Info For Yous Pre-Colonial African Kingdom Of Kongo: Ane Time A Nifty Colosus
Kingdom of Kongo also known equally Kongo dya Ntotila or Wene wa Kongois ranks amid the most famous kingdoms inward sub-Saharan Africa. The kingdom located inward southwest Africa. It is at nowadays northern Angola, Cabinda, the Republic of the Congo, together with the western portion of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.The empire consisted of half dozen provinces ruled past times a monarch, the Manikongo of the Bakongo (Kongo peoples).
BANZA KONGO , Capital of the Kingdom of Kongo
At its greatest extent, it reached from the Atlantic Ocean inward the westward to the Kwango River inward the east, together with from the Congo River inward the northward to the Kwanza River inward the south. The kingdom consisted of several inwardness provinces ruled past times the Manikongo, the Portuguese version of the Kongo championship 'Mwene Kongo', important lord or ruler of the Kongo kingdom, but its sphere of influence extended to neighbouring kingdoms, such equally Ngoyo, Kakongo, Ndongo together with Matamba.
Map of Kingdom of Kongo
When the leader of the firstly Portuguese expedition, the navigator Diogo Cao, landed inward 1483 inward the Zaïre estuary, he was astonished to uncovering the existence of a centralised political state, an African replica of the Portuguese kingdom (Vansina 1966; Randles 1968; Ekholm 1972). The Portuguese firstly dealt amongst this kingdom accordingly, on a to a greater extent than or less equal basis, exchanging ambassadors.
Portuguese audience bowing earlier the King of Kongo
The Rex of Kongo was baptised inward 1491 past times the Portuguese who gave him the holler of their king, Joao. Under his successor, Afonso, Christianity spread fifty-fifty farther throughout the kingdom. However, instead of becoming a faith of the masses, it was adopted past times a modest ruling elite who made it a majestic cult, reinforcing their political authority. One of Afonso’s sons was fifty-fifty ordained a bishop equally early on equally 1518, the firstly dark bishop ever.
Capuchin Missionary together with his Entourage beingness Greeted inward Front of Village, Sogno, Kingdom of Kongo, 1740s Paola Collo together with Silvia Benso ,Sogno Bamba, Pemba, Ovando (Milan, 1986)
The missionaries, who were mainly Jesuits together with Capucins, the traders together with officials, left behind a brilliant description of the evolution of the kingdom which permitted a detailed reconstruction of the daily lives of its inhabitants at a fourth dimension when their civilization was at its peak (Balandier 1965). Their highly centralized political construction allowed them to dominion over an surface area of 150,000 km2, almost the size of Uganda, stretching S of the Zaïre estuary. They acquired a mastery of metallurgy, law, weaving together with textiles. The fine art of the Kongo remains, fifty-fifty today, i of the most elaborate inward Africa, making usage of wood, cloth, terra cotta
together with fifty-fifty stones. Kongo non only survived contact amongst the Portuguese but continued expansion together with evolution into a centralized province until the start of the civil wars inward the belatedly seventeenth century (Thorton 1979; Thorton 1983; Hilton 1985). The retention of this magnificent kingdom which proclaimed real early on the achievements of dark men, is soundless acquaint inward the minds of many intellectuals together with leaders of Africa today.
The Kingdom of Kongo (1400– 1914)
Origin of Kongo Kingdom
From 500 B.C.E, some Bantu-speaking people began migrating S together with eastward from a part S of the Sahara nigh the present-day Cameron. By 500 B.C.E, the Bantu population were firmly established inward the savanna part nigh Congo (formerly Zaire) River inward what is today known equally northern Angola. There they cultivated the dry soil using the iron-technology they brought, enhance animals, made atomic issue 26 tools together with weapons to conquer the indigenous San people (Bushmen), together with developed a complex social together with political systems.
The Kingdom of Kongo was formed about 1375. Traditions collected inward the sixteenth together with seventeenth centuries attribute the foundation of the kingdom to a mythical hero Ntinu Lukeni (circa 1380-1420) who, coming from the north, crossed the Zaïre river together with conquered the surface area S of it. According to Historian Jean Cuvelier "Lukeni lua Nimi or Nimi a Lukeni, became the founder of Kongo when he conquered the kingdom of the Mwene Kabunga (or Mwene Mpangala), which lay upon a mount to his south, after crossing Nzadi from his father's kingdom on the northward bank, the historical kingdom of Vungu. The original inhabitants of the surface area were large-headed dwarfs called BaMbakambaka, Mbwidi-Mbodila, together with BaFula Mengo. He transferred his dominion to this mountain, the Mongo dia Kongo or "mountain of Kongo", together with made Mbanza Kongo, the town there, his capital. Two centuries later the Mwene Kabunga's descendants soundless symbolically challenged the conquest inward an annual celebration. The rulers that followed Lukeni all claimed some shape of relation to his kanda or lineage together with were known equally the Kilukeni. The Kilukeni kanda or "house" equally recorded inward Portuguese documents would dominion Kongo unopposed until 1567." The Rex of Kongo thereafter was the embodiment of the cosmological world of the Bakongo, he had straight links amongst the forces that affected its prosperity, he controlled the weather, he could summon the dead, together with he was able to bless his subjects amongst a movement of his fingers.
After the decease of Nimi a Lukeni, his brother, Mbokani Mavinga, took over the throne together with ruled until roughly 1367. He had ii wives together with nine children. His dominion saw an expansion of the Kingdom of Kongo to include the neighbouring province of Loango together with other areas at nowadays encompassed past times the electrical flow Republic of Congo.
The Mwene Kongos frequently gave the governorships to members of their theatre unit of measurement or its clients. As this centralization increased, the allied provinces gradually lost influence until their powers were only symbolic, manifested inward Mbata, i time a co-kingdom, but past times 1620 simply known past times the championship "Grandfather of the King of Kongo" (Nkaka'ndi a Mwene Kongo).
Portuguese Emissaries Received past times the King of Kongo, belatedly 16th cent Duarte Lopes, Regnum Congo hoc est warhaffte und eigentliche , Congo inward Africa (Franckfort am Mayn, 1609)
The Portuguese firstly arrived inward Kongo inward 1485, together with were regarded equally visitors from the dry soil of the dead. Nzinga Nkuwu, Rex of the Bakongo was baptised inward 1491, together with spell he gave upwards Christianity ii or iii years later, his boy Afonso, persisted inward the faith. During the 16th Century efforts to convert all the Bakongo continued through the operate of the Jesuits.
Capuchin Missionary Entering Village, Sogno, Kingdom of Kongo, 1740s Paola Collo together with Silvia Benso ,Sogno Bamba, Pemba, Ovando (Milan, 1986)
From the cease of the 'old kingdom' inward 1678, to the arrival of the colonial administration, the slave merchandise together with a gratis sense of merchandise betwixt Africans together with Europeans dominated the costal part together with sure enough influenced the futurity developments inward Kongo society.
The geographic context
The coastal zone of the kingdom was sparsely populated amongst a concentration of settlements inward the river valleys to the S where rainfall was pitiable together with irregular, together with on the hills nigh the Zaïre river where the best H2O together with also the most productive portion of that zone was to live found. The zone incorporated the provinces of Sonyo nigh the estuary together with of Mbamba farther south.
About 100 km inland to the eastward is a to a greater extent than hospitable hilly area, rising to a ridge over 1000 m high together with amongst an annual rainfall to a higher identify 1000 mm. Most of the soils were relatively fertile, temperatures moderate, the vegetation beingness a mixture of savannahs together with woodlands. This zone was densely populated, especially inward the northward eastern portion which contained the provinces of Nsundi, Mpangu together with Mbata. The provinces of Mpemba, Wembo together with Wandu were also located inward this zone. Further east, stretches the vast Kalahari sands plateau, infertile together with real sparselypopulated, which was drawn into the kingdom inward the sixteenth century (Hilton 1985, pp. 1–5). Hilton (1985, pp. 7–8) gives a adept summary of the settlement pattern:
"The people’s primary economical activities – long fallow agriculture together with arboriculture
supplemented past times animate beingness husbandry, hunting, together with collecting – determined that
settlement was usually dispersed. The village, libata, which were descent based,
were real small, in all probability counting no to a greater extent than than 30 houses. There were also
innumerable dispersed hamlets called ki-belo, a term which indicated that a lineage
segment had established a settlement or worked a field. The towns, called mbanza,
which evolved equally a resultant of trade, refugee settlement or concentrations of power,
were essentially areas of denser settlement on the same pattern amongst modest settlements
interspersed amongst cultivated fields.
The overall population density was in all probability non high – maybe fewer than four
persons per foursquare kilometre inward the mid-seventeenth century together with the dry soil teemed with
wild together with frequently unsafe animals."
Each province of the kingdom had a working capital alphabetic character named after it, thus Mbanza Sundi for the province of
Sundi. According to Hilton (1985, p. 34):
"The governors established their capitals inward the most fertile parts of the provinces.
Mbanza Sonyo, for example, was located inward the Zaïre estuary inward the northwest. This
was the best watered together with the most populous portion of a to a greater extent than frequently than non arid province. Mbanza
Mbamba, which governed an fifty-fifty less hospitable region, was located inward the wetter,
northern portion of the province inward a fertile part S of the River Mbrije. The capital
of the cardinal province of Mpemba was strategically located away from Mbanza
Kongo at its southern extremity inward a fertile part on the River Loje. The eastern
capitals, Mbanzas, Nsundi, Mpangu together with Mbata were all located inward the fertile Nkisi
Valley nigh the eastern frontier of the kingdom."
One should banking concern complaint that the holler ‘Mbanza’ derives from a proto-Bantu root, banja, which in all probability originally meant ‘ground made ready for building’, which evolved into courtyard,building site together with inward the Bantu linguistic zone H, amid the Kongo, ‘important hamlet where the original lives’, ‘main village’, ‘town’, or fifty-fifty ‘cemetery’ (Grégoire 1976).
Kongo human being inward loin cloth. This 1786 engraving gives an exact description of their wearable . . . their loincloth is made from 'macout' a local term important cloth made from straw. With the advent of merchandise amongst Europeans, the loincloth came to live made of diverse fabrics, including linen, cotton, silk, or fifty-fifty velvet. They are excessively decorated amongst ruby-red coral, the ultimate luxury . . . Rich people have on a long silvery chain that fits depression about their waist. But out of their apparel, the most of import is a fur pelt amongst groups of modest bells that they have on nigh their 'natural parts'; it is what they telephone telephone their 'canda'. This agency skin. This portion of their wearable is their seal of honor" (pp. 70-72;).
