Sekhukhune I (Matsebe; circa 1814 – 13 August 1882) was the paramount King of the Marota , more commonly known as the Bapedi (Pedi people), from 21 September 1861 until his assassination on 13 August 1882 by his rival and half-brother, Mampuru II . As the Pedi paramount leader he was faced with political challenges from Voortrekkers (Boer settlers), the independent South African Republic (Dutch: Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek ), the British Empire , and considerable social change caused by Christian missionaries .
56-537: Following the death of his father, King Sekwati , on 20 September 1861, Sekhukhune successfully defended his right to the throne against his half-brother Mampuru II and heir apparent with the support of his Matuba regiment. Despite his victory, Sekhukhune adhered to the serota tradition and allowed Mampuru to peacefully leave the Bapedi territory. His other known siblings were; Legolwana, Johannes Dinkwanyane , and Kgoloko. Sekhukhune married Legoadi IV in 1862, and lived on
112-588: A Fellow of the Royal Society as well as was high steward of Oxford University . He was also a prominent freemason , having been initiated in the Westminster and Keystone Lodge. He served as Pro Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England from 1874 to 1890. With his permission a number of subsequently founded lodges bore his name in their titles. Carnarvon became a Freemason in 1856, joining
168-495: A 'child' near a native settlement at Steelpoort, Conrad Von Schlickman then ordered the execution of both the women and the 'child'. According to a letter from one of the volunteers, the Lydenburg Volunteer Corps had originally encountered three women, and the child was, in fact, a baby. Despite the protests of the author of the letter, Von Schlickmann's mercenaries had opened fire immediately upon encountering
224-424: A coat or not; but you will be kind enough to put this on, and fit yourself to it. If it should happen to be too long in the sleeves, or ridiculously short in the back, I may be able to shift a button a few inches, and I am at least unalterably determined that my name shall be stamped on the loop you hang it up by. The confederation idea was dropped when Carnarvon resigned in 1878, in opposition to Disraeli's policy on
280-645: A mountain stronghold, as his base of operation. Through his skillful leadership and astute diplomacy, Sekwati managed to reunite the Pedi people and consolidate various chiefdoms under his rule, eventually becoming the paramount chief. Under Sekwati's leadership, the Pedi were on the path to establishing a formidable kingdom. However, their progress faced challenges with the expansion of white settlers in southern Africa, which imposed limitations on their independence. In an effort to secure peace and prosperity, Sekwati maintained diplomatic ties with neighboring groups, including
336-528: A mountain, now known as Thaba Leolo or Leolo Mountains, which he fortified. To strengthen his kingdom and guard against European colonization, he had his young subjects work in white mines and on farms so that their salaries could be used to buy guns from the Portuguese in Delagoa Bay , as well as livestock. Sekhukhune fought two notable wars. The first war was successfully fought in 1876, against
392-505: A result, some Pedi fugitives managed to regroup and continue their resistance. By the turn of the 19th century, the Pedi had undergone significant changes in their political landscape. Chief Thulare emerged as a powerful leader and established an empire with its capital, Manganeng, situated on the Steelpoort River . This period marked the ascendancy of the Pedi, who became a ruling caste under Chief Thulare's leadership. However,
448-660: A statesman, his interest in innovation, geometry, the Enlightenment , science, the Scientific Revolution and the world. "BURGHCLERE – Considerable amount of interest has been excited in this locality on the subject of Cheap Dwellings for the Working Classes, owing to a report that the Earl of Carnarvon was about to start the new system of building houses in concrete. His Lordship has already commenced
504-552: A system of confederation on the various states of Southern Africa. The situation in southern Africa was complicated, not least in that several of its states were still independent and so required military conquest before being confederated. The confederation plan was also highly unpopular among ordinary southern Africans. The Prime Minister of the Cape Colony (by far the largest and most influential state in southern Africa) firmly rejected confederation under Britain, saying that it
560-502: A trail of wars across Southern Africa. Humiliating defeats also followed at Isandlwana and Majuba Hill . Of the resultant wars, the initially disastrous invasion of Zululand ultimately ended in success, but the First Boer War of 1880 had even more far-reaching consequences for the subcontinent. Francis Reginald Statham , editor of The Natal Witness in the 1870s, famously summed up the local reaction to Carnarvon's plan for
