In the 1820s the cattle-herding Zulu, led by their king Shaka, embarked on an aggressive campaign of conquest and expansion known as the mfecane. Shaka's large and well-armed armies conquered a number of neighboring peoples, and sent others fleeing.
In the 1820s, the Zulu cattle-herding warriors, led by their king Shaka, launched a fierce campaign of conquest and expansion known as the mfecane. Shaka's powerful and well-equipped armies overpowered several neighboring tribes, forcing others to flee.