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The British send an ultimatum to Zulu King Cetshwayo
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Sir Henry Frere grants an extension to the ultimatum
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The centre column, led by Lord Chelmsford, moves to Rorke's Drift on the edge of Zululand.
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The ultimatum expires and three British columns cross the BuffaloRiver and enter Zululand. The central column heads towards the camp of a Zulu chief called Sihayo
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The central column destroys Sihayo's camp.
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The right column, led by Colonel Charles Pearson, engages 6,000 Zulu troops near to the Inyzane River.
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A Zulu force of 25,000 makes a surprise attack on the central column who have made camp at Isandlwana. Chelmsford's column is defeated and he retreats out of Zulu territory.
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A group of Zulu reservists numbering around 4,000 attack the British outpost of Rorke's Drift. With only 150 British and colonial troops to defend the outpost, the protracted engagement lasts some 11 hours before the Zulus retreat
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The right column is besieged within their mission fort near Eshow. This siege would last for two months
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evelyn wood reatreats to kraal
The left column, led by Colonel Evelyn Wood, receives news of the massacre at Isandlwana and decides to withdraw his troops back to safer ground in the Kraal. At this point, only the left column is militarily effective with Chelmsford's central column having being destroyed, and Pearson's right column being under seige at Eshow. -
News of the defeat at Isandlwana reaches London and reinforcements are requested. Meanwhile, Chelmsford starts rebuilding his forces for a second offensive on Zululand.
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The first of the reinforcements from Britain arrive at Durban. London has agreed to send seven regiments and two artillery batteries to support Chelmsford's campaign
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A Zulu force of 500 men attack a British supply convoy at the Battle of Intombe. With only around 100 British troops protecting the convoy, this is a decisive Zulu victory.
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Chelmsford orders Colonel Wood's left flank to attack the Zulu stronghold at Hlobane
Chelmsford orders Colonel Wood's left flank to attack the Zulu stronghold at Hlobane, in an attempt to distract Cetshwayo from the newly reinforced central column which is marching to relieve the besieged right column at Eshow. However, as the battle begins it soon becomes obvious that the main Zulu army of 20,000 are fast approaching over the hills and Wood signals the retreat. -
Chelmsford leads out the central column to relieve Eshowe
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Colonel Wood sets up a defensive camp at Kambula with his remaining force of 2,000 men
Following the retreat at Hlobane, Colonel Wood sets up a defensive camp at Kambula with his remaining force of 2,000 men. Starting at 1pm, the battle sees over 20,000 Zulus repelled and by 6pm the battle is over with the loss of only 18 British soldiers. The Battle of Kambula is seen as the turning point into the Anglo-Zulu War -
Chelmsford's force, marching to relieve Eshow, are attacked at Gingindlovu. Zulu losses are heavy, estimated at over 1,000, whilst the British column suffers only two deaths
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The siege at Eshow ends when Chelmsford's forces arrive
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The central and right columns evacuate Eshowe
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Aware that Chelmsford is preparing a second invasion of Zululand, Cetshwayo sends envoys to discuss peace.
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Lord Chelmsford is made aware that he is to be replaced by Sir Garnet Wolseley within weeks
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Chelmsford quickly reorganises his forces, swelled by reinforcements from Britain, and advances again into Zululand
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Sir Garnet Wolseley arrives in Durban
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With the invading British army in sight, Cetshwayo desperately tries to strike a last minute peace deal
With the invading British army in sight, Cetshwayo desperately tries to strike a last minute peace deal. Chelmsford, concerned about the arrival of Wolseley and wanting to redeem himself after the catastrophe at Isandlwana, refuses any such compromise -
The main Zulu force of around 15,000 men attack Lord Chelmsford's army at the Battle of Ulundi. The Zulus are destroyed and this effectively marks the end of the Anglo-Zulu War
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Lord Chelmsford resigns
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Sir Garnet Wolesley takes over from Lord Chelmsford
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Cetshwayo is captured and is sent into exile, first to Cape Town and then to London
