African Kingdoms

Protectorate of Swaziland (British Empire) (Africa)
AD 1894 - 1968

South African States All Modern States All African States Early Africa (Intro) Egypt

For long centuries Africa was largely unknown to Europeans, until a spirit of exploration took hold in the late fifteenth century and firm trading links could be established. The growing European powers of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries gradually stepped up their interest in Africa, from maintaining trading interests to large-scale slave trading and then to increasing imperial controls over vast territories.

Such territories often contained multiple indigenous clan states, kingdoms, or even empires, but none stood for long against European firepower or political manoeuvring. In South Africa the primary early influence was from Dutch settlers, or Boers. Later interest came from Britain and trading interests which gave rise to a British overseas empire.

The British entered South Africa through the 'Cape Colony' which it seized from the Dutch in 1795. Colonial expansion followed into areas such as Natal and Zululand in the nineteenth century. This forced Boer farmers also to push eastwards and north-eastwards. Beginning in 1876 a number of Boers from Transvaal seemingly purchased land from the Swazi king, Umbandino, forming the 'Little Free State' in 1886. This was incorporated into Transvaal in 1891.

In conventions of July and August 1890, and again on 8 November 1893, the Transvaal and British governments confirmed the independence of Swaziland. However, Britain agreed to the creation of the Transvaal 'Protectorate of Swaziland' on 19 December 1894 without it being incorporated into Transvaal. Internal independence largely remained guaranteed, and Swaziland was externally handled in the form of a small semi-independent state.

The Boer Wars which ultimately decided European control of Transvaal established Britain as master of the entire region by 1902. The formation of the 'Union of South Africa' in 1910 cemented this control. To the north-west was today's Angola, the colonial Portuguese holdings there within Portuguese Angola, and the last embers of the fading 'Independent State of Congo'.

Principal author(s): Page created: Page last updated:

(Information by Peter Kessler and the John De Cleene Archive, with additional information 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 Times Atlas of World History (Maplewood, 1979), from The Horizon History of the British Empire, Steven W Sears (Time-Life Books, 1973), and from External Links: Encyclopaedia Britannica, and Swaziland (Flags of the World), and Swaziland (Rulers.org).)

1894

Queen regent of the Swazi since 1889.

1895 - 1899

Paramount chief of the Swazi state.

1899

In between gaining control of Sudan under joint Anglo-Egyptian governance (in 1898) and gaining Bornu following the defeat of the Zobier dynasty (in 1900), Great Britain conquers Transvaal, thereby ending Swaziland's briefly-held status (since 1894) as the 'Protectorate of Swaziland' within Transvaal.

A British newspaper piece around 1900 depicted the 'savage potentate', probably Queen Lobatsibeni Gwamile Mdluli, being able to cross a stream without getting wet thanks to her loyal servants

1899 - 1921

Queen regent of the Swazi.

1902 - 1910

With the Boer Wars having decided Britain's mastery of South Africa in 1902, Swaziland becomes a British protectorate in 1903. The formation of the 'Union of South Africa' in 1910 cements this control, although the 'Transvaal Colony' is granted self-government in 1906.

1921 - 1968

Paramount chief of the Swazi state & Swaziland in 1968.

1941

Sobhuza is recognised as a native authority in 1941, while Britain is focussed intently on beginning the Second World War fightback against Nazi Germany. Until now, following the German invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939, Britain has been on the back foot.

Born on 22 July 1899, Sobhuza II Ngwenyama became an infant king on 10 December 1899 at the age of four months, albeit with a regent in the form of his grandmother until he reached maturity, eventually becoming the world's longest-reigning historical monarch

1967

Swaziland now becomes autonomous as part of Britain's process of relinquishing control of its imperial holdings. The war had largely wiped out its financial power while the military had quickly been reduced in scale following victory in 1945. The will to retain colonial holdings no longer exists.

1968

Having been granted formal independence from British oversight in the form of the 'Protectorate of Swaziland', and within the Commonwealth, the newly-independent nation state of Swaziland adopts a new constitution.