Blood River
Blood River refers to the site of a significant battle that took place on December 16, 1838, during the conflict between Afrikaners and the Zulu Kingdom in present-day South Africa. Led by Andries Wilhelmus Jacobus Pretorius, a commando force of about 470 Afrikaners established a fortified position along the Ncome River and successfully defended against a much larger Zulu force of approximately 10,000 warriors. The battle showcased the use of European military tactics and firepower, as the Afrikaners were armed with guns and cannons, while the Zulu warriors were primarily equipped with traditional weapons such as spears. The aftermath of the battle was devastating for the Zulu, with estimates of around 3,000 casualties, leading to the river being named Blood River due to the extensive loss of life.
The victory was a pivotal moment for the Afrikaners, influencing their national identity and forming part of the narrative surrounding the Great Trek—a migration of Dutch-speaking settlers in search of autonomy. The defeat significantly weakened the Zulu Kingdom and contributed to a period of relative peace in the region that lasted for about forty years. This event remains a complex and sensitive topic in South African history, reflecting themes of colonialism, cultural conflict, and the legacy of violence.
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Subject Terms
Blood River
Type of action: Land battle in the Zulu Wars of Empire
Date: December 16, 1838
Location: Banks of the Ncome River (renamed Blood River by Europeans), a tributary to the Tugela River (125 miles west of Saint Lucia Bay, South Africa)
Combatants: 470 Afrikaners vs. 10,000 Zulus
Principal commander: Afrikaners, Andries Wilhelmus Jacobus Pretorius (1798–1853)
Result: Successful Afrikaner defense with nearly no casualties
On December 15, 1838, an Afrikaner commando force of about 470, led from Cape Colony by Andries Wilhelmus Jacobus Pretorius, arrived on the banks of the Ncome River, thus encroaching on Zulu chieftain Dingane’s Zulu Kingdom. The Afrikaners formed their 57 wagons into a tight laager and on December 16 faced repeated onslaughts from some 10,000 Zulu warriors—on foot and armed only with spears. The Afrikaners had at least one gun per man and two cannons and thus defeated the Zulus, with casualties amounting to less than a handful of wounded. About 3,000 Zulus were killed, washing the Ncome River red with blood—hence its European name.
Significance
The Afrikaner victory from a well-defended laager provides a classic example of the effectiveness of European discipline and firepower against overwhelming numbers of Africans armed only with spears and bravery. Such victories reaffirmed Europeans in their bias that they were superior to other cultures. For the Afrikaners in particular, the victory at Blood River marked a turn in their fortunes against the Zulus and proved a pivotal point in their subsequent national mythology of the Great Trek. The power of the Zulu Kingdom was split soon afterward, and relative peace was secured in the area for forty years.
Bibliography
Ross, Robert. A Concise History of South Africa. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1999.
Thompson, Leonard M. A History of South Africa. Rev. ed. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1995.
Welsh, Frank. A History of South Africa. London: Harper Collins, 1998.