Sobhuza I.

Sobhuza I ( * 1780, † 1839; well Ngwane IV ) was from about 1805 until his death in high chief ( officially: Ngwenyama, German: "Lion " ) of Ngwane, the future of Swaziland.

Life

The later Sobhuza I. was the son of the High Chief Ndvungunye (later Mavuso II, also called Zikhodze ) and his concubine Somnjalose Simelane, who belonged to the ruling Nkhosi - Dlamini clan, was born. His name was Somhlolo ( German " miracle "). To this day, September 6, the day of independence of Swaziland in 1968, when Somhlolo Day celebrated.

His life data are unclear, since they are based on oral tradition. His mother was not the main woman Lojiba, Somhlolo but was the head chief, because Lojiba had no male offspring.

At the beginning of Sobhuzas rule in what was then Ngwane kingdom in the south of present-day Swaziland, the people of the mighty Zulu Ndwandwe and on the southern border had to fight off. Under Sobhuza the official residences of the head chief family heading north were moved into the area around Lobamba. At the same time he submitted numerous smaller clans, so that the kingdom grew in importance. So Sobhuza I. is considered the founding father of Swaziland, even if the name of Swaziland was formed only by his son and successor Mswati II.

Sobhuza I. avoided armed conflict with European immigrants in the region. For him, the British granted the independence Ngwanes.

Sobhuza I. had three wives. Mswati II was a son of the first wife Sobhuzas.