Prince Mbilini(popularly known as Mbilini waMswati; c.1843 -1879) was a Swazi prince and military commander. He was the eldest son of King Mswati II with his first wife LaMakhasiso Dvuba. [1]
| Mbilini waMswati | |
|---|---|
| Swazi prince and military commander | |
| Pretender to the Swazi throne | |
| Reign | c. 1865 |
| Predecessor | King Mswati II |
| Successor | King Mbandzeni |
| Born | 1843 Kingdom of Swaziland |
| Died | April 5, 1879 Hlobane, Zululand |
| Spouse | Princess Temave Buhlebendzalo Mbokane |
| House | Dlamini |
| Father | King Mswati II |
| Mother | LaMakhasiso Dvuba |
Despite being regarded as his father's favourite son, he could not become King of Swaziland because of custom that a son of a first wife could not be installed. [1] [2] Mbilini was an accomplished military commander and in 1879 he defeated a smaller British force at the Battle of Intombe, during the Anglo-Zulu War. [3]
Prince Mbilini was born in 1843, the eldest son of King Mswati II by his first wife LaMakhasiso Dvuba. [1] From an early age he was said to have inherited his father’s military flair, and one rather colourful missionary account suggested that at the age of 12 he had been wrapped in the fresh pelt of a savage dog, in the belief that he would assume some of its ferocity. [1]
Mbilini was apparently King Mswati II’s favourite son and when the king died in 1865, Mbilini attempted unsuccessfully to assert a claim to the Swazi succession. [2]
In April 1866, facing opposition from rival princes and royal councillors, he fled Swaziland and travelled first to Emjindini, Nelspruit and then Lydenburg [4] seeking refuge among the Lydenburg Boers in the South African Republic. [1] In 1867, he left the Lydenburg, passing through Carolina and Ermelo to Mkhondo until he reached Zululand where King Cetshwayo allowed him and his followers to settle. [4]
Cetshwayo permitted Mbilini to settle in the Ntombe valley, where he established homesteads near Luneburg and later on the southern slopes of Hlobane. From these bases, Mbilini accumulated followers and cattle, forging alliances with local leaders such as Manyanyoba Khubeka and elements of the abaQulusi. [5]
Between 1874 and 1878, Mbilini led a series of raids into the Transvaal and southern Swaziland. Although Cetshwayo publicly distanced himself from these actions when challenged by Boer authorities, Mbilini’s activities served Zulu strategic interests by destabilising the border region and testing Boer. [1]
Mbilini was an accomplished military commander. In 1879, he defeated a smaller British force at the Battle of Intombe, during the Anglo-Zulu War. [3]
In 1877. he made his settlement on the Hlobane mountain, a natural fortress out of the reach of his enemies. From there, he attacked the advancing British troops at Zungvini Mountain in January of 1879, and defeated them in March at Intombe and Hlobane. He was killed in a skirmish with British troops on April 5th, 1879. [6] [7]