The Portuguese together with Christianity
In 1483, the Portuguese explorer Diogo Cão sailed upwards the uncharted Congo River, finding Kongo villages together with becoming the firstly European to run across the Kongo kingdom. During his visit, Cão left his men inward Kongo spell taking Kongo nobles together with bringing them to Portugal. He returned amongst the Kongo nobles inward 1485. At that dot the ruling king, Nzinga a Nkuwu, converted to Christianity. Cão returned to the kingdom amongst Roman Catholic priests together with soldiers inward 1491, baptizing Nzinga a Nkuwu equally good equally his principal nobles, starting amongst the ruler of Soyo, the coastal province. At the same fourth dimension a literate Kongo citizen returning from Portugal opened the firstly school. Nzinga a Nkuwu took the holler of João I inward laurels of Portugal's Rex at the time, João II.
King Joao I of the Kingdom of kongo
João I ruled until his decease about 1506 together with was succeeded past times his boy Afonso Mvemba a Nzinga. He faced a serious challenge from a one-half brother, Mpanzu a Kitima. The Rex overcame his blood brother inward a battle waged at Mbanza Kongo. According to Afonso's ain account, sent to Portugal inward 1506, he was able to win the battle thank yous to the intervention of a heavenly vision of Saint James together with the Virgin Mary. Inspired past times these events, he later on designed a coat of arms for Kongo that was used past times all next kings on official documents, majestic paraphernalia together with the similar until 1860. While King João I later reverted to his traditional beliefs, Afonso I established Christianity equally the province faith of his kingdom.
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King Afonso I worked to create a feasible version of the Roman Catholic Church inward Kongo, providing for its income from majestic assets together with taxation that provided salaries for its workers. Along amongst advisers from Portugal such equally Rui d'Aguiar, the Portuguese majestic chaplain sent to assist Kongo's religious development, Afonso created a syncretic version of Christianity that would remain a portion of its civilization for the residuum of the kingdom's independent existence. King Afonso himself studied hard at this task. Rui d'Aguir i time said Afonso I knew to a greater extent than of the church's tenets than he did.
The Kongo church building was ever brusque of ordained clergy, together with made upwards for it past times the work of a strong laity. Kongolese schoolhouse teachers or Mestres were the anchor of this system. Recruited from the nobility together with trained inward the kingdom's schools, they provided religious education together with services to others edifice upon Kongo's growing Christian population. At the same time, they permitted the growth of syncretic forms of Christianity which incorporated older religious ideas amongst Christian ones.
Examples of this are the introduction of KiKongo words to interpret Christian concepts. The KiKongo words ukisi (an abstract give-and-take important charm, but used to hateful "holy") together with nkanda (meaning book) were merged so that the Christian Bible became known equally the nkanda ukisi. The church building became known equally the nzo a ukisi. While some European clergy frequently denounced these mixed traditions, they were never able to root them out.
Catholic Priest Burning Idol House, Sogno, Kingdom of Kongo, 1740s Paola Collo together with Silvia Benso ,Sogno Bamba, Pemba, Ovando (Milan, 1986)
Part of the institution of this church building was the creation of a strong priesthood together with to this cease Afonso's boy Henrique was sent to Europe to live educated. Henrique became an ordained priest together with inward 1518 was named equally bishop of Utica (a North African diocese inward the hands of Muslims). He returned to Kongo inward the early on 1520s to run Kongo's novel church. He died inward 1531 equally he was nigh to go to Europe for the Council of Trent.
Capuchin Missionary Witnessing a Tournament, Sogno, Kingdom of Kongo, 1740s Paola Collo together with Silvia Benso ,Sogno Bamba, Pemba, Ovando (Milan, 1986)
EUROPEAN (PORTUGUESE) DESCRIPTION OF MBANZA KONGO
The spatial organisation of Mbanza Kongo
Mbanza Kongo is situated on a rocky colina which rises 559 meters, overlooking the surroundings, the summit beingness a plateau vii km. inward length. From the top, i has a sweeping view. Because of its location, the Portuguese called it Outeiro, which agency ‘height’. But the inhabitants called it Mbanza Kongo, the metropolis of Kongo, Mbanza Kongo dia Ntotelo, the Kongo metropolis of the king; Kongo dia Wene, Kongo of the founder or Kongo of authority; Kongo dia Ngunga, Kongo of the bell, which referred to the many churches built inward the majestic city.
BANZA KONGO , Capital of the Kingdom of Kongo
The founder chose this location because it offered the dual wages of an almost cardinal seat inward the kingdom together with a natural defense forcefulness against enemy attack. Furthermore, on the plateau, according to Pigafetta (1591, Vol. I, p. 39), is the soil ‘fertile, the air fresh, salubrious together with pure; at that spot are many springs of drinkable H2O which never hurts one’s health, inward whatever season’. The abundance, the exceptional purity of the H2O together with the fertility of the dry soil also struck a German linguistic communication traveller, Bastian (1859, pp. 123–5), inward the nineteenth century. In O. Dapper’s volume (1668), at that spot is an etching drawn from retention which shows the working capital alphabetic character erected on top of a cliff overlooking the Lunda river together with the narrow valley.
Early inward the eighteenth century, Laurent de Lucques i time to a greater extent than recognized the character of the city: ‘This metropolis occupies the best location inward the kingdom, on real beautiful hills. Thanks to its altitude, the air is mild ... The population lived inward opulence because this was the metropolis of the vast kingdom where the riches of the provinces were flowing’ (Cuvelier 1953, p. 257).
When the firstly Portuguese ambassador reached Mbanza Kongo inward 1491, 7 years earlier reaching Mombasa, the metropolis was already quite spread out, according to Cuvelier (1946, pp. 72–4) who gives us a detailed description:
"The streets were non aligned, nor the houses inward the ancient Kongo kingdom, no
avenues lined amongst palms nor ornamental trees. Narrow paths were running inward all
directions through the tall grass. The living quarters of the most of import people
were located unopen to the king’s quarters. Spread out, according to their gustatory modality or their
fancy, they occupied sometimes quite a considerable space. The houses were made of
straw without whatever ornaments, except inside, where at that spot would live a palm cloth
hanging on the wall, representing an antelope or an other animal. The houses of the
of import people could live distinguished from those of the simple ones, because they
were larger together with had to a greater extent than painted palm cloths. The houses were surrounded past times a fence
made from real strong trees: the mingienge amongst juicy fruits similar prunes, mpesempese, African poplars, cactus (diiza) amongst a sap which could poisonous substance spearheads and
state of war knives. Toward the north, the mount was crowned amongst dark woods, a sacred
identify where the dissonance of a hatchet was never heard. Palms, baobabs together with many trees
stood at that spot together with this was where the ancient kings were buried. The founder of the
kingdom of Ntinu Wene was buried there. To the south, at that spot was a large courtyard
called Mbazi ou Mbazi Nkanu, the courtroom of justice, because there, nether a huge wild
fig tree ... which shaded a corner of the place, the kings used to administer justice. It
was a large opened upwards infinite where crowds would get together to have the king’s blessing, to
sentinel dances together with triumphal parades.
Not far from this world identify was the king’s residence or enclosure, which was
called lumbu past times the natives. This enclosure was to a greater extent than than i grand meters in
circumference together with was made of pales tied together amongst lianas ...
At the gates, mavitu were standing the majestic guards together with some horn blowers. Inside the
fence, at that spot was a courtyard; together with so i could consider some other fence, inward the middle of which
was the king’s house. One could only hit it through a labyrinth. The only difference
betwixt this together with the other houses, was that this i was to a greater extent than spacious. Inside the
majestic enclosure, the queen had her residence surrounded past times huts amongst her followers
who accompanied her when she left the enclosure."
16th century cathedral (built inward 1549), which many Angolans claim is the oldest church building inward sub-Saharan Africa. (The church, known locally equally nkulumbimbi, is at nowadays said to take hold been built past times angels overnight. It was elevated to the condition of cathedral inward 1596. Pope John Paul II visited the site during his tour of Republic of Angola inward 1992.)
This description shows good that this urban centre resembled many large villages inward cardinal Africa amongst living quarters spread out together with surrounded past times hedges together with gardens. The layout of the working capital alphabetic character was in all probability non real different from the provincial centre, the clustering of the population resulting essentially from the presence of the Rex or an of import chief. The mbanza political centers be only inward relation to the holder of mightiness together with their evolution is linked. Built of earth, wood, straw together with palms, these cities were fragile together with their ascension together with autumn was linked to the mortal who exercised the power. As elsewhere inward cardinal Africa, this type of centre gravitates about the king’s or the governor’s chemical compound amongst their households, the courtyard together with the sacred woods frequently used equally a cemetery for the ancestors’ graves. Those different elements pose into infinite the sacred king, a sort of symbolic machinery which mediates betwixt nature together with culture. From this symbolic nucleus, the urban centre spreads together with stretches next the evocative paradigm of Balandier (1965, p. 141). The resulting settlement is a city, if i considers the issue of people together with a village, fifty-fifty if out of proportion, if i considers its aspect together with structure.
Female Clothing, Angola, 1786 87 Louis de Grandpre, Voyage a la cote occidentale dAfrique, fait dans les annees 1786 et 1787 (Paris, 1801)
At the cease of the sixteenth century, using data provided past times Duarte Lopez, Pigafetta (1591, Vol. II, p. 40) described Mbanza Kongo, equally it was modified past times the Portuguese influence.
"The town is erected inward the corner of this summit, facing south. Dom Afonso, the first
christian Rex surrounded it past times walls. He assigned to the Portuguese a distinct area
also surrounded past times walls. He also enclosed his palace together with the majestic house, leaving in
betwixt those ii enclosures a large opened upwards infinite where the principal church building was
erected. In forepart of it is a square. The doors, both of the nobles’ residences together with of the
Portuguese houses, opened on the church building side. At the entrance of the main square,
some noblemen from the courtroom take hold their household. Behind the church, the square
leads to a narrow street amongst a door. If i exits through it i finds many houses on
the eastward side. Outside the walls which surround the king’s household together with the
Portuguese city, many constructions belonging to diverse noblemen each one
occupying, without whatever order, the identify he likes, so equally to alive unopen to the court. So it
is non possible to guess the size of this metropolis exterior of the ii enclosures, equally all the
countryside is scattered amongst rural houses together with palaces. Each nobleman, inward his
compound, is walled inward similar a village. The perimeter of the Portuguese metropolis measures
almost a mile, the i of the majestic quarters almost the same. The walls are real thick.
At night, the gates are non closed together with non fifty-fifty guarded."
Clothing Styles, Kingdom of Loango, belatedly 17th cent D O Dapper, Description de l Afrique (Amsterdam,1686)
According to some other testimony from the cease of the sixteenth century: ‘In the working capital alphabetic character San Salvador, at that spot is to a greater extent than than i hundred Portuguese merchants together with to a greater extent than than a grand others born inward Portugal. Their houses are inward an surface area of the metropolis separated from the blacks.’ (Cuvelier & Jadin 1954, p. 137)
So, equally early on equally the cease of the sixteenth century, Mbanza Kongo had the aspect of a colonial city, amongst ii cities co-existing: the European city, built to last, commercial, amongst half dozen or vii churches, an Episcopalian see, students together with the indigenous city, a sort of fragile ‘village-city’ which had grown similar a giant hamlet much inward the same way the African suburbs about modern African towns.
