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.
During the early 19th century, the Zulu people, under the leadership of King Shaka, embarked on a military campaign that resulted in widespread conquest and displacement of neighboring groups, which became known as the mfecane. Shaka's armies were highly organized and equipped, allowing them to dominate several tribes and send others into exile.