Zulu War [15min]

The Zulu War that inspired films but little respect for British colonial diplomacy took place in 1879. Indirectly, the cause was the misjudgement of the colonial secretary Lord Carnarvon who believed Boers and British would come together to protect each other. "This Sceptred Isle: Empire" is a narrative history of the British Empire from Ireland in the 12th century to the independence of India in the 20th, told in 90 programmes written by historian Christopher Lee and narrated by actor Juliet Stevenson. (You may listen again online to the five most recent episodes of "Empire".)

The commissioner tasked with the job of implementing the Carnarvon plan (Carnarvon was about to be succeeded by Sir Michael Hicks Beech who didn't think Africa worth fighting for) was Sir Bartle Frere. His reputation in India was that of a sound and determined administrator. In Africa, he failed.

His so-called Zulu expert, Theophilus Shepstone, had annexed the Transvaal. Shepstone had supported the boundary claims of the Zulus but changed his mind even though it remained clear that his first analysis was correct and told Bartle Frere that the Zulus posed a threat to the whole region.

The home government wanted a diplomatic settlement. Frere ignored instructions and authorised the January 1879 invasion of Zululand.

On 22 January three columns of the British invasion ran short of ammunition and were decimated at Isandhlwana. Later that day between 3,000 and 4,000 Zulu's attacked the British position at Rorke's Drift. In spite of great losses, the British held on. There was after that day what is generally accepted as a despicable attempt by the British Establishment to blame a junior officer, Colonel Anthony William Durnford (killed in action) for the incompetence of their general Frederick Thesiger (later Lord Chelmsford).

However brave the Zulus under the celebrated leader Cetshwayo (he never followed up his victory at Isandhlwana) the British forced a defeat by July that year and Zululand was split into 13 districts. In 1881 some of it was given to the Boers in the Transvaal and the rest became part of British Natal.