Battle of Blood River

E34477

The Battle of Blood River was a decisive 1838 clash in which Voortrekker forces defeated the Zulu Kingdom in present-day South Africa, significantly shaping the region’s colonial and Afrikaner nationalist history.

All labels observed (4)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf battle
historical event
alsoKnownAs Battle of Blood River
surface form: Battle of Ncome River
associatedWith Voortrekker vow to God
belligerent Voortrekkers
Zulu Kingdom
casualtiesVoortrekkers 3 wounded
casualtiesZulu several thousand killed
commander Andries Pretorius
Ndlela kaSompisi
commemoratedOn 16 December
commemorationName Day of the Vow
surface form: Day of the Covenant

Day of the Vow
Day of the Vow
surface form: Day of the Vow (Afrikaans: Geloftedag)
conflictIn Boer–Zulu conflicts
surface form: Voortrekker–Zulu conflict
countryAtTime Zulu Kingdom
countryOfHoliday South Africa
culturalImpact central to Afrikaner civil religion during apartheid era
subject of numerous historical debates and reinterpretations
date 16 December 1838
decisiveFor Voortrekkers
followedBy Voortrekker advance into Natal
establishment of Natalia Republic
location Ncome River
near present-day Dundee, KwaZulu-Natal
memorial Blood River Monument
Ncome Museum
memorialLocation near Ncome River, KwaZulu-Natal
modernHolidayName Day of Reconciliation
namedAfter Blood River
nameOrigin river reportedly turned red with blood after the battle
opponent Dingane kaSenzangakhona
surface form: King Dingane kaSenzangakhona
partOf Great Trek
precededBy Piet Retief massacre
Weenen massacre
presentDayLocation South Africa
relatedTo Afrikaner nationalism
Great Trek
Zulu history
colonialism in South Africa
result Voortrekker victory
significance important event in Afrikaner nationalist mythology
influenced colonial expansion in southeastern Africa
major turning point in Voortrekker–Zulu relations
strengthVoortrekkers about 470 men
strengthZulu estimated 10,000–20,000 warriors
year 1838

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (21)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Great Trek hasEffect Battle of Blood River
Great Trek hasEffect Battle of Blood River
this entity surface form: Voortrekker–Zulu conflict
Great Trek significantEvent Battle of Blood River
Battle of Blood River alsoKnownAs Battle of Blood River
this entity surface form: Battle of Ncome River
Day of the Vow commemorates Battle of Blood River
Andries Pretorius participantIn Battle of Blood River
Murder of Piet Retief result Battle of Blood River
Murder of Piet Retief relatedEvent Battle of Blood River
Boer–Zulu conflicts hasNotableBattle Battle of Blood River
Boer Republic of Natalia establishedAfter Battle of Blood River
Blood River knownFor Battle of Blood River
Blood River battleSite Battle of Blood River
Voortrekkers engagedIn Battle of Blood River
Weenen massacre precededEvent Battle of Blood River
Blood River Monument commemorates Battle of Blood River
Ncome Museum commemorates Battle of Blood River
uMgungundlovu relatedTo Battle of Blood River
this entity surface form: Battle of Blood River (context of Zulu–Voortrekker conflict)
Battle of Italeni followedBy Battle of Blood River
Pretorius family notableFor Battle of Blood River
subject surface form: Andries Pretorius
Natalia conflict Battle of Blood River
subject surface form: Natalia Republic
Ncome River historicalSiteOf Battle of Blood River