Kasanje Kingdom

The Kasanje Kingdom (1620–1910), also known as the Jaga Kingdom, was a Central African state. It was formed in 1620 by a mercenary band of Imbangala, which had deserted the Portuguese ranks. The state gets its name from the leader of the band, Kasanje, who settled his followers on the upper Kwango River. The Kasanje people were ruled by the kinguri, a king who was elected from among the three clans who founded the kingdom.

History In the 1650s the intellectuals of Kasanje developed a largely fiction history that sought to give meaning and stability to the state.John K. Thornton. History of West Central Africa p. 188 This history claimed a Zimbo and Tendo Andumba, and their daughter Tendo Anduma as the founding force of the nation.Thornton. p. 189

By the 1650s Kasanje had been making war with many of its neighbours for quite some time. These included Queen Nzinga of Ndongo and Matamba, and also areas called Lubolo, Beebe, Haku, and Sango.Thornton, p. 189

Kasanje also had relations with the Yaka Kingdom of the Yaka people. Nbangu a Kutana kwa Mbuku, whose father was the King of Yaka, was for a time a prisoner in Kasanje but later was freed and established more peaceful relations between the states.

In the 1650s Kasanje had six major languages as a result of recent conquests. The conquests continued in this decade with significant taking of areas in Bembe in 1657.Thornton. p. 190

On the south Kasanje bordered a domain called Muzumbu a Kalungu which controlled an area between the Kwanza River and the headwaters of the Cunene River. It appears that Kasanje captured some of the territory of Muzumbu a Kalungu.

There were many Portuguese merchants who operated in Kasanje by the 1650s.Thornton, p. 190

In 1680, the Portuguese traveller António de Oliveira de Cadornega estimated the kingdom had 300,000 people, of whom 100,000 were able to bear arms. However, it is noted that this claim may be exaggerated. The kingdom of Kasanje remained in a constant state of conflict with its neighbours, especially the kingdom of Matamba, then ruled by queen Nzinga Mbande. The Imbangala state became a strong commercial centre until being eclipsed by Ovimbundu trade routes in the 1850s. The decreased importance of the slave trade caused the position of the kinguri (king) to grow weak. Kasanje was finally incorporated into Portuguese Angola in 1910–1911.

List of kings of Kasanje The kings of Kasanje (kinguri) are listed below based on a compilation of several different contemporary king lists by Joseph C. Miller. +Kings of Kasanje (WIP)King nameDatesNotesZimboc. 1500s?Existence disputedDonjiHusband of MussasaMussasaMother of TembandumbaTembandumbac. 1500s?Existence disputedKulembe1560s?Kinguri1560s?Kalanda ka Imbec. 1600sMet by the English traveller Andrew Battel, 1601–1603Kasanje Kingdom founded c. 1620Kasanje ka Kulashingoc. 1616–1622Captured and executed by the PortugueseKalunga ka Kilombo1622-1655Killed by his adopted son.Pascoal Machado1655-1679Formerly "Ngonga a Mbande". Killed in an attack from Matamba and Mbundu armiesKingwangwa kya Kimac. 1680–1681Usurper; possibly identified as "Luiz Dala" Kitamba kya Keta1681-1690?Possibly identified as "Luiz Dala"Mwanya a Kasanjec. 1690s?Kiluanje kya Ngongac. 1690s-1700s?Kinguri kya Kasombec. 1700s?Kitumba kya Kalungac. 1710sKambamba ka Kinguric. 1720s?Kasanje ka Kiluanjec. 1730s?Lubame lwa Kipungoc. 1739-1750s?Ngunza a Kambambac. 1750–1770Extremely powerfulLukala lwa NjinjeEarly 1770s?Kalunga ka LuhameMid 1770s?Kitumba kya WangaLate 1770s-Early 1780s?Kisweya kya KambambaMid 1780s?Kitamba kya Shibac. 1785–1792Malenge a Ngonga1792-c. 1810Defeated by Félix Velazco Galiano, commander of Pungo Andongo, in 1805Kitumba kya Ngongac. 1810–1820Kansanje kya Kamboloc. 1820sKihengo kya KamboloEarly 1830sKamasa ka KiwendeMid 1830sMbumba a Kinguric. 1840–1850 Expelled by a Portuguese expeditionary force in 1850Kalunga ka Kisanga1850Ruled as a Portuguese vassal; assassinated in late 1850 by Mbumba a Kinguri loyalistsKambolo ka Ngonga 1851-1856 Known as "Dom Fernando Accacio Ferreira" to the PortugueseKamweje ka Kalunga1856-1857Died under mysterious circumstancesMbumba a Kinguri1857-18732nd reign, probably arranged Kamweje ka Kalunga's death. Kingdom embroiled in civil war after his deathCivil War, 1873-1883Malenge a Kitumba1873Killed in battleKwango1883-1885Swore fealty to Luis I of PortugalKasanje ka Kalanyi1888Had little authority, upon death a political stalemate lasted until 1896Kinguri kya Kiluanje1896Also known as Mushabata; immediately expelled and another stalemate occurred until 1911Ngwangwa1911-1912Defeated both warring factions; led a failed revolt against the Portuguese in 1912 that led to the end of the kingdom

Location Kasanje is located on the upper Kwango River in what is now Angola.

Kasanje Kingdom

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