22 Facts About Mswati II

Mswati II is considered to be one of the greatest fighting kings of Eswatini.

Mswati II was the son of Sobhuza I and Tsandzile Ndwandwe who after ruling as Queen Mother became Queen Regent after the death of her son.

When Mswati II's armies attacked organized forces of other Bantu tribes or nations, the goal was initially plunder in the form of cattle and captives, rather than incorporation into one political unit.

Mswati II greatly extended the boundaries of the Swazi territory beyond that of the present state with military outposts and royal villages outposts such as Embhuleni, on the upper Komati River at the foot of the Mkhingoma Mountains in Badplaas, Mekemeke near the Mbayiyane Mountains, situated east of Mantibovu and Malelane in Nkomazi.

Ingwenyama Mswati II was born as a son of Somhlolo or Sobhuza I and Queen Tsandzile Ndwandwe, the daughter of Zwide Ndwandwe, the leader of the powerful Ndwandwe clan south of the Pongola River.

When Mswati II ascended to the throne, his predecessor left him a country claimed to be reaching modern day Barberton in the north, Carolina in the west, Pongola River in the south and Lubombo Mountains in the east.

Mswati II selected, as his hunting ground, the prosperous tribal lands of the various groups to the north of Eswatini.

Mswati II became rich and his crack regiments, such as the Nyatsi, Umbhula and the Malalane, brought terror to African homes as far afield as Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Mswati II's crack regiments were used more importantly against emakhandzambili chiefs in Swazi territory and others outside Eswatini.

King Mswati II 2nd used his force to influence political events in the Gaza kingdom, east of the Lubombo mountains.

Mswati II defended his country against Zulu encroachment with great determination.

Mswati II built a line of military outposts from west to east along the 'Little Crocodile River'.

Mswati II moved his administrative capital and military posts to Hhohho, on the northern bank of the Mlumati River and continued his attacks on the various tribes, which include the Bapedi, the Baphalaborwa, the Lobedu near Duiwelskloof, the Venda of Zoutpansberg and as far afield as the Great Zimbabwe and the plains of Mozambique.

Bryant writes that in this way Mswati II gradually extended borders, increased his subjects and added to the wealth and strength of his kingdom.

Malambule who was Mswati II's half-brother, held the reins of government until the young Mswati II became king of Eswatini in 1840.

When Mswati II found out about the cattle, he sent his men to punish Malambule.

King Mswati II 2nd established loyal groups in sparsely populated chiefdoms under their own leadership, and in others, he placed royal princes and trusted commoners.

Mswati II died at his royal residence at Hhohho in August, 1865, aged about forty.

Mswati II was buried at the royal burial hill at Mbilaneni, next to his father and great-grandfather.

The death of Mswati II ended the era of Swazi conquest, territorial expansion and unification of various peoples into one nation.

Mswati II died in 1874 without any children and Mbandzeni became the new King in June 1875.

Mswati II died in 1895 and is buried on the Leolo mountains.