Editing Cetshwayo (section)

==Early life==
Cetshwayo was a son of Zulu king [[Mpande]]<ref name=EB1911 /> and Queen Ngqumbazi, half-nephew of Zulu king [[Shaka]] and grandson of [[Senzangakhona]]. In 1856 he defeated and killed in battle his younger brother Mbuyazi, Mpande's favourite, at the [[Battle of Ndondakusuka]]. Almost all of Mbuyazi's followers were massacred in the aftermath of the battle, including five of Cetshwayo's brothers.{{sfn|Haggard|1882|p=}} Following this he became the ruler of the Zulu people in everything but name. However, he did not ascend to the throne as his father was still alive. Stories from that time regarding his huge size vary, saying he stood at least between {{convert|6|ft|6|in|cm|abbr=on}}  and {{convert|6|ft|8|in|cm|abbr=on}} in height and weighed close to {{convert|25|st}}.

His other brother, Umthonga, was still a potential rival. Cetshwayo also kept an eye on his father's new wives and children for potential rivals, ordering the death of his favourite wife, Nomantshali, and her children in 1861. Though two sons escaped, the youngest was murdered in front of the king.{{sfn|Morris|1994|pp=190-199}} After these events Umthonga fled to the [[Boers]]' side of the border and Cetshwayo had to make deals with the Boers to get him back. In 1865, Umthonga again fled across the border, apparently making Cetshwayo believe that Umthonga would organize help from the Boers against him, the same way his father had overthrown his predecessor, [[Dingane]].

Furthermore, he had a rival half-brother named [[uHamu kaNzibe]], who betrayed the Zulu cause on numerous occasions.{{sfn|Laband|2009|p=194}}