Rozwi Empire

Rozvi Empire
Rozvi
Kingdom

 

1660–1866
Capital Danamombe
Languages Kalanga-Rozwi
Religion Belief in Mwari
Government Monarchy
Changamire
   c. 1660 – c. 1695 Changamire Dombo(first)
  1831–1866 Changamire Tohwechipi (last)
History
   Rozvi conquest of Butua 1660
   Ndebele conquest of Rozvi 1866
Area
   1700[1] 624,000 km² (240,928 sq mi)
Population
   1700[2] est. 1,000,000 
     Density 1.6 /km²  (4.2 /sq mi)
Part of a series on the
History of Zimbabwe

Ancient history

Mapungubwe Kingdom c.10751220
Zimbabwe Kingdom c.12201450
Mutapa Kingdom c.14501760
Torwa dynasty c.14501683

White settlement pre-1923

Rozwi Empire c.16841834
Matabeleland 18381894
Rudd Concession 1888
BSA Company rule 1890–1923
First Matabele War 18931894
Second Matabele War 18961897
World War I involvement 19141918
Colony of Southern Rhodesia 19231980
World War II involvement 19391945
Malayan Emergency
involvement
19481960
Federation with Northern
Rhodesia and Nyasaland
19531963
Rhodesian Bush War 19641979
1965
Rhodesia under UDI 19651979
Zimbabwe-Rhodesia JuneDec 1979
Dec 1979
British Dependency 19791980
Zimbabwe 1980present
Gukurahundi 19821987
Second Congo War 19982003
Zimbabwe portal

The Rozvi Empire (1684–1834) was established on the Zimbabwean Plateau by Changamire Dombo.

History

In 1693, Portuguese militia tried to take control of the gold trade in the interior of Africa by invading the Rozvi empire. The Rozwi were able to successfully defeat these attacks and maintain their control of the gold mines until their empire collapsed. The Rozvi were led by Changamire Dombo,[3] whose power was based in Butua in the southwest of Africa. The Rozwi were formed from several Shona states that dominated the plateau of present-day Zimbabwe at the time. They drove the Portuguese off the central plateau, and the Europeans retained only a nominal presence at one of the fairs in the eastern highlands.

Changamire brought the whole of present-day Zimbabwe under his control, forming a polity that became known as the Rozwi Empire. This fierce tribe of warriors was to be known as the Rozvi or baLozwi people.[4] They established their capital at Danamombe, also known as Dhlo-Dhlo (the Ndebele name).

Many sources see the Rozvi not as a recovering segment of the Mutapa people, but in fact a people in its own right emerging under the wing of the Mutapa (compare the rise of the Khumalo from under the Zulu nation). The administrative power of the Mutapa began to fall to control the whole empire, and tributaries began to exert more independence.

A leader of the people of guruuswa, given the title Changamire and known as Dombo, became independent from the Mutapa. When the Portuguese tried to colonise, Changamire Dombo led rebellions against their rule. The area of the Rozwi empire fluctuated. Its influence extended over much of present-day Zimbabwe, westward into Botswana, and southward into northeastern South Africa.

Many tales identify Dombo ('Rock') as Chikura Wayembeu. Modern scholars agree that this was a confusion with another leader of a different people.

Technology and economy

The Rozwi chiefs revived the tradition of building in stone and constructed impressive cities throughout the southwest. Polychrome pottery was also emblematic of its culture.[4]

The economic power of the Rozwi Empire was based on cattle wealth and farming, with significant gold mining. They established trade with Arab traders, in which materials such as gold, copper, and ivory were exchanged for luxury goods.

Records from the Portuguese have shown that the Rozwi were expert military strategists. They were noted as using the cow-horn formation years before the great Zulu leader Shaka did in the 19th century. With spears, bows, and arrows, the aggressive Rozwi took over the plateau.[4]

See also

References

  1. Cornell, James. Lost Lands and Forgotten People Sterling Publishing Company, Incorporated, 1978, ISBN 978-0806939261 page 24
  2. Cornell, James. Lost Lands and Forgotten People Sterling Publishing Company, Incorporated, 1978, ISBN 978-0806939261 page 24
  3. Isichei, Elizabeth Allo, A History of African Societies to 1870 Cambridge University Press, 1997, ISBN 978-0521455992 page 435
  4. 1 2 3 "Rozwi". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
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