Editing Shaka (section)

==Expansion of power and conflict with Zwide==
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{{Main article|Ndwandwe–Zulu War}}
[[File:Shaka's Empire map.svg|thumb|right|400px|This map illustrates the rise of the Zulu Empire under Shaka (1816–1828) in present-day [[South Africa]]. The rise of the Zulu Empire {{color box|#cba385}} under Shaka forced other chiefdoms and clans to flee across a wide area of southern Africa. Clans fleeing the Zulu war zone
{{legend-line|#d67427 solid 2px|inline=yes}} included the [[Soshangane]], [[Zwangendaba]], [[Ndebele people (Zimbabwe)|Ndebele]], [[Hlubi people|Hlubi]], [[Swaziland|Ngwane]], [[Madzikane ka Zulu| Baca]], [[Zotsho people|Zotsho]] and [[Mfengu]]. A number of tribes fled to the lands of King [[Faku kaNgqungqushe|Faku]] of the amaMpondo kingdom, King [[Ngubengcuka]] of abaThembu kingdom and King [[Hintsa kaKhawuta|Hintsa]] of the amaXhosa kingdom. They were assimilated into the amaMpondo, abaThembu and amaXhosa cultural ways of life and lived under the protection of the [[amaMpondo people|Mpondos]], [[abaThembu people|Thembu]] and [[Xhosa people|Xhosas]] {{color box|#77b265}}.]]
[[File:Shaka of Zululand statue 2015 London (1).JPG|thumb|right|200px|Large statue representing Shaka (rather obviously based on actor [[Henry Cele]]) at the [[Camden Market|Camden markets]] in [[London]], [[England]].]]
[[File:Zuluwarriorbp.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A sketch of a Zulu warrior, drawn in 1913.]]

As Shaka became more respected by his people, he was able to spread his ideas with greater ease. Using his background as a soldier, Shaka taught the Zulus that the most effective way of gaining power quickly was by conquering and controlling other tribes. His teachings greatly influenced the social outlook of the Zulus. The Zulu tribe soon developed a warrior outlook, which Shaka used to his advantage.{{sfn | Ngubane |1976| p=}}

Shaka's hegemony was primarily based on military might, smashing rivals and incorporating scattered remnants into his own army. He supplemented this with a mixture of diplomacy and patronage, incorporating friendly chieftains, including Zihlandlo of the Mkhize, Jobe of the Sithole, and Mathubane of the Thuli. These people were never defeated in battle by the Zulus; they did not have to be. Shaka won them over with subtler tactics, such as [[patronage]] and reward. As for the ruling of Qwabe, they began re-inventing their genealogies to give the impression that Qwabe and Zulu were closely related (i.e. as [[Nguni people|Nguni]]) in the past.{{sfn|Mahoney|2003|pp=559-583}} In this way, a greater sense of cohesion was created, though it never became complete, as subsequent civil wars attest.

Shaka still recognised [[Dingiswayo]] and his larger [[Mthethwa Paramountcy|Mthethwa]] clan, as overlord after he returned to the [[Zulu people|Zulu]] land  but, some years later, Dingiswayo was ambushed by Zwide's Ndwandwe and killed. There is no evidence to suggest that Shaka betrayed Dingiswayo. The Zulu people had to retreat before several Ndwandwe incursions; the Ndwandwe was clearly the most aggressive grouping in the sub-region.{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}}<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Mbatha |first1=Mthandeni |last2=Cebekhulu |first2=Mxolisi |date=2022 |title=ZULU TRIBE OR ZULU NATION? AN HISTORICAL ANALYSIS |url=https://journals.co.za/doi/epdf/10.10520/ejc-linga_v21_2_a2 |journal=Indilinga – African Journal of Indigenous Knowledge Systems |volume=21 |issue=2 |pages=145 |via=Sabinet}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mbatha |first=Mthandeni |date=1 December 2022 |title=Zulu Tribe or Zulu Nation? An Historical Analysis |url=https://journals.co.za/doi/full/10.10520/ejc-linga_v21_2_a2 |access-date=24 April 2024 |website=Sabinet African Journal}}</ref>

Shaka was able to form an alliance with the leaders of the Mthethwa peoples and was able to establish himself amongst the Qwabe, after Phakathwayo was overthrown with relative ease. With Qwabe, Hlubi and Mkhize support, Shaka was finally able to summon a force capable of resisting the Ndwandwe (of the Nxumalo clan). Shaka's first major battle against [[Zwide kaLanga|Zwide]], of the [[Ndwandwe]], was the [[Battle of Gqokli Hill]], on the Mfolozi River. Shaka's troops maintained a strong position on the crest of the hill. A frontal assault by their opponents failed to dislodge them, and Shaka sealed the victory by sending his reserve forces in a sweep around the hill to attack the enemy's rear. Losses were high overall but the efficiency of the new Shakan innovations was proven. It is probable that, over time, the Zulus were able to hone and improve their encirclement tactics.{{sfn|Morris|1994|pp=61–67}}

Another [[Battle of Mhlatuze River|decisive battle]] eventually took place on the [[Mhlathuze River|Mhlatuze River]], at the confluence with the [[Mvuzane]] stream. In the two-day running battle, the Zulus inflicted a resounding defeat on their opponents. Shaka then led a fresh reserve some {{convert|70|mi|km|-1|order=flip}} to the royal [[kraal]] of Zwide, ruler of the Ndwandwe, and destroyed it. Zwide himself escaped with a handful of followers before falling afoul of a chieftain named Mjanji, ruler of a Babelu clan.{{sfn|Bishop|n.d.|p=61}} (He died in mysterious circumstances soon afterwards.) Zwide's general, [[Soshangane]] (of the [[Shangaan]]), moved north towards what is now Mozambique to inflict further damage on less resistant foes and take advantage of slaving opportunities, obliging Portuguese traders to pay tribute. Shaka later had to contend again with Zwide's son, Sikhunyane, in 1826.{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}}

Shaka granted permission to Europeans to enter Zulu territory on rare occasions. In the mid-1820s, [[Henry Francis Fynn]] provided medical treatment to the king after an assassination attempt by a rival tribe member hidden in a crowd. To show his gratitude, Shaka permitted European settlers to enter and operate in the Zulu kingdom. Shaka observed several demonstrations of European technology and knowledge, but he held that the Zulu way was superior to that of the foreigners.{{sfn|Morris|1994|pp=17–69}}