616-522: Is Thobejane wa Maripane and the other two) , who were killed during raids by Mzilikazi 's Matabele . To rebuild the empire, he moved his capital from Phiring to Thaba Mosego. The Campaigns against the Pedi were a series of military endeavors conducted by the Swazi in an attempt to subdue the Pedi people. Despite their efforts, the Swazi were unable to conquer the Pedi's well-fortified mountain strongholds. As
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#1732772371440672-625: Is to be done with Tall's Patent Concrete Machine, and is not expected to cost more than 6L. [£6] per rod standard thickness [a rod is 5 meters, or 5.5 yard, 16.5 feet]. Many buildings of various descriptions have already been erected on this principle throughout the country, and competent judges have pronounced them the exact kind of building that is wanted. They are said to have a neat appearance when completed, and are not only stronger and more durable than brickwork, but warmer and consequently more dry and healthy." Reading Mercury , Saturday, 30 October 1869. Lord Carnarvon married twice. His first marriage
728-570: The Eastern Question , but the bitter conflicts caused by Carnarvon's policy continued, culminating eventually in the Second Boer War and the annexation of the two Boer republics. On his party's return to power in 1885, Carnarvon became Lord Lieutenant of Ireland . His short period of office, memorable only for a conflict on a question of personal veracity between himself and Charles Stewart Parnell , as to his negotiations with
784-640: The Griqualand West diamond fields, including the likes of Gunn of Gunn, Alfred Aylward, Knapp, Woodford, Rubus, Adolf Kuhneisen, Dr. James Edward Ashton, Otto von Streitencron, George Eckersley, Bailey, Captain Reidel and others from America, Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, Austria and other European countries. In lieu of any salary or supplies from the Volksraad, the Lydenburg Volunteer Corps were instead issued with promissory notes, and each volunteer
840-614: The Pretoria Convention was signed, which stipulated in Article 23 that Sekhukhune would be released. Because his capital had been burned to the ground, he left for a place called Manoge, where he was assisted by Johannes August Winter , a missionary from the Berlin Missionary Society . On 13 August 1882, Sekhukhune was murdered by his half-brother Mampuru II , who claimed to be the lawful king. Mampuru
896-495: The Pretoria Supreme Court . On 23 January, 1884, Marishane was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for providing temporary refuge to Mampuru and inciting unrest. Following his release, Marishane returned to his village, Marishane (Mooifontein), where he later died. Nyabela received a death sentence, which was later commuted to life imprisonment on 22 September, 1883. Mampuru, convicted of murder and rebellion,
952-694: The South African Republic . The defeat marked the end of Pedi resistance against foreign forces. The London Times , which at the time was not known to report on the deaths of African leaders, published an article on 30 August 1882, acknowledging his resistance against the Boers and the British: “… We hear this morning … of the death of one of the bravest of our former enemies, the Chief Sekhukhune… The news carries us some years back to
1008-661: The Boer war criminals. On 16 February 1877, the Boers and Bapedi, mediated by Alexander Merensky , signed a peace treaty at Botshabelo . The Boers inability to subdue Sekhukhune and the Bapedi led to the departure of Burgers in favour of Paul Kruger and the British annexation of the South African Republic ( Transvaal ) on 12 April 1877 by Sir Theophilus Shepstone , secretary for native affairs of Natal . Although
1064-605: The Boers departed, taking the Pedi cattle with them. Recognizing the strategic importance of an abundant water supply, Sekwati relocated his capital to Thaba Mosega (Mosega Kop). He subsequently signed a treaty with the Boers, establishing the Steelpoort River as the boundary between Pedi lands and the Lydenburg Republic. Moreover, Chief Sekwati permitted Alexander Merensky and C. H. T. Grützner to begin evangelical work within his territory, contributing to
1120-407: The Boers retreated - notwithstanding President Burgers' appeal that he would rather be shot than see his men desert him. Nevertheless, Burgers joined the Boer retreat to Steelpoort, where a fort was built - Krugerpos . On 4 September 1876, President Thomas François Burgers presented the Volksraad with a scheme to hire mercenary services in order to harry Sekhukhune's Bapedi. The Volksraad approved of
1176-405: The Boers, Swazi, and Zulu. Nevertheless, tensions escalated over time, and in 1852, Hendrik Potgieter led a Boer commando against Chief Sekwati's forces. The Boers laid siege to the Pedi stronghold, hoping to exhaust their food and water supplies. However, the resourceful Pedi warriors managed to evade the Boer lines at night, sustaining themselves during the lengthy siege. After twenty-four days,
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#17327723714401232-405: The Boers. Throughout his life, Sekhukhune's legacy remained intertwined with the Pedi history, leaving a lasting impact on their collective identity. On 16 May 1876, President Thomas François Burgers of the South African Republic ( Transvaal ) declared war against Sekhukhune and the Bapedi. On 14 July 1876 an impi of Swazi warriors spearheaded an assault on a Bapedi fortified settlement, which
