1878 — The Ultimatum That Sparked the Anglo-Zulu War

On December 11, 1878, at the Lower Thukela Drift, a British commissioner handed the envoys of Zulu King Cetshwayo an ultimatum whose terms were designed to be refused: within thirty days, the Zulu military system had to be disbanded. Sir Bartle Frere had issued it without London's authorization, intent on breaking the Zulu Kingdom.

Frere wanted to clear the way for his British-controlled confederation. When the deadline expired on January 11, British columns invaded Zululand — and eleven days later, at Isandlwana, the Zulu inflicted one of the greatest shocks of the century on Britain. The ultimatum was written to start a war; it did, and the war's first great answer came from the Zulu.