Battle of Blood River

The Battle of Blood River or Voortrekker-Zulu War was fought on the bank of the Ncome River, in what is today KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa between 464 Voortrekkers ("Pioneers"), led by Andries Pretorius, and an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 Zulu. Estimations of casualties amounted to over 3,000 of King Dingane's soldiers dead, including two Zulu princes competing with Prince Mpande for the Zulu throne. Three Voortrekker commando members were lightly wounded, including Pretorius.

The year 1838 was the most difficult period for the Voortrekkers from when they left the Cape Colony, till the end of the Great Trek. They faced many difficulties and much bloodshed before they found freedom and a safe homeland in their Republic of Natalia. This was only achieved after defeating the Zulu Kingdom, at the Battle of Blood River, which took place on Sunday 16 December 1838. This battle would not have taken place if the Zulu King had honoured the agreement that he had made with the Voortrekkers to live together peacefully. The Zulu king knew that they outnumbered the Voortrekkers and decided to overthrow them and that led to the Battle of Blood River.

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1838  Wikimedia, Wikidata
iMpi yaseNcome
battle, South Africa, 

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Location: -28.1053, 30.5417, KML, Cluster Map, Maps,
3 places

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1838-12-16T00:00:00Z

1838-12-16T00:00:00Z

1838 Battle of Blood River

1879-01-22T00:00:00Z

1879-01-23T00:00:00Z

1879 Battle of Rorke's Drift

1899-10-20T00:00:00Z

1899-10-20T00:00:00Z

1899 Battle of Talana Hill

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Frameless

Bart Pretorius (1803 – 1889), a Voortrekker and pioneer

Magistrate Johan Bernhard Rudolph

Evert Frederik Potgieter (1799-1863)

Marthinus Jacobus Oosthuyse(n), a Voortrekker

Screenshot from digital copy of 1916 film De Voortrekkers directed by Harold M Shaw

Affaire du Dimanche (16 décembre 1838) – Guerre des Amazoulous – from Voyage dans l'Afrique Australe (1847)

G.S. Smithard; J.S. Skelton (1909) - The Women Loaded the Empty Guns

Voortrekker monument l'entrée du bâtiment, Pretoria

South Africa-Voortrekker Monument-Grietjie02

South Africa-Voortrekker Monument-Grietjie01

Type	Subtype	Date	Description	Notes	Source
event	armed conflict	1838	Battle of Blood River	battle	Wikidata
event	armed conflict	1879	Battle of Rorke's Drift	British Empire, battle, Zulu Kingdom	Wikidata
event	armed conflict	1899	Battle of Talana Hill	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, battle	Wikidata
commons	image		Bart Pretorius (1803 – 1889), a Voortrekker and pioneer		Commons
commons	image		Magistrate Johan Bernhard Rudolph		Commons
commons	image		Evert Frederik Potgieter (1799-1863)		Commons
commons	image		Marthinus Jacobus Oosthuyse(n), a Voortrekker		Commons
commons	image		Screenshot from digital copy of 1916 film De Voortrekkers directed by Harold M Shaw		Commons
commons	image		Affaire du Dimanche (16 décembre 1838) – Guerre des Amazoulous – from Voyage dans l'Afrique Australe (1847)		Commons
commons	image		G.S. Smithard; J.S. Skelton (1909) - The Women Loaded the Empty Guns		Commons
commons	image		Voortrekker monument l'entrée du bâtiment, Pretoria		Commons
commons	image		South Africa-Voortrekker Monument-Grietjie02		Commons
commons	image		South Africa-Voortrekker Monument-Grietjie01		Commons