Even if at that spot is a correlation betwixt the evolution of the Kongo political organisation together with the nascence of uncomplicated urban civilization equally noted past times Balandier (1965, p. 140), i must acknowledge that nosotros do non take hold hither an urban tradition similar to those of the old West African cities, in all probability due to the materials used for edifice together with to the lack of a monumental architectural tradition. In l687, Dapper (1668, p. 343) published a reconstructed stance of Mbanza Kongo together with described the city:
"The summit of the mount is occupied past times houses built unopen to each other. The
persons of character ain most of them together with erect walled-in buildings which resemble a
petty city. The houses of the ordinary people are lined upwards next diverse streets.
They are rather large but their walls are made only of straw except for some of them
which are made past times the Portuguese inward beaten globe amongst a thatched roof. The king’s
palace is equally large equally an ordinary city."
Funeral, Angola, 1786 87 Louis de Grandpre, Voyage a la cote occidentale dAfrique, fait dans les annees 1786 et 1787 (Paris, 1801)
It is enclosed past times iv walls, i overlooking the Portuguese quarter, is made of lime together with stone; the others are made of straw, but real neatly done. The walls of the interior rooms are decorated amongst woven straw tapestries. In the interior enclosure of the Palace, at that spot are gardens together with groves amongst beautiful bowers together with pavilions, exquisite for this country, although inward fact it is non real much. There are x or twelve churches, the Cathedral, vii chapels inward the metropolis together with iii churches inward the Prince’s palace. There is also a Jesuit convent where iii or iv of these fathers learn catechism every twenty-four hours to the people, together with schools where Latin together with Portuguese are taught.
There are ii fountains, i inward Saint James street together with some other inward the Palace courtyard, which give an abundance of fresh water, fifty-fifty without having to re-do or maintain the aqueducts. Furthermore, at that spot is a branch of the Lelunde river, called Vefe which exits at the bottom of the mount eastward of the city; its H2O is real good, the people push clitoris from it together with usage it to H2O together with fertilize the surrounding countryside. There are pigs together with goats, but few sheep together with cows; the animals are closed upwards at nighttime inward pens which are within the metropolis nigh the houses.
Estimates of the population of Mbanza Kongo given past times diverse authors vary. At the cease of the sixteenth century, Pigafetta (1591, Vol. II, § 1) said that to a greater extent than than 100,000 people lived at that spot together with this is in all probability exaggerated. An anonymous text dated 1595 talks nigh 10,000 fires (Brasio 1954, Vol. III, pp. 500–4). At the same period, Carmelite missionaries mentioned 30,000 inhabitants inward the capital. Around 1604, the dean of the cathedral counted 2000 households. (Balandier 1965, p. 140). Later, inward the minute one-half of the seventeenth century, Dapper (1668, p. 343) estimated the population at 40,000 inhabitants. At the same period, Cavazzi (1687) stated that the working capital alphabetic character could grip 60,000 people during peace time. (Labat 1732, Vol. I, p. 212 after Cavazzi 1687).
Outside of the Kongo Kingdom, northward of the Zaire River, Dapper (1668, pp. 320-1) visited the metropolis of Loango. He left us amongst a remarkable illustration of this seventeenth century city, also called Mbanza Louangiri or Bwali, at nowadays inward the Congo Republic (Hagenbucher-Sacripanti 1973, p. 69). According to him: ‘this metropolis was almost the same size equally Rouen, but the buildings did non touching each other’.
Economic structure
The universal currency inward Kongo together with exactly nigh all of Central Africa was shell coin known locally equally nzimbu. One hundred nzimbu could purchase a hen; 300 a garden hoe together with 2000 a goat. Slaves, which were ever a portion of Kongo's economic scheme but increased inward merchandise after contact amongst Portugal were also bought inward nzimbu. H5N1 woman mortal slave could live purchased (or sold) for 20,000 nzimbu together with manly mortal slave for 30,000. Nzimbu shells were fished from isle of Luanda together with kept equally a majestic monopoly. The smaller shells were filtered out so that only the large shells entered the marketplace equally currency. The Kongo would non merchandise for gilt or silver, but nzimbu shells, frequently pose inward pots inward special increments, could purchase anything. Kongo's "money pots" held increments of 40, 100, 250, 400, 500. For especially large purchases, at that spot were standardized units such equally a funda (1,000 large shells), Lufuku (10,000 large shells) together with a kofo (20,000 large shells).
The Kongo direction regarded their dry soil equally renda, revenue assignments. The Kongo authorities exacted a monetary caput taxation for each villager, which may good take hold been paid inward form equally well, forming the ground for the kingdom's finances. The Rex granted titles together with income, based on this caput tax. Holders reported annually to the courtroom of their superior for evaluation together with renewal.
17th century ikon of the dutch painter Albert Eckhout showing ii emissaries of the Kingdom of Kongo inward Brazil holding the ii main sources of wealth inward westward africa, an ivory tusk together with a gem box.
Provincial governors paid a portion of the taxation returns from their provinces to the king. Dutch visitors to Kongo inward the 1640s reported this income equally xx meg nzimbu shells. In addition, the crown collected its ain special taxes together with levies, including tolls on the substantial merchandise that passed through the kingdom, especially the lucrative cloth merchandise betwixt the keen cloth producing part of the "Seven Kingdoms of Kongo dia Nlaza," the eastern regions, called "Momboares" or "The Seven" inward Kikongo, together with the coast, especially the Portuguese colony of Luanda.
Crown revenues supported the church, paid past times revenue assignments based on majestic income. For example, Pedro II (1622–1624)detailed the finances of his majestic chapel past times specifying that revenues from diverse estates together with provincial incomes would back upwards it. Baptismal together with burial fees also supported local churches.
When King Garcia II of Kongo|Garcia II gave upwards the isle of Luanda together with its majestic fisheries to the Portuguese inward 1651, he switched the kingdom's currency to raffia cloth. The cloth was "napkin-sized" together with called mpusu. In the 17th century, 100 mpusu could purchase i slave implying a value greater than that of the nzimbu currency.
A Covered Litter, Kingdom of Kongo, belatedly 17th cent D O Dapper, Description de l Afrique (Amsterdam,1686)
Political structure
The vata village, referred to equally libata inward Kongo documents together with past times the Portuguese inward the sixteenth century, served equally Kongo's basic social unit of measurement after the family. Nkuluntu, or mocolunto to the Portuguese, chiefs headed the villages. The i to ii hundred citizens per hamlet migrated nigh every x years to accommodate soil exhaustion. Communal land-ownership together with collective farms produced harvests divided past times families according to the issue of people per household. The nkuluntu received special premium from the harvest earlier the division.
Villages were grouped inward wene, modest states, led past times awene (plural of mwene) or mani to the Portuguese. Awene lived inward mbanza, larger villages or modest towns of somewhere betwixt 1,000 to 5,000 citizens. Higher nobility typically chose these leaders. The Rex also appointed lower-level officials to serve, typically for three-year terms, past times assisting him inward patronage.
Capuchin Missionary beingness Greeted past times Village Head, Sogno, Kingdom of Kongo, 1740s Paola Collo together with Silvia Benso ,Sogno Bamba, Pemba, Ovando (Milan, 1986)
Various provinces made upwards Kongo's higher administrative divisions, amongst some of the larger together with to a greater extent than complex states, such equally Mbamba, divided into varying numbers of sub-provinces, which the direction farther subdivided. The Rex appointed the Mwene Mbamba, the Duke of Mbamba after the 1590s. The Rex technically had the mightiness to dismiss the Mwene Mbamba, but the complex political province of affairs express the king's exercise of his power. When the direction gave out European-style titles, large districts similar Mbamba together with Nsundi typically became Duchies. The direction made smaller ones, such equally Mpemba, Mpangu or a host of territories northward of the capital), Marquisates. Soyo, a complex province on the coast, became a "Country," equally did Nkusu, a smaller together with less complex province eastward of the capital.
Court of Luango
Hereditary families controlled a few provinces, most notably the Duchy of Mbata together with Country of Nkusu, through their positions equally officers appointed past times the king. In the instance of Mbata, the kingdom's origin equally an alliance produced this power, exercised past times the Nsaku Lau. In the seventeenth century, political maneuvering also caused some provinces, notably Soyo, but occasionally Mbamba, to live held for real long terms past times the same person. Provincial governments soundless paid income to the crown together with their rulers reported to the working capital alphabetic character to give account.
The kingdom of Kongo was made upwards of a large issue of provinces. Various sources listing from half dozen to 15 equally the principal ones. Duarte Lopes' description, based on his sense at that spot inward the belatedly sixteenth century, identified half dozen provinces equally the most important. These were Nsundi inward the northeast, Mpangu inward the center, Mbata inward the southeast, Soyo inward the southwest together with ii southern provinces of Mbamba together with Mpemba.
The Rex of Kongo also held several kingdoms inward at to the lowest degree nominal vassalage. These included the kingdoms of Kakongo, Ngoyo together with Vungu to the northward of Kongo. The majestic titles, firstly elaborated past times Afonso inward 1512, styled the ruler equally "King of Kongo together with Lord of the Mbundus" together with later titles listed a issue of other countries over which he also ruled equally "king". The Mbundu kingdoms included Ndongo (sometimes erroneously mentioned equally "Angola"), Kisama together with Matamba. All of these kingdoms were S of Kongo together with much farther from the king's cultural influence than the northern kingdoms. Still later eastern kingdoms such equally Kongo dia Nlaza were named inward the ruler's titles equally well.
Senior officials chose the Mwene Kongo or Rex who served for life next their choice. Electors varied over time, together with at that spot was in all probability never a completely fixed list; rather, senior officials who exercised mightiness did so. Mbata was frequently held to live an elector because of the original constitutional seat that province held. The ruler of Vunda, whose lands lay nigh Mbanza Kongo, was also frequently named equally an elector together with sure enough played a role inward the coronation ceremonies. The ruler of Soyo also cast a vote inward the election. Many kings tried to select their successor, non ever successfully. One of the cardinal problems of Kongo history was the succession of power, together with equally a resultant the province was disturbed past times many rebellions together with revolts.
Military structure
The kingdom's ground forces consisted of a volume levy of archers, drawn from the full general manly mortal population, together with a smaller corps of heavy infantry, who fought amongst swords together with carried shields for protection. Portuguese documents typically referred to heavy infantry, considered nobles, equally fidalgos inward documents. The bearing of a shield was also important, equally Portuguese documents usually telephone telephone the heavy infantry adagueiros (shield bearers). There is weak show to advise revenue assignments paid together with supported them. H5N1 large number, maybe equally many equally 20,000, stayed inward the capital. Smaller contingents lived inward the major provinces nether the command of provincial rulers.
