THE BACKGROUND
In 1878, the British government issued an ultimatum to Zulu King Cetshwayo, pictured, whose powerful army and ambition were considered a threat to British interests. The demand — to dismantle his army within 30 days — would be impossible to meet and gave the British a pretext to invade Zululand, which they did in three separate columns in January 1879. The central column of 4 500 men, under Lord Chelmsford, crossed the Buffalo River near Rorke’s Drift on January 10 and set up camp days later on the plain below Isandlwana mountain. On January 22, Chelmsford learnt there was a large Zulu force east of the camp. Thinking this was their main army, he took most of his men and set off in pursuit, leaving roughly
1 700 to guard the wagons and supplies at Isandlwana.