Background Battle of Blood River

the caronade used during battle on improvised cariage andries pretorius brought him cape.

the trekkers—called voortrekkers after 1880—had defend after betrayal murder of chief trekker leader piet retief , entire entourage, , ten days later weenen massacre not soul spared.

dingane had agreed that, if retief recover approximately 700 head of cattle stolen zulus tlokwa, let them have land upon establish farms.

on 6 february 1838, 2 days after signing of negotiated land settlement deal between retief , dingane @ umgungundlovu, written jan gerritze bantjes included trekker access port natal in britain had imperial interests, dingane invited retief , party royal residence beer-drinking farewell. accompanying request surrender of trekker muskets @ entrance taken normal protocol when appearing before king. while trekkers being entertained dingane s dancing warriors/soldiers, dingane accused visiting party of witchcraft , ordered men: bambani aba thakathi! (catch wizards!).. dingane s soldiers proceeded impale retief s men, lastly clubbing death retief, while leaving natal treaty in handbag intact.

immediately after umgungundlovu massacre, dingane sent out impis (regiments) attack several trekker encampments @ night time, killing estimated 500 men, women, children, , servants, notably @ blaukraans.

help arrived farmers in cape colony, , trekkers in natal subsequently requested pro-independence andries pretorius leave cape colony, in order defend voortrekkers had settled in natal.

after battle of blood river, dingane-retief treaty found on retief s bodily remains, providing driving force overt alliance against dingane between prince mpande , pretorius.