The year 1838 was the most difficult period for the Voortrekkers since they left the Cape Colony , till the end of the Great Trek . They were plagued by many disasters and much bloodshed before they found freedom and a safe homeland in their Republic of Natalia . This could only be achieved by crushing the power of the Zulu King , Dingane , at the greatest battle ever fought in South Africa , namely the Battle of Blood River , which took place on Sunday 16 December 1838 . In the sequel to the Battle of Blood River in January 1840 , Prince Mpande finally defeated King Dingane in the Battle of Maqongqe and was subsequently crowned as new king of the Zulu by his alliance partner Andries Pretorius . After these two battles , Dingane 's prime minister and commander in both the Battle of Maqongqe and the Battle of Blood River , General Ndlela , was strangled to death by Dingane for high treason . General Ndlela had been the personal protector of Prince Mpande , who after the Battles of Blood River and Maqongqe , became king and founder of the Zulu . The trekkers — called Voortrekkers after 1880 — had to defend themselves after the betrayal murder of chief Trekker leader Piet Retief and his entire entourage , and ten days later the Weenen massacre where " not a soul was spared . " Dingane had agreed that , if Retief could recover approximately 700 head of cattle stolen from the Zulus by the Tlokwa , he would let them have land upon which to establish farms
betrayal murder
Piet Retief Delegation massacre
Battle of Blood River