1288-656: The Boers; Abel Erasmus' was also constituted of a number of allied natives at the time, who reportedly used assegais to perpetrate the majority of the slaughter. These native allies, identified simply as 'Boer Kaffirs' were probably Swazi forces loyal to the Boers and/or Bapedi forces loyal to chief Mampuru. One of the Boers, who had accompanied the Krugerpos commando and witnessed the massacre and kidnapping, subsequently complained of these crimes to Sir Henry Barkly. Barkly, in turn, wrote of these allegations in protest to President Thomas François Burgers; whom he petitioned to punish
1344-594: The British had first condemned the Transvaal war against Sekhukhune, it was continued after the annexation. In 1878 and 1879 three British attacks were successfully repelled until Sir Garnet Wolseley defeated Sekhukhune in November 1879 with an army of 2,000 British soldiers, Boers and 10,000 Swazis . On 2 December 1879, Sekhukhune was captured and on 9 December 1879 he was imprisoned in Pretoria . On 3 August 1881,
1400-637: The Marota/Pedi paramountcy by force, and Mampuru II , his rightful successor. By the death of his father Thulare I in 1824, the Marota or Pedi Kingdom was in a state of despair due to the turbulence caused by the Mfecane ("the crushing") or Difeqane ("the scattering") and encroaching white settlers ( Boers ) into the Transvaal . Sekwati came into power after the deaths of his older brothers (Thobela who
1456-540: The Transvaal in 1877, while Bartle Frere, as the new High Commissioner, led imperial troops against the last group of independent Xhosa in the Ninth Frontier War . Carnarvon then used the rising unrest to suspend the Natal constitution, while Bartle Frere overthrew the elected Cape government, and then moved to invade the independent Zulu Kingdom . However the confederation scheme collapsed as predicted, leaving
1512-542: The Westminster and Keystone Lodge, No. 10. In 1860 he was made the second Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons (created in 1856) and in 1870 he was appointed Deputy Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) by Lord Ripon , and was Pro Grand Master from 1874 to 1890. Furthermore, he was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1875, confirming, in addition to his work as
1568-541: The ZAR and their Swazi allies . The second war, against the British and Swazi in 1879 in what became known as the Sekhukhune Wars, was less successful. Sekhukhune was detained in Pretoria until 1881. After a return to his kingdom, he was fatally stabbed by an assassin (Mampuru II and his henchmen) in 1882, at Manoge. The assassins are presumed to have been sent by his brother and competitor, Mampuru II . Sekhukhune
1624-537: The address in reply to the Queen's Speech . He served under Lord Derby , as Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies from 1858 to 1859, aged twenty-six. In 1863 he worked on penal reform . Under the influence of Joshua Jebb he saw the gaols, with a population including prisoners before any trial, as numerically more significant than the system of prisons for convicts. He was himself a magistrate, and campaigned for
1680-627: The battle field. Sekwati Sekwati (c. 1824–20 September 1861) was a 19th-century paramount King of the Maroteng, more commonly known as the Bapedi people . His reign focused on rebuilding the Marota Kingdom at the conclusion of the Mfecane and maintaining peaceful relations with the Boer Voortrekkers and neighboring chiefdoms in the north-eastern Transvaal . He was the father of rivals Sekhukhune I who took over
1736-535: The children ' in October 1876 - arguably not the first time that some Boers were in breach of the anti-slavery provisions of the Sand River Convention . Upon sight of Abel Erasmus' commando , the native peoples apparently fled from their settlement immediately. This, however, appears not to have deterred the commando from hunting them down and murdering them all. Though some of the victims were shot by
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1792-514: The conditions of confinement to be made less comfortable, with more severe regimes on labour and diet. He also wished to see a national system that was more uniform. In response, he was asked to run a House of Lords committee, which sat from February 1863. It drafted a report, and a Gaol Bill was brought in, during 1864; it was, however, lost amid opposition. The Prisons Act 1866 , passed by parliament during 1865, saw Carnarvon's main ideas implemented, though with detailed amendments. In 1866 Carnarvon
1848-403: The erection of a block of three cottages at Burghclere Bottom, and no doubt the result will be anticipated with much interest both by landed proprietors and tenant farmers. This plan, if successful, will settle much controversy as to the predictability of building suitable farm cottages at a cheap rate, as up to this time cottages in brickwork do not afford interest on the capital expended. The work