After 1600, civil state of war became far to a greater extent than mutual than inter-state warfare. The authorities instituted a draft for the entire population during wartime, but only a express issue truly served. Many who did non send arms instead carried baggage together with supplies. Thousands of women supported armies on the move. Administrators expected soldiers to take hold ii weeks' worth of nutrient upon reporting for have duty. Logistical difficulties in all probability express both the size of armies together with their capacity to operate for extended periods. Some Portuguese sources suggested that the Rex of Kongo fielded armies equally large equally 70,000 soldiers for a 1665 Battle of Mbwila, but it is unlikely that armies larger than 20–30,000 troops could live raised for armed services campaigns.[20]
Troops were mobilized together with reviewed on Saint James' Day, 25 July, when taxes were also collected. Subjects celebrated this twenty-four hours inward laurels of Saint James together with Afonso I, whose miraculous victory over his blood brother inward 1509 was the principal significance of the vacation inward the Kongo.
When the Portuguese arrived inward Kongo they were forthwith added equally a mercenary force, in all probability nether their ain commander, together with used special-purpose weapons, similar crossbows together with muskets, to add together forcefulness to the normal Kongo monastic enjoin of battle. Their initial impact was muted; Afonso complained inward a alphabetic character of 1514 that they had non been real effective inward a state of war he waged against Munza, a Mbundu rebel, the twelvemonth before. By the 1580s, however, a musketeer corps, which was locally raised from resident Portuguese together with their Kongo-mestiço (mixed race) offspring, was a regular portion of the main Kongo ground forces inward the capital. Provincial armies had some musketeers; for illustration they served against the Portuguese invading ground forces inward 1622. Three hundred together with lx musketeers served inward the Kongo ground forces against the Portuguese at the Battle of Mbwila.
Kongo Religion
Nzambi Kalunga or Nzambi Mpungu Tulendo was the main God of the Kongo Kingdom. The people believed that he/she is the creator together with the ultimate source of mightiness (he is the supreme beingness together with is thought to live omnipotent). They also believed in lesser spirits together with matrilineal ancestors buried on their dry soil are constant sources of life together with well-being equally good equally on fertility together with the continuity of the community. It was their belief that lesser gods together with ancestral spirit mediate betwixt humanity together with the supreme beingness together with that evil, disorder, together with injustice are the resultant of such base of operations human motives equally greed, envy, or maliciousness.
The faith relied on Tax collection to protect against illness together with disasters from angry gods. The Rex was heavily involved inward the faith together with was named the nzambi mpungu (superior spirit). Although they adored him, they did non believe that he could bargain amongst disease, death, together with famine amongst without a assist from their gods.
The Kongo believe inward a cosmos divided inward two, 'this world' (nza yayi) together with 'the dry soil of the dead' (nsi a bafwa). The ii worlds are divided past times a trunk of water, traditionally called Kalunga, together with also known equally nlangu (water), m'bu (ocean), or nzadi (great river). Life inward that sense is a cyclical together with repetitive movement betwixt the ii worlds mentioned above, resembling the path of the sun. At the rising together with setting of the Sun then, the living together with the dead substitution twenty-four hours together with night.
In Kongo belief, man's life does non end, it constitutes a cycle, together with decease is only a transition inward the procedure of change. Following that belief, a man's soul does non dwell inward the grave after his decease but leaves it to acquire a ghost (n'kuyu) inward the dry soil of the dead, which is called ku mpemba a fula.
The Sun constitutes a daily of import symbol inward Kongo life, because it is a sign of the constant wheel of life, so that at the rising together with setting of the Sun the living together with the dead substitution twenty-four hours together with night. The setting of the Sun symbolizes man's decease together with its rising his rebirth, or the continuity of his life. Rising = beginning, birth, regrowth; ascendancy = maturity, responsibility; setting = handing on, death, transformation; midnight = existence inward the other world, eventual birth. The Sun hence ultimately symbolizes the path of the soul.
Art of the Kongo Kingdom
The Kongo peoples are divided into many subgroups including the Yombe, Vili, Beembe, Sundi, together with others but portion a mutual language, Kikongo. These groups take hold many cultural similarities, including that they all make a huge hit of sculptural art. The most notable characteristic of this region’s figurative vogue is the relative naturalism of the representation of both humans together with animals. "The musculature of human face upwards together with trunk is carefully rendered, together with keen attending is paid to items of personal adornment together with scarification. Much of the region’s fine art was produced for social together with political leaders such equally the Kongo king."
Slavery together with majestic rivalries
In the next decades, the Kingdom of Kongo became a major source of slaves for Portuguese traders together with other European powers. The Cantino Atlas of 1502 mentions Kongo equally a source of slaves for the isle of São Tomé. Slavery had existed inward Kongo long earlier the arrival of the Portuguese, together with Afonso's early on letters exhibit the show of slave markets. They also exhibit the purchase together with sale of slaves within the province together with his accounts on capturing slaves inward state of war which were given together with sold to Portuguese merchants. It is probable that most of the slaves exported to the Portuguese were state of war captives from Kongo's campaigns of expansion. In addition, the slaving wars helped Afonso consolidate his mightiness inward southern together with eastern border regions.
H5N1 mutual characteristic of political life inward the kingdom of Kongo was a violent competition over succession to the throne. Afonso's ain competition for the throne was intense, though petty is known nigh it. However, a keen bargain is known nigh how such struggles took identify from the competition that followed Afonso's decease inward belatedly 1542 or early on 1543. This is inward large portion due to detailed inquest conducted past times majestic officials inward 1550, which survives inward the Portuguese archives. In this inquest i tin consider that factions formed behind prominent men, such equally Afonso I's son, Pedro Nkanga a Mvemba together with Diogo Nkumbi a Mpudi, his grandson who ultimately overthrew Pedro inward 1545. Although the factions placed themselves inward the idiom of kinship (using the Portuguese term geração or lineage, in all probability kanda inward Kikongo) they were non formed strictly along heredity lines since unopen kin were frequently inward separate factions. The players included nobles holding appointive titles to provincial governorships, members of the majestic council together with also officials inward the at nowadays good developed Church hierarchy.
King Diogo I skillfully replaced or outmaneuvered his entrenched competitors after he was crowned inward 1545. He faced a major conspiracy led past times Pedro I, who had taken refuge inward a church, together with whom Diogo inward observe of the Church's dominion of asylum allowed to go on inward the church. However, Diogo did conduct an inquiry into the plot, the text of which was sent to Portugal inward 1552 together with gives us an first-class thought of the way inward which plotters hoped to overthrow the Rex past times enticing his supporters to abandon him.
Problems also arose betwixt Diogo together with the Portuguese settlers at Sao Tome known equally Tomistas. According to a treaty betwixt Kongo together with Portugal, the old were only to merchandise within the latter's realm for slaves. That meant the Portuguese were restricted to the slaves offered past times King Diogo or those he authorized to sell slaves. Every twelvemonth the Tomistas would come upwards amongst 12 to 15 ships to send dorsum betwixt 400 together with 700 slaves (5000-10000 slaves a year). This was non plenty to take wages of Kongo's ever-growing provide of slaves thank yous to wars on its eastern frontier. The captains would essay to overload their cargos, resulting inward revolts. However, the factor that truly broke the bargain was the Tomista habit of sailing upriver to the Malebo Pool to purchase slaves from BaTeke traders who were increasingly taken amongst European goods over the nzimbu shells the manikongo offered them. Enraged past times this breach of contract, King Diogo broke off relations inward 1555 together with expelled lxx or so Portuguese living inward his realm (many of whom had lived at that spot for a long fourth dimension amongst African wives together with mixed-race children).
The king's exertion at pacifying the restless kingdom of Ndongo inward 1556 backfired resulting inward the latter's independence. Despite this setback, he would bask a long reign that ended amongst his decease inward 1561.
King Diogo's successor, whose holler is lost to history, was killed past times the Portuguese together with replaced amongst a bastard boy who was to a greater extent than pliant to Tomista interests Afonso II. The mutual people of Kongo were enraged at his enthronement together with responded amongst riots throughout the kingdom. Many Portuguese were killed, together with the majestic port of Mpinda was closed to the Portuguese effectively ending the slave merchandise betwixt Kongo together with Portugal. Less than a twelvemonth into this chaos, King Afonso II was murdered spell attending volume past times his brother, the side past times side manikongo, Bernardo I. King Bernardo allowed the boycott of Portuguese merchandise to go on spell quietly reestablishing relations amongst Lisbon. King Bernardo I was killed warring against the Yaka inward 1567. The side past times side manikongo, Henrique I was drawn into a state of war inward the eastern portion of the province where he was killed, leaving the authorities inward the hands of his stepson Álvaro Nimi a Lukeni lua Mvemba. He was crowned equally Álvaro I, "by mutual consent" according to some witnesses.
Kongo nether the House of Kwilu
Álvaro I came to the throne during some other competition over the throne inward 1568. Being from the Kwilu river valley together with non a blood relative of whatever of the previous kings, his reign marked the commencement of the House of Kwilu. There were sure enough factions that opposed him, though it is non known specifically who they were. Álvaro forthwith had to combat invaders from the eastward (who some authorities believe were truly rebels within the country, either peasants or discontented nobles from challenger factions) called the Jagas. To do this, he decided to enlist the assistance of the Portuguese based at São Tomé, who sent an expedition nether Francisco de Gouveia Sottomaior to assist. As a portion of the same process, Álvaro agreed to allow the Portuguese to constitute a colony inward his province of Luanda S of his kingdom. In add-on to allowing the Portuguese to constitute themselves inward Luanda, Kongo provided the Portuguese amongst back upwards inward their state of war against the Kingdom of Ndongo inward 1579. The kingdom of Ndongo was located inland eastward of Luanda together with although claimed inward Kongo's majestic titles equally early on equally 1535 was in all probability never nether a business solid Kongo administration.
Álvaro also worked hard to westernize Kongo, gradually introducing European vogue titles for his nobles, so that the Mwene Nsundi became the Duke of Nsundi; the Mwene Mbamba became the Duke of Mbamba or the Mwene Mpemba. The Mwene Mpemba became Marquis of Mpemba, together with the Mwene Soyo became Count of Soyo. He together with his boy Álvaro II Nimi a Nkanga (crowned inward 1587]) bestowed orders of chivalry called the Order of Christ. The working capital alphabetic character was also renamed São Salvador or "Holy Savior" inward Portuguese during this period. In 1596, Álvaro's emissaries to Rome persuaded the Pope to recognize São Salvador equally the cathedral of a novel diocese which would include Kongo together with the Portuguese territory inward Angola. However, the Rex of Portugal won the correct to nominate the bishops to this see, which would live the source of tension betwixt the ii countries.
