The Defence of Rorke's Drift The Defence of Rorke's Drift The Defence of Rorke's Drift is an 1880 painting by Elizabeth Thompson, Lady Butler depicting the 1879 Battle of Rorke's Drift which took place during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1877 to 1879. The battle and the men who fought in it were made famous in the 1964 film "Zulu". The Battle of Rorke's Drift caused a wave of patriotic fever in the United Kingdom and the surviving participants, especially the officers, were feted on their return in October 1879, first going to Windsor Castle to meet Queen Victoria before posing for Elizabeth Thompson at Portsmouth
Battle of Mhlatuze River river, effectively splitting the attackers into two separate groups which allowed a Zulu victory. Battle of Mhlatuze River The Battle of Mhlatuze River was a battle fought between the Zulu and Ndwandwe tribes in 1820 following the Zulu Civil War. The Ndwandwe hierarchy was set asunder by the battle, and largely scattered their population in response. In 1818, Shaka had been attacked by Qwabe warriors led by Phakathwayo along the same river. The Zulu people prevailed in battle, led by military commander Shaka. As in the Battle of Gqokli Hill, Shaka's superior tactics led his people to victory. When the