African Kingdoms

Kings of Lemba for the House of Kinlaza (Northern Kinlaza) (Kongo Kingdom) (Africa)
AD 1669 - 1709

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By the second half of the seventeenth century the Kongo kingdom in Africa was approaching its third centennial. It dated back to 1375-1400, having emerged along the River Congo. Now largely forming the republic of Angola, the lands of Kongo were ruled by the manikongo ('king'). However, following the Battle of Mbwila (or Ulanga), the kingdom was involved in the long and brutal 'Civil War' period.

The Kimpanzu, with the support of Soyo, were often based at Mbamba Luvota. The rival Kinlaza held Mbula (or Lemba), to the south of the River Congo, and Nkondo in the upper Mbidizi/Lukunga system. A third house ruled in Kibangu, the Agua Rosada which was descended from both of the others. Soyo more or less became independent but regularly intervened in Kongo's affairs.

Defeat at the hands of the colonial Portuguese authorities of Portuguese Angola at Mbwila changed a good deal for the rulers of Kongo. Previously positions of power under the manikongo had fluctuated, sometimes changing titles and powers with each succession of manikonga, sometimes lasting for more than one succession.

During the civil war period there was little time or appetite for such 'fiddling'. Instead positions and titles largely became set in stone, forming a more certain courtly administration for generations to come. While many of the rulers in this period did not recognise the legitimacy of their rivals, the numbering was maintained by later generations to include them all.

Following the destruction of the capital in 1678, the Kinlaza retreated to their fortress at Mbula, otherwise known as Lemba, The legitimate Kinlaza king, Pedro III, continued his reign there for another eleven years, all the while opposing the Kimpanzu kings and eventually to be succeeded by João II.

(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information from Elite Women in the Kingdom of Kongo: Historical Perspectives on Women's Political Power, John Thornton (Journal of African History 47, 2006), from Mbanza Kongo/Sao Salvador: Kongo's Holy City, John Thornton, from Urban Africa; Histories in the Making (Africa's Urban Past), David M Anderson & Richard Rathbone (Eds), from Africana: The Encyclopaedia of the African and African American Experience, Anthony Appiah & Henry Louis Gates (Oxford University Press, 2005), from The New Atlas of African History, G S P Freeman-Grenville (Rex Collins, London, 1991), from Kongo's Incorporation into Angola: A Perspective from Kongo, John Thornton, from Times Atlas of World History (Maplewood, 1979), and from External Link: Encyclopaedia Britannica.)

1669 - 1680

Ruled Kongo (1669). Reduced reign at Lemba. Killed.

1678

São Salvador is sacked and destroyed by Pedro III from his base at Lemba as part of the chaos of the Civil War period. The act considerably weakens the country's centre to the benefit of the rival factions based on the kingdom's edge.

The Kibangu continue to rule a limited area from their own fortress, while Pedro III asserts his own authority around Lemba. Pedro is then assassinated in a controversial faked wedding which will haunt peace attempts for many years.

These oil on paper illustrations show the typical dress of Kongo's ambassadors to the Portuguese at Recife during the 1630s and 1640s, with little likely to have changed by the time of Pedro III

1680 - 1716

Brother. Died, ending the Lemba claim on Kongo.

1709

During the reign of João II Nzuzi a Ntamba at Lemba, Pedro IV of the Kibangu gains control over the entire kingdom following a notable defeat of João's forces.

Pedro initiates the period of 'Rotating Houses' in which rule will be held alternatively by the houses of Kinlaza and Kibangu. However, he is not regarded as a legitimate ruler by twentieth century descendants of the later manikongos.