Civilization VI’s expansion — “Rise and Fall” — launches this week and 2K has revealed one of the might, military leaders featured in the title. In the trailer above you’ll see Shaka the Zulu, as he appears in “Rise and Fall.”
Shaka is renowned as one of the greatest military leaders in history. His reforms of the Zulu armies made them a formidable opponent and feared across the world. According to 2K and Firaxis;
The meteoric rise of the Zulu under Shaka, coming at a time of increasing European colonization in the region, had a profound and complex impact on the history and culture of Southern Africa, whose implications are still debated and considered to this day.
Shaka kaSenzangakhona
Shaka rise to leader of the Zulu was meteoric. He was exiled as a young man due to being an illegitimate son of Zulu chief Senzangakhona. In his time away he enrolled in a military program and following the death of his father in 1816 he left his exile and took command of the Zulu armies. Shaka’s methods were controversial and his reign was challenged multiple times.
The bloodiest period of Shaka’s reign was following the death of his mother.
Grief-stricken, Shaka ordered that no crops be planted, nor milk used for a year (and milk was the staple of the Zulu diet). Women found pregnant were to be killed with their husbands, as was anyone found to be insufficiently mournful. Cows were to be slaughtered “so that calves would know what it was like to lose a mother.” 7,000 of Shaka’s subjects were killed in his grief, according to accounts.
His two half-brothers conspired against him and murdered him in 1828. His story forms the basis for the Zulu armies and culture in Civilization VI: “Rise and Fall.”
For even more information about Shaka, Civilization VI: “Rise and Fall” and his role in it, head to the official blog.
“Rise and Fall” is now available for Civlization VI.
