Dingane kaSenzangakhona

Dingane kaSenzangakhona became Zulu king in September 1828 after orchestrating the assassination of his half-brother Shaka. He consolidated power by eliminating Shaka's loyalists and reversing some of Shaka's harsh policies, but maintained the Zulu military system.

Dingane ordered the killing of Voortrekker leader Piet Retief and 70 of his followers on February 6, 1838, after they signed a land treaty. This act triggered a war between the Zulu Kingdom and the Boers, leading to the Battle of Blood River.

Dingane's Zulu army was decisively defeated by Boer forces under Andries Pretorius at the Battle of Blood River on December 16, 1838. The Boers used a laager formation and superior firearms, killing over 3,000 Zulu warriors while suffering few casualties, weakening Dingane's rule.

Dingane was overthrown by his half-brother Mpande, who allied with the Boers, in January 1840. Dingane fled to the Hlubi people but was assassinated by them in February 1840. His death ended his reign and marked the rise of Mpande as a Boer-aligned king.