The Portuguese bishops throughout the kingdom were frequently favourable to European interests inward a fourth dimension when relations betwixt Kongo together with Republic of Angola were tense. They refused to appoint priests, forcing Kongo to rely to a greater extent than together with to a greater extent than heavily on the laity. Documents of the fourth dimension exhibit that lay teachers (called mestres inward Portuguese-language documents) were paid salaries together with appointed past times the crown, together with at times Kongo kings withheld income together with services to the bishops together with their supporters (a tactic called "country excommunication"). Controlling revenue was vital for Kongo's kings since fifty-fifty Jesuit missionaries were paid salaries from the majestic exchequer.
At the same fourth dimension equally this ecclesiastical job developed, the governors of Republic of Angola began to extend their campaigns into areas that Kongo regarded equally beingness firmly nether their sovereignty. This included the part about Nambu a Ngongo, which Governor João Furtado attacked inward the mid- 1590s. Other campaigns inward the vicinity would Pb to denunciations past times the rulers of Kongo against this violation of their sovereignty.
Factionalism
Álvaro I together with his successor, Álvaro II, also faced problems amongst factional rivals from families that had been displaced from succession. In monastic enjoin to enhance back upwards against some enemies, they had to brand concessions to others. One of the most of import of these concessions was allowing Manuel, the Count of Soyo, to grip role for many years commencement sometime earlier 1591. During this same period, Álvaro II made a similar concession to António da Silva, the Duke of Mbamba. António da Silva was strong plenty that he decided the succession of the kingdom, selecting Bernardo II inward 1614, but putting him aside inward favor of Álvaro III inward 1615. It was only amongst difficulty that Álvaro III was able to pose his ain alternative inward equally Duke of Mbamba when António da Silva died inward 1620 instead of having the province autumn into the hands of the duke's son. At the same time, however, Álvaro III created some other powerful together with semi-independent nobleman inward Manuel Jordão who held Nsundi for him.
Kongo nether the House of Nsundi
Tensions betwixt Portugal together with Kongo increased farther equally the governors of Portuguese Republic of Angola became to a greater extent than aggressive. Luis Mendes de Vasconcelos, who arrived equally governor inward 1617, used mercenary African groups called Imbangala to brand a devastating state of war on Ndongo, together with and so to raid together with pillage some southern Kongo provinces. He was especially interested inward the province of Kasanze, a marshy part that lay exactly northward of Luanda. Many slaves beingness deported through Luanda fled into this part together with were frequently granted sanctuary, together with for this reason, Mendes de Vasconcelos decided that a determined activeness was needed to halt it. The side past times side governor of Angola, João Correia de Sousa, used the Imbangala to launch a total scale invasion of southern Kongo inward 1622, next the decease of Álvaro III. João Correia de Sousa claimed he had the correct to select the Rex of Kongo. He was also upset that the Kongolese electors chose Pedro II, a old Duke of Mbamba. Pedro II was originally from the duchy of Nsundi, hence the holler of the majestic theatre he created, the House of Nsundi. João Correia de Sousa also contended that Pedro II had sheltered runaway slaves from Republic of Angola during the latter's governorship of Mbamba.
Kongo-Portuguese War of 1622
The Kongo-Portuguese War of 1622 began initially because of a Portuguese have against the Kasanze Kingdom, which was conducted ruthlessly. From there, the ground forces moved to Nambu a Ngongo, whose ruler, Pedro Afonso, was held to live sheltering runaway slaves equally well. Although Pedro Afonso, facing an overwhelming ground forces of over 20,000 agreed to homecoming some runaways, the ground forces attacked his province together with killed him.
Following its success inward Nambu a Ngongo, the Portuguese ground forces advanced into Mbamba - the part inhabited past times the Ombamba - inward November. The Portuguese forces scored a victory at the Battle of Mbumbi. There they faced a chop-chop gathered local forcefulness led past times the novel Duke of Mbamba, together with reinforced past times forces from Mpemba led past times its Marquis. Both the Duke of Mbamba together with the Marquis of Mpemba were killed inward the battle. According to Esikongo accounts, they were eaten past times the Imbangala allies of the Portuguese. However, Pedro II, the newly crowned Rex of Kongo brought the main army, including troops from Soyo downward into Mbamba together with decisively defeated the Portuguese driving them from the province at a battle waged somewhere nigh Mbanda Kasi. Portuguese residents of Kongo, frightened past times the consequences for their business organisation of the invasion, wrote a hostile alphabetic character to João Correia de Sousa, denouncing his invasion.
Following the defeat of the Portuguese at Mbandi Kasi, Pedro II declared Republic of Angola an official enemy. The Rex together with so wrote letters denouncing João Correia de Sousa to the King of Espana together with the Pope. Meanwhile, anti-Portuguese riots broke out all over the kingdom together with threatened its long established merchant community. Portuguese throughout the province were humiliatingly disarmed together with fifty-fifty forced to give upwards their clothes. Pedro, anxious non to alienate the Portuguese merchant community, together with aware that they had to a greater extent than frequently than non remained loyal during the war, did equally much equally he could to save their lives together with property, leading some of his detractors to telephone telephone him "king of Portuguese".
As a resultant of Kongo's victory, the Portuguese merchant community of Luanda revolted against the governor hoping to save their ties amongst the king. Backed past times the Jesuits, who had also exactly recommenced their mission there, they forced João Correia de Sousa to resign together with flee the country. The interim authorities that followed the divergence was led past times the bishop of Angola. They were real conciliatory to Kongo together with agreed to homecoming some of the slaves captured past times Correia de Sousa, especially the lesser nobles captured at the Battle of Mbumbi.
Regardless of the novel authorities inward Angola's overtures, Pedro II had non forgotten the invasion together with planned to take the Portuguese from the realm altogether. The Rex sent a alphabetic character to the Dutch Estates General proposing a articulation armed services assail on Republic of Angola amongst a Kongo ground forces together with a Dutch fleet. He would pay the Dutch amongst gold, silvery together with ivory for their efforts. As planned, a Dutch fleet nether the command of the celebrated admiral Piet Heyn acquire inward in Luanda to send out its assail inward 1624. The computer programme failed to come upwards to fruition as, at that point, Pedro had died together with his boy Garcia Mvemba a Nkanga was elected king. King Garcia I was to a greater extent than forgiving of the Portuguese together with had been successfully persuaded past times their diverse gestures of conciliation. He was unwilling to press the assail on Republic of Angola at that time, contending that equally a Catholic, he could non ally amongst non-Catholics to assail the city.
Factionalism together with homecoming of the House of Kwilu
The cease of the firstly quarter of the 17th century saw a novel burst inward Kongo's political struggle. At the pump of the conflict were ii noble houses fighting over the kingship. On i side of the conflict was the House of Kwilu, which counting most of the kings named Álvaro. They were ousted past times the opposing House of Nsundi, when Pedro II was placed on the throne past times powerful local forces inward São Salvador, in all probability equally a compromise when Álvaro III died without an heir old plenty to rule.
As the reigning power, the House of Nsundi worked earnestly to identify partisans inward king-making positions throughout the empire. Either Pedro II or Garcia I managed to secure Soyo inward the hands of Count Paulo, who held it together with supported the House of Nsundi from nigh 1625 until 1641. Meanwhile, Manuel Jordão, a partisan of the House of Kwilu managed to forcefulness Garcia I to flee together with placed Ambrósio I of the House of Kwilu on the throne.
King Ambrósio either could non or did non take Paulo from Soyo, though he did eventually take Jordão. After a dominion marked past times rumors of state of war mobilizations together with other disruptive behavior, a keen riot at the working capital alphabetic character resulted inward the decease of the Rex past times a mob. Ambrosio is replaced amongst Alvaro IV past times the Duke of Mbamba, Daniel da Silva. King Alvaro IV is only 11 at the fourth dimension together with easily manipulated. In 1632, Daniel da Silva marched on the working capital alphabetic character inward monastic enjoin to "rescue his nephew from his enemies". At the time, he was nether the protection of the Count of Soyo, Paulo, Alvaro Nimi a Lukeni a Nzenze a Ntumba together with his blood brother Garcia II Nkanga a Lukeni. After a dramatic battle inward Soyo, the immature Rex was successfully restored only to live later poisoned past times Alvaro V, a Kimpanzu.
Kongo nether the House of Kinlaza
After a minute state of war against his cousins Nimi a Lukeni together with Nkanga a Lukeni, Alvaro V was killed together with replaced past times Alvaro VI inward 1636 initiating the House of Kinlaza's dominion over Kongo. Following his decease inward 1641, his blood brother took over together with was crowned Garcia II. The old House of Nsundi was consolidated into their House of Kwilu rivals equally the Kimpanzu lineage of the dead Alvaro V.
Garcia II took the throne on the evening of several crisis. One of his rivals, Daniel da Silva (who in all probability received the patronage of the Daniel da Silva who was killed past times Garcia II spell defending Alvaro IV), managed to secure the County of Soyo together with used it equally a base of operations against Garcia II for the whole of his reign. As a result, Garcia II was prevented from completely consolidating his authority. Another job facing King Garcia II was a rebellion inward the Dembos region, which also threatened his authority. Lastly, at that spot was the understanding made past times Pedro II inward 1622 promising Kongo's back upwards to the Dutch inward an offensive to oust Portugal from Luanda.
Dutch invasion of Luanda together with the Second Portuguese War
In 1641, the Dutch invaded Republic of Angola together with captured Luanda after an almost bloodless struggle. They forthwith sought to renew their alliance amongst Kongo, which had had a simulated start inward 1624 when Garcia I refused to assist their assail on Luanda. While relations betwixt Sao Salvador together with Luanda were non warm, the ii polities had enjoyed an slowly peace due to the former's internal distractions together with the latter's state of war against the Kingdom of Matamba. The same twelvemonth of the Portuguese ouster from Luanda, Kongo entered into a formal understanding amongst the novel authorities together with agreed to provide armed services assistance equally needed. Garcia II ejected nearly all Portuguese together with Luso-African merchants from his kingdom. The colony of Republic of Angola was declared an enemy i time again, together with the Duke of Mbamba was sent amongst an ground forces to assist the Dutch. The Dutch also provided Kongo amongst armed services assistance, inward substitution for payment inward slaves.
King of Kongo,Garcia II Receiving Dutch Ambassadors, 1642 DO Dapper, Description de lAfrique Traduite du Flamand (1686)
In 1642, the Dutch sent troops to assist Garcia II pose downward an uprising past times peoples of the southern district inward the Dembos region. The authorities chop-chop pose downward the Nsala rebellion, reaffirming the Kongo-Dutch alliance. King Garcia II paid the Dutch for their services inward slaves taken from ranks of Dembos rebels. These slaves were sent to Pernambuco, Brazil where the Dutch had taken over a portion of the Portuguese saccharide producing region. H5N1 Dutch-Kongo forcefulness attacked Portuguese bases on the Bengo River inward 1643 inward retaliation for Portuguese harassment. The Dutch captured Portuguese positions together with forced their rivals to withdraw to Dutch forts on the Kwanza River at Muxima together with Masangano. Following this victory, the Dutch i time to a greater extent than lost involvement inward conquering the colony of Angola.
