kongo kingdom

How did the khanda system contribute to the Kongo Kingdoms rise

Kandas would join together to increase collective power which meant that lineages and political authority spread, centralised under the manikingo

Allowed for easy collection of tax

How did the mankongo contribute to the kingdoms growth

Held absolute power which unified the kingdom under him

• Exhumed his power though customs and image which meant the rest of the kingdom was unified under him

• Controlled the military as well as all the nobles

  Established economic relations with Portugal, at first the slave trade made the king more powerful as Portugal could only trade with him

In what ways did the king give off a powerful image

Physical vigour

Distributing scraps of his meals to servants

Using a litter

Huge palace with many servants

Specific rules when speaking to him

why was there often succesion problems after a kings death

Many men from the kings maternal family could claim the right to rule, when a kings rule ended, it was unclear who would succeed him.

No indication of order of priority, unlike in Europe, the eldest son was not necessarily favoured

People from other kandas as well as inside the mwissikongo could challenge for the throne

Examples of succession dispute occurring in the Kongo kingdom (early)

Examples of succesion dispute occurring in the Kongo kingdom (late)

Who were the mwissikongo

The heads who ruled over the most powerful kanda which emerged in C15

Distinct identity, closed membership, presumed perpetuity

Had the power to choose king and government, usually chose from within their own ranks

12 lineages

What were the consequences of the mwissikongo rise

What was the consequences of a switch from matrilineal to patrilineal system

There was a dispute over which system should be used, tension within the kingdom especially over succesions

Other kandas became weakened and lost numbers because their members could join the mwissikongo on patrilineal links, instead of the matrilineal links that tied them to their original kandas

Alfonso 1

• First king to have economic relations with Portugal (1512 regimento)

• Believed st James aided him in succession crisis against his brother so his crest featured elements of st James

• Built churches and schools with the help of missionaries

• Tried to hold a monopoly on slave trade but grudgingly allowed Portugal to trade with others by 1530

• Took oath of obedience to the pope in 1513, studied Portuguese laws and etiquette

Further notes Alfonso 1 relation with Europe

• Both kingdoms were roughly as powerful as each other when contact was made in the 1480s

• 1512 regimento was a deal that marked the begginign of economic relations

• Had a monopoly on the slave trade, which was often violated, free people became enslaved

• Komgolese students in Lisbon for education 1490s

• Portugal potentially aided Ndongo to rebel against Kongo

• Alfonso was annoyed at how easily Portuguese migrants could rise through the ranks so he threatened to expel them in 1528

Pedro 1

Succeeded after nomination by Alfonso in 1543

Very few achievements, had to deal with internal conflicts

He was not deemed the legitimate leader, and Diego, Alfonsos grandson overthrew him in 1545

His reign highlights the power of the mwissikongo in quickly deposing him, the pivotal role they will play

Diego 1

• Overthrew Pedro and had developed a strong network of allegiance within the nobles

• More autocratic, removed over mighty nobles from their positions

• Changed laws of succesion, meaning the council (made up of mwissikongo) chose future succesors, which caused strife

• Allowed Portuguese refugees escaping to take refuge, therefore going against Portugal

Alvaro 1

Alvaro 1 relations with portugal

• Needed help from the Portuguese to regain his throne after the Jaga invasion →showed a complete reliance on Portugal

• Portugal then took Ndongo, turning it into Angola, providing a threat to Kongo