1904-409: The group - reportedly shooting off the head of one of the women - and thereafter kidnapping the surviving two women and baby. Von Schlickmann then followed-up the execution by raiding and massacring a nearby native settlement - in all probability the same settlement where the aforesaid captives had been kidnapped from. The Lydenburg Volunteer Corps reportedly took no prisoners - opting, instead, to slit
1960-457: The hands of these cowardly Boers, but by the hand of a black and courageous nation like myself..." - whereupon he instructed his brother, Sekhukhune, to study the Bible; and thereafter Johannes died. Apparently infuriated by the perceived cowardice of the Boers; the Swazi abandoned the front and returned home - and so, on 2 August 1876, Sekhukhune managed to defeat the Transvaal army. Subsequently,
2016-543: The king of the Ndebele . When the Pretoria Boers demanded that Nyabela surrender Mampuru for trial on charges of murder, Nyabela refused, stating that Mampuru was under his protection. This disagreement led to a war between Nyabela and the Boers, which lasted for approximately nine months. Eventually, Nyabela surrendered, and Mampuru was handed over to the Pretoria Boers. Marishane, Nyabela, and Mampuru faced trial in
2072-518: The latter in respect of Home Rule , was terminated by another premature resignation. He never returned to office. Carnarvon also held the honorary posts of Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire between 1887 and 1890 and Deputy Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire . He was regarded as a highly cultured man and was a president and a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries (his time there noted for their campaign to save St Albans Cathedral from Lord Grimthorpe ) and
2128-473: The necks of any survivors. Conrad Von Schlickmann was killed on 17 November 1876 during a Bapedi ambush, but the Bapedi were also repulsed. The leadership of the Lydenburg Volunteer Corps was then taken over by Alfred Aylward, a Fenian rebel. Simultaneous Boer war crimes were also reported on by Sir Henry Barkly. Abel Erasmus, the field-cornet of Krugerpos, was accused for 'treacherously killing forty or fifty friendly natives, men and women, and carrying off
2184-557: The office of the British colonial secretary in 1874, he submitted a set of proposals, the Carnarvon terms , to settle the dispute between British Columbia and Canada over the construction of the transcontinental railroad and the Vancouver Island railroad and train bridge. Vancouver Island had been promised a rail link as a condition for its entry into Canadian Confederation . In the same year, he set in motion plans to impose
2240-433: The region: He (Carnarvon) thought it no harm to adopt this machinery (Canadian Confederation System) just as it stood, even down to the numbering and arrangement of the sections and sub-sections, and present it to the astonished South Africans as a god to go before them. It was as if your tailor should say – "Here is a coat; I did not make it, but I stole it ready-made out of a railway cloak-room, I don't know whether you want
2296-425: The religious and cultural dynamics of the Pedi kingdom. This biography of a member of an African royal house is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Henry Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon Henry Howard Molyneux Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon , KP , PC , DL , FRS , FSA (24 June 1831 – 29 June 1890), known as Lord Porchester from 1833 to 1849,
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2352-525: The rights and franchise of the Cape's Black citizens, and was therefore unacceptable. Other regional governments refused even to discuss the idea. Overall, the opinion of the governments of the Cape and its neighbours was that "the proposals for confederation should emanate from the communities to be affected, and not be pressed upon them from outside." According to historian Martin Meredith , Lord Carnarvon
2408-558: The scheme and thus hired the services of the Lydenburg Volunteer Corps , which were constituted under the command of a Prussian ex-soldier turned mercenary - Conrad Von Schlickmann. Von Schlickman was reputedly closely connected with the German Establishment and had fought under Otto von Bismarck in the Franco-Prussian War . The Lydenburg Volunteer Corps primarily recruited from Europeans immigrants at
2464-490: The stability of the Pedi empire was short-lived as succession disputes arose following Chief Thulare's death. Around 1826, the Ndebele under Mzilikazi seized the opportunity and overthrew the Pedi regime, resulting in the deaths of several of Thulare's sons. Amidst the upheaval, one of Thulare's surviving sons, Sekwati, took refuge with the fleeing Pedi. Later, Sekwati returned with his followers and strategically chose Phiring,
2520-626: The time when the name of Sekhukhune was a name of dread, first to the Dutch and then to the English Colonists of the Transvaal and Natal…”. The Sekhukhune District Municipality in Limpopo Province was named after him in 2000; the area is also known as Sekhukhuneland . Sekhukhune I had many children apart from his heir Morwamoche II, he fathered Seraki, Kgobalale, Kgwerane, Kgetjepe, Moruthane and more of others who were lost in