As inward their conquest of Pernambuco, the Dutch West Bharat Company was content to allow the Portuguese to remain inland. The Dutch sought to spare themselves the expense of war, together with instead relied on command of transportation to turn a profit from the colony. Thus, to Garcia's chagrin the Portuguese together with Dutch signed a peace treaty inward 1643 ending the brief albeit successful war. Despite his disappointment, however, amongst the Portuguese out of the way together with an cease to Dutch pursuits of troops, Garcia II could plow his attending to the growing threat posed past times the Count of Soyo.
Kongo's War amongst Soyo
While Garcia was disappointed that the Dutch alliance could non drive out the Portuguese, it did gratis him to plow his attending to the growing threat posed past times the Count of Soyo. The Counts of Soyo were initially strong partisans of the House of Nsundi together with its successor the House of Kinlaza. Count Paulo had assisted inward the ascension of the Kinlaza to power. However, Paulo died at nigh the same fourth dimension equally Garcia became Rex inward 1641. H5N1 challenger count, Daniel da Silva from the House of Kwilu, took command of the county equally a partisan of the newly formed Kimpanzu faction. He would claim that Soyo had the correct to select its ain ruler, though Garcia never accepted this claim together with spent much of the firstly portion of his reign fighting against it. Garcia did non back upwards this displace equally i of the most of import offices inward Kongo.
In 1645 Garcia II sent a forcefulness against Daniel da Silva nether the command of his boy Afonso. The have was a failure due to Kongo's inability to take Soyo's fortified seat at Mfinda Ngula. Worse still, Afonso was captured inward the battle forcing Garcia to engage inward humiliating negotiations amongst da Silva to win dorsum his freedom. Italian Capuchin missionaries who had exactly arrived inward Soyo inward the aftermath of the battle assisted inward the negotiations. In 1646 Garcia sent a minute armed services forcefulness against Soyo, but his forces were defeated again. Because Garcia was so intent on subduing Soyo, he was unable to brand a total armed services exertion to assist the Dutch inward the state of war against Portugal.
The Third Portuguese War
The Dutch were convinced they could avoid committing their forces to whatever farther wars. Queen Njinga had been active against the Portuguese, together with the Dutch felt secure. When Portuguese reinforcements managed to defeat her at Kavanga inward 1646, the Dutch felt obliged to live to a greater extent than aggressive. The Dutch convinced Kongo to bring together them together with Queen Njinga inward some other venture against the Portuguese. In 1647, Kongo troops participated inward the Battle of Kombi, where they soundly defeated the Portuguese acre ground forces together with forced them to combat defensively.
H5N1 twelvemonth later, Portuguese reinforcements from Brazil forced the Dutch to give upwards Luanda together with withdraw from Republic of Angola inward 1648. The novel Portuguese governor, Salvador de Sá, sought terms amongst Kongo, demanding the Island of Luanda, the source of Kongo's coin provide of nzimbu shells. Although neither Kongo nor Republic of Angola ever ratified a treaty, sent to the Rex inward 1649, the Portuguese gained de facto command of the island. The state of war resulted inward the Dutch losing their claims inward Central Africa, Nzinga beingness forced dorsum into Matamba, the Portuguese restored to their coastal seat together with Kongo lost or gained aught other than the indemnity Garcia paid which ended hostilities betwixt the ii challenger powers. King Garcia II, after allowing the Portuguese to gain command over Luanda Island, switched the kingdom's currency to raffia cloth, negating the Portuguese gains.
The Battle of Mbwila
Portugal began pressing claims over southern vassals of Kongo, especially the province of Mbwila, next their restoration at Luanda. Mbwila, a nominal vassal of Kongo, had also signed a treaty of vassalage amongst Portugal inward 1619. It divided its loyalty betwixt the Colony of Republic of Angola together with Kongo inward the intervening period. Though the Portuguese frequently attacked Mbwila they never brought it nether their authority.
Kongo began working towards a Castilian alliance, especially next António I's succession equally Rex inward 1661. Although it is non clear what diplomatic activities he engaged inward Espana itself, the Portuguese clearly believed that he hoped to repeat the Dutch invasion this fourth dimension amongst the assistance of Spain. António sent emissaries to the Dembos part together with to Matamba together with Mbwila attempting to shape a novel anti-Portuguese alliance. The Portuguese had been troubled, moreover past times Kongo back upwards of runaway slaves, who flocked to southern Kongo throughout the 1650s. At the same time, the Portuguese were advancing their ain agenda for Mbwila, which they claimed equally a vassal. In 1665 both sides invaded Mbwila together with their challenger armies met each other at Ulanga, inward the valley below Mbanza Mbwila, working capital alphabetic character of the district.
At the Battle of Mbwila inward 1665, the Portuguese forces from Republic of Angola had their firstly victory against the kingdom of Kongo since 1622. They defeated the forces nether António I killing him together with many of his courtiers equally good equally the Luso-African Capuchin priest Manuel Roboredo (also known past times his cloister holler of Francisco de São Salvador), who had attempted to foreclose this concluding war.
Kongo Civil War
In the aftermath of the battle, at that spot was no clear succession. The province was divided betwixt challenger claimants to the throne. The ii factions of Kimpanzu together with Kinlaza hardened, together with partitioned the province betwixt them. Pretenders would ascend to the throne together with so live ousted. The menses was marked past times an increment of BaKongo slaves beingness sold across the Atlantic, the weakening of the Kongo monarchy together with the strengthening of Soyo.
During this chaos, Kongo was beingness increasingly manipulated past times Soyo. In an deed of desperation, the cardinal ascendancy inward Kongo called on Luanda to assail Soyo inward homecoming for diverse concessions. The Portuguese invaded the county of Soyo inward 1670. They met amongst no to a greater extent than success than Garcia II, beingness roundly defeated past times Soyo's forces at the Battle of Kitombo on 18 Oct 1670. The kingdom of Kongo was to remain completely independent, though soundless embroiled inward civil war, thank yous to the real forcefulness it had fought so long to destroy. This Portuguese defeat was resounding plenty to cease all Portuguese ambitions inward Kongo's sphere of influence until the cease of the nineteenth century.
The battles betwixt the Kimpanzu together with Kinlaza continued plunging the kingdom into a chaos non known inward centuries. The fighting betwixt the ii lineages led to the sack of São Salvador inward 1678. Ironically, the working capital alphabetic character built past times the pact of Mpemba together with Mbata was burned to the ground non past times the Portuguese or challenger African nations but past times its real heirs. The metropolis together with hinterland about Mbanza Kongo were depopulated. The population dispersed into the mount top fortresses of the challenger kings. These were the Mountain of Kibangu eastward of the working capital alphabetic character together with the fortress of the Águas Rosadas, a line founded inward the 1680s from descendants of Kinlaza together with Kimpanzu, the part of Mbula or Lemba where a line founded past times the Kinlaza pretender, Pedro III ruled; together with Lovota a district inward southern Soyo that sheltered a Kimpanzu lineage whose caput was D Suzanna de Nóbrega. Finally, D Ana Afonso de Leão founded her ain pump on the Mbidizi River at Nkondo together with guided her junior kinsmen to reclaim the country, fifty-fifty equally she sought to reconcile the hostile factions.
Group gathered about throne. Kongo (1686), by Dapper, Olfert, 1639-1689
In the interim, however, tens of thousands fleeing the conflict or caught upwards inward the battles were deported equally slaves to English, French, Dutch together with Portuguese merchants every year. One flow led northward to Loango, whose merchants, known equally Vili (Mubires inward the period) carried them primarily to merchants from England together with the Netherlands, together with others were taken to Luanda where they were sold to Portuguese merchants outflow for Brazil. By the cease of the seventeenth century, several long wars together with interventions past times the at nowadays independent Counts of Soyo (who restyled themselves equally Grand Princes) had brought an cease to Kongo's golden age.
Turmoil together with rebirth
For nearly twoscore years, the kingdom of Kongo wallowed inward civil war. With São Salvador inward ruin, the challenger houses had retreated to bases inward Mbula (also known equally Lemba) together with Kibangu. In the midst of this crisis, a immature adult woman named Dona Beatriz Kimpa Vita appeared claiming that she was possessed past times the spirit of Saint Anthony. She tried to win recognition for a reunification of the country. At first, inward 1704 she tried amongst King Pedro IV Nusamu a Mvemba who ruled from Kibangu, eastward of the old capital. When he rebuffed her, she went to his challenger João III Nzuzi a Ntamba at his fortified mount of Lemba (also known equally Mbula) exactly S of the Congo River. After beingness driven away from there, she decided to telephone telephone her followers to reoccupy the working capital alphabetic character amongst her. Thousands came, together with the metropolis was repopulated. As she became to a greater extent than of a political actor, she became involved inward the rivalry betwixt the kings, eventually choosing to elect Pedro Constantinho da Silva equally a novel king. However, she was captured shortly after this past times Pedro IV's supporters, tried, condemned for witchcraft together with heresy together with burned inward July, 1706. The movement continued inward command of São Salvador until Pedro IV's ground forces stormed it inward 1709.
18th together with 19th centuries
In the eighteenth together with nineteenth centuries, Kongo artists began making crucifixes together with other religious objects that depicted Jesus equally an African. Such objects produced past times many workshops over a long menses (given their variety) reverberate that emerging belief that Kongo was a cardinal portion of the Christian world, together with fundamental to its history. H5N1 story of the eighteenth century was that the partially ruined cathedral of São Salvador, originally constructed for the Jesuits inward 1549 together with eventually elevated to cathedral status, was truly built overnight past times angels. It was called affectionately, Nkulumbimbi. Pope John Paul II would eventually say volume at this cathedral inward 1992.
Manuel II of Kongo succeeded Pedro IV inward 1718. Manuel II ruled over a restored together with restive kingdom until his decease inward 1743. However, Soyo's provincial condition inward the kingdom, nominal for years, express Manuel's power. Nsundi on the northward had also to a greater extent than or less acquire independent, although soundless claiming to live portion of the larger kingdom together with to a greater extent than or less permanently ruled past times a Kimpanzu family. Even within the remaining portions of the kingdom, at that spot were soundless powerful together with violent rivalries. At to the lowest degree i major state of war took identify inward the 1730s inward the province of Mbamba. Pedro IV's successor, Garcia IV Nkanga a Mvandu, ruled from 1743 to 1752. Pedro IV's restoration required his successor's membership inward a branch of the Kinlaza faction resident inward Matadi that had sworn loyalty to Pedro IV inward 1716. Other Kinlaza branches had developed inward the north, at Lemba together with Matari, together with inward the S along the Mbidizi River inward lands that had been ruled past times D. Ana Afonso de Leão. De Leão's lands came to live called the "Lands of the Queen".
