NationStates Jolt Archive

Information about the Zulu Empire:

Unofficial name: Zululand.
Leader: Shaka Zulu.

Current Population: 750,000.
Capital City: Zimbabwe.
Cities: 2.
Territories Held: Bantuland.

Cities (In order of founding dates):

Zimbabwe: 150 B.C.
Ulundi: 8 B.C.

Technologies known: Agriculture, Mining, Road-building, Bronze Working, Alphabet, Writing, and Irrigation.

Technology being researched: Iron Working.

Military Units: (1 Unit = 10,000 people)

3x Impi. (Infantry unit, Zulu Unique Unit)
1x Settler. (Settlers who construct cities and settle in new places)
1x Worker. (Industrious men and women who build roads, mines, and the like)

Unit in production: Boats.

Zulu Unique Unit: Impi.

Upon coming to power, one of Shaka's first acts was to reorganize the Zulu army. Shaka first rearmed his men with long-bladed, short-hafted stabbing assegais, which forced them to fight at close quarters. He then instituted a regimental system based on age groups, quartered at separate kraals (villages) and distinguished by uniform markings on shields, headdress and ornaments. And he developed standard tactics, which the Zulu used in every battle thereafter. Each impi was divided into four groups. The strongest, termed the "chest," closed with the enemy to pin him down, while two "horns" raced out to encircle and attack the foe from behind. A reserve, known as the "loins," was seated nearby, with its back to the battle so as not to become unduly excited, and could be sent to reinforce any part of the ring if the enemy threatened to break out. Besides their prowess in battle, the Zulu warriors could cover tremendous distances, an impi consistently covered 50 miles a day, living off grain and cattle requisitioned from the kraals it passed and accompanied by young boys who carried the warriors' sleeping mats and cooking pots.

Humble Beginnings.
150 B.C.


A lone boy was lounging inside a straw hut, a perfect shelter from the sweltering heat outside. The heat literally created shimmering waves across the landscape of shrubbery, tall grass, and scatterings of trees. The boy groaned as he turned over in his hammock.

When will Wel be back?

The boy turned and tossed several more times, trying to find a comfortable position. After several minutes, he gave up, deciding to go out and look for Wel. He quickly exited the hut, and sped towards Wel's hut on the opposite side of the small village, wanting to spend as little time as possible inside the heat. The boy entered the hut, and noticed Wel's mother working over a pottery wheel.

"Where is Wel?"

The mother shook her head.

"I do not know. He left several hours ago. He said he was going hunting."

The boy nodded his appreciation and ran out of Wel's hut back towards his own hut. The boy grabbed his hunting equipment and an antelope-skin canteen of water. The boy ran out into the blistering heat in search of his friend Wel. Several hours passed as the boy made his way towards a small stream nearby. Suddenly, an ominous cloud cover began drifting across the sky, and the boy could hear the booms of thunder.

Suddenly, a bolt of lighting erupted from the sky, hitting the ground several dozen meters in front of the boy. Once the bright flash of light dissipated, a ghost-like figure could be seen standing at the spot of the bolt of lighting. The ghost began speaking in a whisper that the boy strained to hear.

"Shaka of the Zulu, you have the gift. At your zenith, seek the water, for it shall reveal the future as true. The future beckons you and your people, as enemies far more powerful than the raging lion and more cunning than the sly crocodile awaits your people. Look towards the rock as a source of strength and the water as your salvation. Remember that."

The ghost began to fade away, as a beam of light slammed into Shaka, knocking him unconscious. When Shaka woke up, he could clearly remember the ghost's words, yet it remained as a state between a dream and a reality. He could not recall whether it was a dream or not, yet he could not deny its prophetic nature. Shaka returned to the village and found his friend, Wel, back safe and sound. Shaka began on a path that would irrevocably change his people and the entire planet as he decided to pursue a position of leadership within his village and then his tribe.

A century and half later, an seemingly immortal Shaka was able to unify his people into a single tribe with a clear purpose. Dominate Africa.

First Expansion.
1 A.D.

King Shaka was pacing throughout his hut, surrounded by several dozen elite Impi guards. He took a glance at a rudimentary map etched out on a long dead animal's hide. The King smiled as his eye wandered from the outline of a large hut with a spear rising out of it along with a word "Zimbabwe" under it towards a smaller hut with the word "Ulundi" scrawled across it. The "Ulundi" hut depicted Zululand's newly founded city right on the shore of the great big water.

The ghost's words echoed through Shaka's mind.

"Look towards the rock as a source of strength and the water as your salvation. Remember that."

Shaka scrunched his brow in concentration.

The ghost said that water will sustain us. Perhaps it meant that my people should establish cities along the coast. But I wonder, what lies beyond the great big water? Hmm! Maybe... maybe thats just it. Perhaps the ghost was implying that there may be something beyond the great big water? Riches? Land? The giant powerful enemy that is stronger than a raging lion, yet more cunning than a sly crocodile? I cannot stand around and simply do nothing. The Zulu people must know what awaits them in the water.

The spirit also said "At your zenith, seek the water, for it shall reveal the future as true." What could this mean? I think the only way to reveal the answer to this riddle as well as the "Water is your salvation" prophecy is to explore the great big water. To do that, new cities must be built next to the great big water, as Ulundi is, and begin building big boats to explore the great big water.

Hmm, I need to think of a better name for the great big water. However, I cannot think of one right now. Ugh. I must make a new edict for my people. There appears to be fertile lands to the north of Zimbabwe in the dense forests. My Impi explorers have sent back messages of large mountains in that general vicnity. The spirit also said "Seek the rock as a source of strength." and the mountains are pretty big rocks. Perhaps if I ordered a new city to be built there, then perhaps the answer to that particular riddle may reveal itself.

Yes, it must be done. A new city must be built to the north of Zimbabwe, right at the foothills of these mountains. In addition, a road must be built to connect Zimbabwe, Ulundi, and the new city so that our people can move easily and freely between the three cities.

Shaka grunted to himself in satisification as he began sketching out his new plans to be put into action.

Zululand had just begun its first expansion in history.