Zulu "Corps"

Posts : 44 Join date : 2024-01-28 Location : Baja, Hungary

I have a few questions about the so-called "corps". Did they have a commander-in-chief, who lead all the units? Were they essentially just two or three regiments operating together? I've founds some weird pairs, where a corps was made up of a regiment of 35 year old warriors and another, of 70+ old timers. For example, the "Udukuza" corps, which contained a regiment bearing the same name (73 year old warriors, and very few of them lived to see that age), and then the Iqwa regiment, with its 35 year old bachelors. What was the logic behind this? Pairing up these two regiments makes no sense from a practical or military standpoint. Also, I am unsure if the regiments even had a commander for each of them...
Thanks in advance to anyone who could help me out there.

Subject: Re: Zulu "Corps" Sat May 04, 2024 10:44 pm

The iKhanda was more or less the base for a number of regiments, used for training, assembly, rites. It was not an operational unit and did not necessarily have an overall inDuna. There were exceptions like the uNdi corps which for a variety of reasons tended to function as a single unit but not exclusively so.
These entities do not fit into European notions of a military 'framework', but then, why should they? They weren't European! And they did not conform to European concepts of military 'efficiency' or 'efficacy'. There's more than one way to skin a cat.

Subject: Re: Zulu "Corps" Wed Jun 19, 2024 9:45 am

Hi Hobbes

I suggest purchasing The Zulu Army and Zulu Headmen which gives you a detailed list of all the Corps, Regiments and the leaders of each Regiment

Call this number they may be able to help you 44(0) 1825749494

Posts : 44 Join date : 2024-01-28 Location : Baja, Hungary

aussie inkosi wrote:: Hi Hobbes

I suggest purchasing The Zulu Army and Zulu Headmen which gives you a detailed list of all the Corps, Regiments and the leaders of each Regiment

Call this number they may be able to help you 44(0) 1825749494

Thank you! Really useful resource! Probably the most definitive one on this matter.

Subject: Re: Zulu "Corps" Thu Jun 20, 2024 5:08 pm

Use it with caution, Hobbes, it's not infallible.

Posts : 44 Join date : 2024-01-28 Location : Baja, Hungary

Oh yes, I am seeing there are some inconsistencies with the most accepted interpretations of today. The most useful part is probably the description of the inDunas of the regiments and some lesser known figures, no other source mentions those. Not those that I was able to find anyways. I will double-check everything where it is possible, for sure.

Posts : 1 Join date : 2017-07-20

Hi Hobbes, I was very interested in your thread entitled Zulu "Corps" and your comment regarding 'The Zulu Army and Zulu Headmen', that "there are inconsistencies with the most accepted interpretations of today". I would be extremely grateful if you could list those sources as I am very interested in Zulu dress and weapons.
Thanks in anticipation.
Regards
John
Ps. As a matter of interest I recently purchased a Martini Henry mkII. It is a life long dream come true since having seen "Zulu" when I was 9. It has only taken me 60 years to fulfil it but well worth the wait!

Posts : 44 Join date : 2024-01-28 Location : Baja, Hungary

johnscone wrote:: Hi Hobbes, I was very interested in your thread entitled Zulu "Corps" and your comment regarding 'The Zulu Army and Zulu Headmen', that "there are inconsistencies with the most accepted interpretations of today". I would be extremely grateful if you could list those sources as I am very interested in Zulu dress and weapons.
Thanks in anticipation.
Regards
John
Ps. As a matter of interest I recently purchased a Martini Henry mkII. It is a life long dream come true since having seen "Zulu" when I was 9. It has only taken me 60 years to fulfil it but well worth the wait!

I can highly recommend the books of Ian Knight, especially "Zulu Rising", "The Anatomy of the Zulu Army", and last but not least, "British Infantryman vs Zulu Warrior". The last one is especially rich in illustrations that will be useful to you. They all discuss Zulu dresses, regalia, weapons and tactics extensively. Congrats on the iconic weapon btw. It is probably my favourite rifle that was used by the British, after the L1A1.

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