Kongo prince, Dom Nicolau. Westernized Nicolau I of Kongo (Also known equally Nicolau I Misaki mia Nimi).He Ruled 27 August 1752–post 1758.
Kimpanzu together with Kinlaza.
José ruled until 1785, when he handed mightiness over to his blood brother Afonso V (1785–87). Afonso's brief reign ended inward his precipitous death, rumored to live poisoning. H5N1 confused struggle broke out next Afonso's death. By 1794, the throne ended upwards inward the hands of Henrique I, a human being of uncertain factional origin, who arranged for iii parties to separate the succession. Garcia V abrogated the arrangement, proclaiming himself Rex inward 1805. He ruled until 1830. André II, who followed Garcia V, appeared to take hold restored the older rotational claims, equally he was from the northern branch of the Kinlaza, whose working capital alphabetic character had moved from Matadi to Manga. Andre ruled until 1842 when Henrique II, from the southern (Mbidizi Valley) branch of the same family, overthrew him. Andre, however, did non take his fate together with withdrew amongst his followers to Mbanza Mputo, a hamlet exactly beyond the border of São Salvador, where he together with his descendants kept upwards their claims. King Henrique II, who came to mightiness after overthrowing André II, ruled Kongo from 1842 until his decease inward 1857.
In 1839 the Portuguese government, acting on British pressure, abolished the slave merchandise S of the equator which had so damaged Central Africa. Human trafficking continued until good into the 1920s, firstly equally an illegal slave trade, together with so equally contract labour. H5N1 commodity trade, at firstly focused on ivory together with wax, but gradually growing to include peanuts together with rubber, replaced the slave trade. This merchandise revolutionized the economies together with eventually the politics of the whole of Central Africa. In identify of the slave trade, largely nether the command of province authorities, thousands, together with eventually hundreds of thousands of commoners began carrying goods from inland to coastal ports. These people managed to portion inward the wealth of the novel trade, together with equally a result, commercially connected people constructed novel villages together with challenged the authorities.
During this menses social construction changed equally well. New social organizations, makanda emerged. These makanda, nominally clans descended from mutual ancestors, were equally much trading associations equally theatre unit of measurement units. These clans founded strings of villages connected past times fictional kinship along the merchandise routes, from Boma or the coast of Soyo to São Salvador together with and so on into the interior. H5N1 novel oral traditions nigh the founder of the kingdom, frequently held to live Afonso I, described the kingdom equally originating when the Rex caused the clans to disperse inward all directions. The histories of these clans, typically describing the travels of their founder together with his followers from an origin dot to their concluding villages, replaced inward many areas the history of the kingdom itself.[18]
Despite violent rivalries together with the fracturing of the kingdom, it continued to be independently good into the 19th century. The ascension of the clans became noticeable inward the 1850s at the cease of the reign of Henrique II. In 1855 or 1856, ii potential kings emerged to competition the succession next his death. Álvaro Ndongo claimed the throne on behalf of the Kinlaza faction of Matari (ignoring the existence of Andre's grouping at Mbanza Puto), calling himself Álvaro XIII together with Pedro Lelo claimed the throne on behalf of the Mbidizi Valley faction of the Kinlaza from a base of operations at Bembe. Pedro won the contest, thank yous to soliciting Portuguese aid, together with amongst their assist his soldiers defeated Álvaro. Like André II, Álvaro XIII did non take defeat together with established his ain base of operations at Nkunga, non far from São Salvador. The Portuguese back upwards which had pose Pedro V on the throne had a price, for when he was crowned Pedro V (he was truly the minute Rex named Pedro V, the firstly i was the ruler inward the belatedly 1770s) inward 1857 he also swore a treaty of vassalage to Portugal. Portugal gained nominal ascendancy over Kongo, together with fifty-fifty constructed a fort inward São Salvador to theatre a garrison.
In 1866, citing excessive costs, the Portuguese authorities withdrew the garrison. Pedro continued his rule, however, though he faced increasing rivalry from clan-based trading magnates who drained his ascendancy from much of the country. The most unsafe of these was Garcia Mbwaka Matu of the town of Makuta. This town had been founded past times a human being named Kuvo, who in all probability obtained his wealth through trade, since he together with Garcia made a keen bargain of controlling markets. Though this was a keen challenge inward the 1870s, after Garcia's decease inward 1880, Makuta became less problematic.
At the Conference of Berlin inward 1884–1885, European powers divided most of Central Africa betwixt them. Portugal claimed the lion's portion of what remained of independent Kongo, however, Portugal was non together with so inward a seat to brand "effective occupation." King Pedro V ruled x to a greater extent than years using the Portuguese to strengthen his control. King Pedro V voluntarily reaffirmed Kongo's seat a Portuguese vassal inward 1888. After a revolt against the Portuguese inward 1914, Portugal abolished the championship of Rex of Kongo, ending fifty-fifty symbolic native rule. The Titular Kings, however, kept using the championship at to the lowest degree until 1964, when a dispute over the succession began, according to the Almanach de Bruxelles.
Letter From King Leopold II to Colonial Missionaries Heading to Africa, 1883
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Below is a alphabetic character written inward 1883 past times King Leopold II of Kingdom of Belgium to Belgian Christian missionaries beingness sent to Congo. These Christian missionaries would eventually acquire the spearhead of Belgian colonialism only to live followed past times Belgian traders together with lastly the Belgian army.
Reverends, Fathers together with Dear Compatriots:
The chore that is given to fulfill is real fragile together with requires much tact. You volition go sure enough to evangelize, but your evangelization must inspire to a higher identify all Kingdom of Belgium interests. Your principal objective inward our mission inward the Congo is never to learn the n!ggers to know God, this they know already. They speak together with submit to a Mungu, i Nzambi, i Nzakomba, together with what else I don’t know.
Capuchin Missionary Celebrating Mass, Sogno, Kingdom of Kongo, 1740s Paola Collo together with Silvia Benso ,Sogno Bamba, Pemba, Ovando (Milan, 1986)
They know that to kill, to slumber amongst someone else’s wife, to prevarication together with to insult is bad. Have courage to acknowledge it; yous are non going to learn them what they know already. Your essential role is to facilitate the chore of administrators together with industrials, which agency yous volition go to interpret the gospel inward the way it volition live the best to protect your interests inward that portion of the world. For these things, yous take hold to maintain sentinel on dis-interesting our savages from the richness that is plenty [in their underground. To avoid that, they acquire interested inward it, together with brand yous murderous] competition together with dream i twenty-four hours to overthrow you.
Your knowledge of the gospel volition allow yous to uncovering texts ordering, together with encouraging your followers to love poverty, similar “Happier are the pitiable because they volition inherit the heaven” and, “It’s real hard for the rich to go inward the kingdom of God.” You take hold to detach from them together with brand them disrespect everything which gives courage to affront us. I brand reference to their Mystic System together with their state of war fetish – warfare protection – which they pretend non to desire to abandon, together with yous must do everything inward your mightiness to brand it disappear.
Your activeness volition live directed essentially to the younger ones, for they won’t revolt when the recommendation of the priest is contradictory to their parent’s teachings. The children take hold to larn to obey what the missionary recommends, who is the manly mortal parent of their soul. You must singularly insist on their total submission together with obedience, avoid developing the spirit inward the schools, learn students to read together with non to reason.
There, love patriots, are some of the principles that yous must apply. You volition uncovering many other books, which volition live given to yous at the cease of this conference. Evangelize the n!ggers so that they remain forever inward submission to the White colonialists, so they never revolt against the restraints they are undergoing. Recite every twenty-four hours – “Happy are those who are weeping because the kingdom of God is for them.”
Convert ever the Blacks past times using the whip. Keep their women inward nine months of submission to operate freely for us. Force them to pay yous inward sign of recognition-goats, chicken or eggs-every fourth dimension yous see their villages. And brand sure that n!ggers never acquire rich. Sing every twenty-four hours that it’s impossible for the rich to go inward heaven. Make them pay taxation each calendar week at Lord's Day mass.
Use the coin supposed for the poor, to build flourishing business organisation centres. Institute a confessional system, which allows yous to live adept detectives denouncing whatever Black that has a different consciousness opposite to that of the decision-maker.
Teach the n!ggers to forget their heroes together with to adore only ours. Never acquaint a chair to a Black that comes to see you. Don’t give him to a greater extent than than i cigarette.
Never invite him for dinner fifty-fifty if he gives yous a chicken every fourth dimension yous acquire inward at his house.
