are to be planted as usual and milk may be drunk again and as for you," said Shaka turning to Gala, "you should gift of manycattle."