Battle of Isandlwana
1879 battle of the Anglo-Zulu War / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Battle of Isandlwana (alternative spelling: Isandhlwana) on 22 January 1879 was the first major encounter in the Anglo-Zulu War between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom. Eleven days after the British invaded Zululand in Southern Africa, a Zulu force of some 20,000 warriors attacked a portion of the British main column consisting of approximately 1,800 British, colonial and native troops with approximately 350 civilians.[12] The Zulus were equipped mainly with the traditional assegai iron spears and cow-hide shields,[13] but also had a number of muskets and antiquated rifles.[14][15]
Battle of Isandlwana | |||||||
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Part of the Anglo-Zulu War | |||||||
Lieutenants Melvill and Coghill flee the camp with the Queen's Colour of the 1st battalion of the 24th Regiment | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
British Empire | Zulu Empire | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Overall commander: |
Overall commander: | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
No. 2 Column: |
Zulu Impi: | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Total: Over 1,300 killed:[4]
Material losses: 2 artillery pieces captured | Total: 3,000–5,000 | ||||||
The British and colonial troops were armed with the modern[16] Martini–Henry breechloading rifle and two 7-pounder mountain guns deployed as field guns,[17][18] as well as a Hale rocket battery. The Zulus had a vast disadvantage in weapons technology,[19] but they greatly outnumbered the British and ultimately overwhelmed[20] them, killing over 1,300 troops, including all those out on the forward firing line. The Zulu army suffered anywhere from 1,000 to 3,000 killed.[21][22]
The battle was a decisive victory for the Zulus and caused the defeat of the first British invasion of Zululand.[23] The British Army had suffered its worst defeat against an indigenous foe equipped with vastly inferior military technology.[19] Isandlwana resulted in the British taking a much more aggressive approach in the Anglo–Zulu War, leading to a heavily reinforced second invasion,[24] and the destruction of King Cetshwayo's hopes of a negotiated peace.[25]