2576-541: Was a British politician and a leading member of the Conservative Party . He was twice Secretary of State for the Colonies and also served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland . Born at Grosvenor Square , London, Carnarvon was the eldest son and heir of Henry Herbert, 3rd Earl of Carnarvon (d.1849), by his wife Henrietta Anna Howard, a daughter of Lord Henry Howard-Molyneux-Howard , younger brother of Bernard Howard, 12th Duke of Norfolk . The Hon. Auberon Herbert
2632-455: Was born in 1814 to King Sekwati and Thorometjane Phala. Originally named Matsebe (Matsebe was Sekwati's brother through their father Thulare I, in honor of his brother named his son Matsebe), he earned the nickname Sekhukhune due to his exceptional role in battles against the Boers. Over time, the name Sekhukhune gradually replaced his birth name, Matsebe, as it became synonymous with his remarkable achievements and leadership during conflicts with
2688-472: Was captured by the Boers, tried for murder and hanged in Pretoria in 21 November 1883. On the night of 13 August, 1882, Sekhukhune, was assassinated by Mampuru. Mampuru claimed that he was the rightful king and accused Sekhukhune of usurping the throne following the death of their father, Sekwati. Fearing arrest, Mampuru fled and sought refuge initially with Chief Marishane (Masemola) and later with Nyabela ,
2744-559: Was executed by hanging in Pretoria prison on 22 November, 1883. Thus concluded one of the most tumultuous political and military careers in South Africa's history, marking the demise of the Marota Empire. After his death, Bopedi (Pedi kingdom) was divided into small powerless units conducted by the native commissioners. His grandson Sekhukhune II in an effort to rebuild the Bapedi kingdom launched an unsuccessful war against
2800-481: Was futilely defended by Johannes Dinkoanyane, Sekhukhune's half-brother and a Lutheran convert of Alexander Merensky . While their Boer counterparts did not join the advance, the Swazi reportedly massacred the settlement, including the women and children - whose brains were dashed against rocks. Johannes Dinkoanyane survived the assault, though, he was mortally wounded and died on 16 July 1876. His last words were reportedly: "I am going to die. I am thankful I do not die by
2856-505: Was his younger brother. He was educated at Eton College . In 1849, aged 18, he succeeded his father in the earldom. He attended Christ Church, Oxford , where his nickname was " Twitters ", apparently on account of his nervous tics and twitchy behaviour, and where in 1852 he obtained a first in literae humaniores . Carnavon made his maiden speech in the House of Lords on 31 January 1854, having been requested by Lord Aberdeen to move
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#17327723714402912-596: Was in 1861 to Lady Evelyn Stanhope (1834–1875), daughter of George Stanhope, 6th Earl of Chesterfield , and Hon. Anne Elizabeth Weld-Forester , by whom he had one son and three daughters: Following his first wife's death in 1875, Lord Carnarvon married his first cousin Elizabeth Catherine Howard (1857–1929) in 1878. She was a daughter of Henry Howard of Greystoke Castle , near Penrith , Cumberland (brother of Henrietta Anna Molyneux-Howard (1804–1876), wife of Henry Herbert, 3rd Earl of Carnarvon ),
2968-418: Was not a model that was applicable to the diverse region, and that conflict would result from outside involvement in southern Africa at a time when state relations were particularly sensitive. The liberal Cape government also objected to the plan for ideological concerns; Its formal response, conveyed to London via Sir Henry Barkly , had been that any federation with the illiberal Boer republics would compromise
3024-487: Was primarily concerned with "imperial defence", and "regarded the Cape and its naval facilities at Simon's Bay as being the most important link in the imperial network". He thus decided to force the pace, "endeavouring to give South Africa not what it wanted, but what he considered it ought to want." He sent colonial administrators such as Theophilus Shepstone and Henry Bartle Frere to southern Africa to implement his system of confederation. Shepstone occupied and annexed
3080-502: Was promised to receive two thousand acres of land in Sekhukhune's territory. The volunteers were also expected to reimburse themselves by robbing whatever they could from the natives. Probably as a consequence hereof - the Lydenburg Volunteer Corps were notoriously brutal. In a despatch to Lord Carnarvon dated 18 December 1876; Sir Henry Barkly reported with horror how, after the Lydenburg Volunteer Corps kidnapped two women and
3136-601: Was sworn of the Privy Council and appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies by Derby. In 1867 he introduced the British North America Act , which conferred self-government on Canada, and created a federation . Later that year, he resigned (along with Lord Cranborne and Jonathan Peel ) in protest against Benjamin Disraeli 's Reform Bill to enfranchise the working classes. Returning to
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