Zulu Vanquished

The Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 has become synonymous with Britain's humiliating defeat at Isandlwana and the heroic defense of Rorke's Drift, where little more than 140 British soldiers kept over 3,000 Zulu warriors at bay. But these celebrated actions were only part of a campaign that lasted for more than six months and resulted in the Zulu Kingdom's destruction, leading to a decade of civil war. In Zulu Vanquished, Ron Lock and Peter Quantrill - authors of the critically acclaimed Zulu Victory - explore in unparalleled detail the events which not only led to the initial British defeat at Isandlwana, but, with King Cetshwayo's failure to follow up his victory and invade Natal, allowed Chelmsford the opportunity to launch his second invasion of Zululand. In this perceptive study, Lock and Quantrill expose the political maneuvering and strategic incompetence that resulted. They describe the disastrous Hlobane Mountain attack, with new primary-source material throwing a fresh slant on Wood's conduct. This is followed by the decisive battles of Kambula, Gingindlovu and the Relief of Eshowe, and the Prince Imperial's death. Finally, we are led to the eventual torching of the Zulu capital of Ondini on the Ulundi plain. Founded on a wealth of first-hand accounts, some published for the first time, as well as the authors' intimate knowledge of the history and terrain of Zululand, Zulu Vanquished is a groundbreaking work that sheds light on the wider Anglo-Zulu conflict and will prove indispensable for scholars and enthusiasts alike.