Anglo-Zulu War begins

British took over the colonization of the area from the Boers in 1843, with an eye for securing the diamond mines and other resources. They made an ultimatum in December of 1878 that King Cetshwayo of Zululand disband his troops. He was determined to resist European domination in his territory and refused the ultimatum. British troops invaded Zululand on this day in 1879. Zulu forces won a major battle at Isandlwana, but would be mostly defeated by July. However resistance to the colonizers would continue in one way or another. The British formally annexed Zululand in 1887.