This June, history and vision will unite as the epic tale of Shaka’s reign continues in Shaka iLembe. Shaka is a name that echoes throughout the ages via classrooms, books, monuments, and of course television shows. A misunderstood boy turned shrewd warrior turned powerful king, it’s little wonder that his is a story worth telling. Those of royals often are, which is why we’re turning our eye to kings around the world and across time.
These are tales of powerful men whose paths to greatness at times diverged from the one Shaka took and at others echoed his – for whether, to paraphrase Shakespeare, they were born great, achieved greatness, or had greatness thrust upon them, their stories inspired others to continue telling them.
Sargon the Great, Mesopotamia (present day Iraq)
reigned 23rd century BCE
Sargon the Great was also known as King of Kish, Anointed of Anu, and King of Mesopotamia. He ruled many moons ago, but much of his legacy is known thanks to a clay tablet that related his life and exploits. Much like Shaka, Sargon was known for his military prowess. His war tactics included improved phalanx formations in battle, making use of short-handled spears (someting Shaka also saw the value of in promoting the use of the iklwa), and employing great bodies of archers to rain arrows upon approaching foes. Sargon succeeded in uniting multiple independent city-states (similar to Shaka bringing together various clans and chiefdoms), creating an empire that lasted almost two centuries.
Xerxes the Great, Persia (present day Iran)
reigned 486 – 465 BCE
If the name looks familiar, you either know your history or you’re familiar with Xerxes I thanks to the movie 300. His depiction in the latter was notably one-sided and a lot of what is known about him today is thanks to Greek records, which were somewhat biased given that Xerxes tried to (unsuccessfully) invade Greece. While he was certainly a king known for warfare and conquest, he was also dedicated to many construction projects, including the building of the city Persepolis. These held gardens which were fed by a canal system, which still work to this day. He also completed the construction of the Gate of All Nations and the Hall of a Hundred Columns, and maintained the Royal Road built by his father, a road praised for the speed it afforded travel. Despite being assassinated by an ambitious minister, the latter was killed by Xerxes’s son Artaxerxes who then took to the throne.
Gwanggaeto the Great, Ancient Korea
reigned 391 – 413 CE
Much like Sargon, Gwanggaeto the Great had much of his story recorded on a tablet. This historical monument is known as a stele and stands at almost 7 metres in what is today the city of Ji'an in China. Gwanggaeto ruled over the Goguryeo kingdom, the largest of the Three Kingdoms of Ancient Korea. Ruling for two decades, he was a prolific conqueror (his name means “great expander of territory”). He took over parts of Manchuria, inner Mongolia, and the Russian maritime province Primorsky Krai, amongst several other places. With all this conquering, it almost goes without saying that he was a brilliant militarist, rehauling the armed forces and, like Shaka, personally leading his men in the field.
Mansa Musa, King of the Mali Empire (parts of present day Mali, Senegal, the Gambia, Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Mauritania, and Burkina Faso)
reigned 1312 – 1337
Like Xerxes, Mansa Musa was big into construction projects, building mosques, libraries, and universities. This included the Djinguereber Mosque, which still stands today. Mansa Musa became king of the Mali Empire when the previous monarch vanished at sea. Inheriting a prosperous kingdom meant he became fabulously wealthy, but he expanded this wealth even more through trade and strategic taxation. One of his most renowned exploits was his hajj to Mecca. While travelling through Egypt, he thrust so much gold to passersby that its value decreased in Egypt for the next 12 years. Upon returning from his hajj, he embarked upon his passion project of building, turning the cities of Gao and Timbuktu into thriving epicentres of culture and learning.
Túpac Amaru II, Peru
led 1780 – 1781
No, he was not a rapper, but the rapper Tupac Shakur did name himself after this Indigenous leader. Speaking of changing names, Túpac was born Jose Gabriel Condorcanqui in Peru, but changed his name to Túpac, as tribute to the last Inca emperor. Our own history includes a leader who changed his name: Dingiswayo, of course! While Túpac was not strictly speaking a king or emperor like his eponymous predecessor, he was a cacique, an Indigenous chief. His renown came as a result of the rebellion he led against Spanish colonial forces due to oppression of the Indigenous people. Taking place in Peru from 1780 to 1781, the rebellion came to a violent end when Túpac, along with family and other supporters, was brutally executed. To this day, his mission continues to inspire the fight for Indigenous rights in Latin America.
Haile Selassie I, Ethiopia
reigned 1930 – 1974
Royals really have a thing about having a lot of titles. Haile Selassie was also known as Lord of Lords, Might of the Holy Trinity, and Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah. However, he was born Ras Tafari Makonnen in 1892, becoming Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia, in 1930. His reign was distinguished by his stand against imperialism, resisting Italian invasion to the point where he was exiled to England after the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. He also had a notable influence over Jamaica, where they adopted his name and regaled him as a god under the newly born spiritual movement, Rastafarianism. But the emperor’s rule was also marred by dark moments, including famine, drought, and war with Eritrea. In the 1970s, the political situation in Ethiopia continued to decline and the emperor was eventually ousted from his position and placed under house arrest, where he was allegedly murdered by the military junta a year later.
King Charles III, United Kingdom
Crowned on 6 May 2023
Not only do royals have an affinity for a lot of titles, but also for bestowing the same name over and over again, thus we have Charles III. Born Charles Philip Arthur George Mountbatten-Windsor, he started his education at Buckingham Palace with a governess before attending school outside of the palace, the first heir apparent to do so. In 1981, he married Lady Diana Spencer. Together they had two sons, William and Harry, before their marriage was dissolved in 1996. Almost exactly a year later, Princess Diana tragically died in a car crash. In 2005, Charles married Camilla Parker-Bowles. His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died in 2022 and the following year he was crowned King Charles III. As part of his royal duties he meets weekly with the prime minister, opens parliament, approves legislation, commands the armed forces, and heads the Commonwealth. There is some fun to be had as the king: he doesn’t need a driver’s license, can travel without a passport, and owns all the dolphins, whales, and sturgeons in UK waters.
Watch the legendary rule of King Shaka unfold in Shaka iLembe season 2, starting Sunday 15 June at 20:00 on Mzansi Magic. Join the conversation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok using #ShakaiLembeS2.