Dingane and Mhlangana killed their half-brother Shaka in 1828, and their brother Mpande took the Zulu throne with Boer help in 1840

Shaka ruled the Zulu kingdom. In September 1828, while his armies were away, his bodyguard Mbopha and his half-brothers Dingane and Mhlangana stabbed him near his barracks at Dukuza. His body was buried in a grain pit. Dingane took the throne. He and his aunt Mkabayi then had Mhlangana and Mbopha killed^†. Other half-brothers were killed. Mpande, who showed no interest in power, was allowed to live^†. In September 1839 Mpande refused Dingane's demand for support in a war against the Swazi. He led thousands of followers into the Boer republic of Natalia. Boer leaders Andries Pretorius and Gert Rudolph agreed to back him. On 29 January 1840 Mpande's army under Nongalaza defeated Dingane's army at Maqongqo. Dingane fled and was killed by a party of Swazi and Nyawo. The Boers proclaimed Mpande king on 6 February 1840 and left with 36,000 head of cattle^†. On 14 February 1840 Pretorius proclaimed a border running from St Lucia Bay, taking a large area for the Boer republic^†. Mpande ruled until his death in 1872, the longest reign of any Zulu king. His son Cetshwayo took power after defeating his half-brother Mbuyazi, whom Mpande had come to favour, at Ndondakusuka in 1856.