Kingdom of Butua
Kingdom of Butua Butua | |||||||||
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| c. 1450–1683 | |||||||||
| Status | Kingdom | ||||||||
| Capital | Khami | ||||||||
| Common languages | iKalanga | ||||||||
| Religion | Belief in Mwari | ||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
| Mambo | |||||||||
| History | |||||||||
• Established | c. 1450 | ||||||||
• Conquest by Rozwi Empire | 1683 | ||||||||
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| History of Zimbabwe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ancient history
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White settlement pre-1923
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The Kingdom of Butua[pronunciation?] or Butwa (c. 1450–1683) was a pre-colonial African state located in what is now southwestern Zimbabwe. Butua was renowned as the source of gold for Arab and Portuguese traders. The region was first mentioned in Portuguese records in 1512.
The kingdom was governed by the Torwa dynasty until 1683 from its capital at Khami. Its people were ancestors of the Bakalanga. In 1683, the kingdom was conquered by the Rozwi Empire.
The foundations of the Khami Ruins show a striking resemblance to the pattern of masonry at the base of the Zimbabwe Ruins. Hence the Kalanga are thought to have built Khami, Lusvingo, Mapungugwe and other ruins scattered across western Zimbabwe and east Botswana.
History
[edit]Foundation and apogee
[edit]Butua's origins lie in the Kingdom of Zimbabwe. During the time of Great Zimbabwe's dominance over the region, various offshoots split from its Karanga ruling dynasty to form various states. These new dynasties may have been losers of succession disputes. One such dynasty was the Torwa dynasty, who founded a kingdom centred on Khami. Its territory was rich in gold and cattle, and the kingdom's rise from the 15th century coincided with the decline of Great Zimbabwe. The kingdom bordered the Mutapa Empire along the Sanyati River.[1]
Demise
[edit]The Portuguese invaded Butua in the 17th century and installed a puppet as king, however their influence over the kingdom was short-lived. The 1680s saw the rise of Changamire Dombo as his reputation as a sorcerer and military successes won him followers. In 1683 he conquered the Torwa Kingdom of Butua. His dynasty continued to rule in Butua, adopting the name "Rosvi", until it was destroyed during the 1830s amid the Ngoni invasions.[1]
Society and culture
[edit]After Changamire's conquest of Butua, the Rozvi did not allow the Portuguese to enter its territory, however they allowed African merchants hired by the Portuguese, termed mussambazes, to trade in Butua.[1]
Economy
[edit]![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (February 2025) |
Gallery
[edit]-
The ruins of Khami, capital of the Butua Kingdom. -
Steps leading into the ancient city of Khami -
The outer wall of Khami
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- Gwinn, Robert; Norton, Peter; Goetz, Philip (1989). The New Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 2. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. p. 689. ISBN 0-85229-493-X.
- Shillington, Kevin (2004). Encyclopedia of African History, Vol. 1. London: Routledge. pp. 1912 Pages. ISBN 1-57958-245-1.
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- ^ a b c Newitt, Malyn (24 May 2018), "Southern Zambezia States and Indian Ocean Trade, 1450–1900", Oxford Research Encyclopedia of African History, doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780190277734.001.0001/acrefore-9780190277734-e-289, ISBN 978-0-19-027773-4, retrieved 18 February 2025