“The to a higher identify speech communication which shows the existent intention of the Christian missionary journeying inward Africa was exposed to the world past times Mr. Moukouani Muikwani Bukoko, born inward the Congo inward 1915, together with who inward 1935 spell working inward the Congo, bought a minute paw Bible from a Belgian priest who forgot the speech communication inward the Bible. – Dr. Chiedozie Okoro
Early Kings AD 1400 - 1568 Although its trading contacts were limited, past times the fifteenth century the kingdom stretched from the River Congo inward the northward to the River Loje inward the south, together with from the Atlantic Ocean to beyond the River Kwango inward the east. Several smaller autonomous states to the S together with eastward paid tribute to it. Kongo was ruled past times the manikongo, or king, together with was divided into half dozen provinces, each administered past times a governor who was appointed past times the manikongo. The working capital alphabetic character was at Mbanza. Unfortunately, the history of the kingdom was only written downward inward the belatedly sixteenth century, together with focussed on the ruling dynasty, largely overlooking whatever previous ruling dynasties. | |||||
1400 - ? | Lukeni lua Nimi (Nimi a Lukeni) | Founded Kongo kingdom. | |||
Nanga | Nephew. | ||||
Nlaza | Cousin. | ||||
c.1450 | Nkuwu a Lukeni | Son of Lukeni. | |||
1470 - 1509 | Nzinga Nkuwu / João I | Son. | |||
1482 | Portuguese explorer Diogo Cao visits the kingdom, impressing the manikongo amongst Portuguese culture. | ||||
1491 | Portuguese missionaries, soldiers, together with artisans are welcomed at Mbanza. The missionaries presently gain converts, including Nzinga Nkuwu (who takes the holler João I), together with the soldiers assist the manikongo defeat an internal rebellion. | ||||
1509- 1543 | Alfonso I Mvemba a Nzinga | Raised equally a Christian. Attempted to convert his subjects. | |||
1543 | The Portuguese are primarily interested inward increasing their individual fortunes (especially through capturing Africans together with selling them into slavery), despite the attempts of King Manuel I of Portugal to channel the efforts of his subjects into constructive projects. Following Alfonso's death, they play a major portion inward weakening the kingdom together with reducing the grip of the working capital alphabetic character (renamed São Salvador) over the provinces. Kongo declines rapidly together with suffers major civil wars. | ||||
1543 - 1545 | Pedro I Nkanga a Mvemba | ||||
1545 | Francis | ||||
1545 - 1561 | Diogo (James) I Nkumbi a Mpudi | ||||
1556 | The Portuguese have already shifted their involvement southwards to the previously dependent area kingdom of Ndongo together with assist them to defeat Kongo. | ||||
1561 | Alfonso II Mpemba a Nzinga | ||||
1561 - 1566 | Bernardo I | ||||
1566 - 1568 | Henrique I | Killed spell fighting a state of war inward the east. | |||
House of Kwilu AD 1568 - 1622 During this period, the Portuguese strengthened their seat along the coastline through an aggressive policy of state of war together with treaty, forming a colony that would become Angola. They also sent several missions to Kongo's southern neighbour, Ndongo, which ended inward a disastrous uprising inward 1579. The Portuguese fled dorsum into Kongo together with had to live aided past times Kongo's native forces to repel the Ndongo. | |||||
1568 - 1587 | Alvaro I Nimi a Lukeni lua Mvemba | Stepson. Accession was contested. | |||
1569 | Following a asking past times the manikongo, the Portuguese aids the Kongo kingdom (and their ain interests) past times helping to repel an invasion from the eastward past times the Lunda ethnic group. | ||||
1576 | Kongo virtually becomes a Portuguese colony. They are 'allowed' past times the manikongo to found its acquaint capital, Luanda, which they usage equally a base of operations for the slave trade. | ||||
1587 - 1614 | Alvaro II Nimi a Nkanga | ||||
1614 - 1615 | Bernardo II Nimi a Nkanga | ||||
1615 - 1622 | Alvaro III Nimi a Mpanzu | ||||
House of Nsundi (Kinkanga) AD 1622 - 1631 In about 1615, the Portuguese encouraged Imbangala bands that were ravaging the kingdom of Benguela to cross the River Kwanza together with serve inward the colonial armies. They were used good inward attacks against Ndongo from 1618. | |||||
1622 - 1624 | Pedro II Nkanga a Mvika | ||||
1624 - 1626 | Garcia I Alphonse Mvemba a Nkanga | ||||
1626 - 1631 | Ambrosio (Ambrose) I Nimi a Nkanga | ||||
House of Kimpanzu AD 1631 - 1636 The Portuguese suffered a loss of ascendancy during a serial of wars inward 1626 together with 1628 against the ruler of Ndongo, thank yous to mistakes made past times the Portuguese governor. Negotiations together with skirmishes continued until 1639. | |||||
1631 - 1636 | Alvaro IV Nzinga a Nkuwu | ||||
1636 | Alvaro V Mpanzu a Nimi | ||||
House of Kinlaza AD 1636 - 1665 Relative peace returned to the Kongo kingdom inward 1639 next the conclusion of a peace treaty amongst Ndongo. H5N1 new Portuguesegovernor from 1648 attempted to restore colonial ascendancy equally much equally possible, although he made petty progress. | |||||
1636 - 1641 | Alvaro VI Alphonse Nimi a Lukeni a Nzenze a Ntumba | ||||
1641 - 1660 | Garcia II Alphonse Nkanga a Lukeni a Nzenze a Ntumba | ||||
1641 - 1665 | Garcia allies himself to the Dutch in an exertion to control Portuguese slave traders, but inward 1665 a Portuguese forcefulness decisively defeats the ground forces of Kongo. The manikongo becomes petty to a greater extent than than a Portuguese vassal. The kingdom disintegrates into a issue of modest states, all controlled to varying degrees past times the Portuguese.
| ||||
1661 - 1665 | Antonio (Anthony) I Nvita a Nkanga | ||||
Civil War Kings AD 1665 - 1678 After the Battle of Mbwila (or Ulanga), the kingdom was involved inward a long together with savage civil war. The House of Kimpanzu, amongst the back upwards of Soyo, was frequently based at Mbamba Luvota, spell the challenger House of Kinlaza held Mbula (or Lemba), S of the River Congo, together with Nkondo inward the upper Mbidizi/Lukunga system. H5N1 3rd house, Agua Rosada, which was descended from both the other two, ruled inward Kibangu. Soyo to a greater extent than or less became independent but regularly intervened inward Kongo's affairs. While many of the rulers inward this menses did non recognise the legitimacy of their rivals, the numbering was maintained past times later generations to include them all. | |||||
1665 | Afonso II | House of Kimpanzu. | |||
1665 - 1666 | Alvaro VII Tusi Mumaza | House of Kinlaza. | |||
1666 - 1669 | Alvaro VIII Mvemba a Mpanzu | House of Kinlaza. | |||
1669 | Pedro III Nsimba Ntamba | House of Kinlaza. Continued to dominion at Mbula/Lemba. | |||
1669 - 1670 | Alavaro IX Mpanzu a Ntivila | House of Kimpanzu. | |||
1670 - 1673 | Rafael I Nzinga a Nkanga | House of Kimpanzu. | |||
1673 - 1674 | Afonso III Mvemba a Nimi | House of Kimpanzu. | |||
1674 - 1678 | Daniel I Miala mia Nzimbwila | House of Kimpanzu. | |||
1678 | São Salvador is sacked together with destroyed, considerably weakening the country's centre to the do goodness of the challenger faction based on the kingdom's edge. | ||||
House of Kibangu for the Agua Rosada AD 1669 - 1709 The Kimpanzu retreated S to Mbamba Lovata, which territory was to some extent nether the protection of the prince of Soyo. Under the informal leadership of Suzanna de Nobrega, they opposed the Kinlaza together with whatever other grouping claiming to dominion Kongo. The kingdom's population also retreated to the mountains or fell victim to the slavers. The manikongo of Kibangu soundless claimed sovereignty over the kingdom, but their mightiness never extended beyond their fortress. | |||||
1669 - 1685 | Garcia III Nkanga a Mvemba | ||||
1685 | André I Mvizi a Nkanga | ||||
1685 - 1688 | Manuel Afonso Nzinga a Nlenke | ||||
1688 - 1695 | Alvaro X Nimi a Mvemba Agua Rosada | ||||
1695 - 1709 | Pedro IV Nusamu a Mvemba | Gained the entire kingdom, creating the Rotating Houses. | |||
King of Lemba for the House of Kinlaza AD 1669 - 1709 Following the devastation of the working capital alphabetic character inward 1678, the Kinlaza retreated to their fortress at Mbula/Lemba, Pedro III continued his reign together with Joao II followed. | |||||
1669 - 1680 | Pedro III Nsimba Ntamba | Ruled Kongo (1669). Continued diminished reign at Mbula/Lemba. | |||
1680 - 1716 | João II Nzuzi a Ntamba | ||||
The Period of Rotating Houses AD 1709 - 1764 Following Dona Beatriz's religious movement which re-populated São Salvador, Pedro IV seized the kingdom together with tried Dona Beatriz for heresy. With the church building behind him, he secured Kongo together with appeased the opposition faction past times ensuring that a Kimpanzu heir would succeed each Kinlaza ruler at the cease of his reign. (The names of kings shown in red are from the listing past times Francisco das Necessidades, which was compiled from oral traditions together with documents found inward São Salvador inward 1844) | |||||
1709 - 1718 | Pedro IV Nusamu a Mvemba | Reunited the kingdom. House of Kinlaza. | |||
1718 - 1743 | Manuel II Mpanzu a Nimi | House of Kimpanzu. | |||
1743 - 1752 | Garcia IV Nkanga a Mvandu | House of Kinlaza. | |||
1752 - al.1758 | Nicolau I Misaki mia Nimi | House of Kimpanzu. Ruled after 1758. | |||
Afonso IV Nkanga a Nkanga | House of Kinlaza. | ||||
António II Mvita a Mpanzu | House of Kimpanzu. | ||||
Sebastião I Nkanga kia Nkanga | House of Kinlaza. | ||||
1763 - 1764 | Pedro V Ntivila a Nkanga | House of Kimpanzu. Overthrown. | |||
House of the Southern Kinlaza AD 1764 - c.1790 When Pedro V was overthrown he withdrew to Mbamba Lovata equally Alvaro XI seized power. Alvaro XI together with his successors were patently from the Kinlaza who controlled Nkondo on the upper River Mbidizi together with had been inward identify since the belatedly 1680s when Ana Afonso de Leao had established herself there. These were termed Southern Kinlaza, equally the Northern Kinlaza, centred inward Mbula continued to exist. | |||||
1764 - 1778 | Alvaro XI Nkanga a Nkanga | ||||
1778 - 1785 | José I Mpasi a Nkanga | ||||
1785 - 1787 | Afonso V | ||||
1787 - ? | Alvaro XII | ||||
Kings of Kongo c.AD 1790 - 1891 Once Alvaro XII had died, the throne passed from theatre to theatre inward no particular order, together with records became real scrappy together with lean regarding their reigns. | |||||
? - 1793 | Alexio I Mpanzu a Mbandu | ||||
1793 - 1794 | Joaquim I | ||||
1794 - 1803 | Henrique I Alphonse Masaki ma Mpanzu | ||||
1803 - 1830 | Garcia V Nkanga a Mvemba | ||||
1830 - ? | André II Mvizi a Lukeni | ||||
? - 1842 | André III Ndondele Beya | ||||
1836 | Portugal officially abolishes the slave trade. | ||||
1842 - 1857 | Henrique II Mpanzu a Nsindi a Nimi a Lukeni | ||||
1857 - 1859 | Alvaro XIII / Ndongo | ||||
1859 - 1891 | Pedro VI / Elelo | ||||
1888 | |||||
Kings of the Independent State of Congo (Angola) AD 1891 - 1914 Under Portuguese control, these kings governed a reduced Kongo from their working capital alphabetic character at São Salvador. Following their removal from mightiness inward 1914, the kings patently retained their titles but had no mightiness together with the claim seems to take hold ended amongst independence inward 1975. These kings are shown amongst a shaded background. | |||||
1891 - 1896 | Alvaro XIV / Agua Rosada | ||||
1896 - 1901 | Henrique III / Tekenge | ||||
1901 - 1910 | Pedro VII / Mbemba | ||||
1910 - 1911 | Manuel Nkomba | ||||
1911 - 1914 | Manuel III | Deposed. The line continued with Hereditary Kings. | |||
1914 | The kings are abolished past times the Portuguese following a revolt. | ||||
1915 - 1923 | Alvaro XV Alphonse Nzinga | ||||
1923 - 1955 | Pedro VIII Alphonse | ||||
1951 | Angola's Portuguese status changes from colony to overseas province. Between this dot together with 1961 a nationalist movement develops together with guerrilla state of war begins. | ||||
1955 - 1957 | António III Alphonse | ||||
1957 - 1962 | Pedro IX Alphonse Mansala | ||||
1960 | |||||
1962 - 1975 | Isabel Maria da Gama | First woman mortal claimant to the title. | |||
Source:http://www.uu.se/digitalAssets/9/9594_DemaretAll.pdf
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