Shaka Zulu inspired the Zulu victory.
The Zulu battle formation utilized to win the battle, entitled “horns of the beast,” is believed to be invented by the notorious Shaka kaSenzangakhona, also known as Shaka Zulu, the most prominent ruler ever of the Zulu Kingdom. According to Britishbattles.com, in regards to this formation, “the main body of the army delivered a frontal assault, called the ‘loins’, while the ‘horns’ spread out behind each of the enemy’s flanks and delivered the secondary and often fatal attack in the enemy’s rear.”
There was a cover-up of the British defeat.
There have been a number of different efforts to cover up the defeat of the British at the Battle of Isandlwana. Dr. Saul David confirms that, initially, Lord Chelmsford, who was to blame for the loss, “[buried] all the evidence that could be used against him.” He silenced witnesses that could testify against him, claimed that there was a shortage of ammunition, and professed that Colonel Durnford, who had died, did not follow his orders. In addition, David explains that the British victory at Rorke’s Drift, which occurred on the same day as the Battle of Isandlwana, was “rewarded by Queen Victoria’s government with no fewer than 11 Victoria Crosses, and was later immortalized by the film Zulu (1964), directed by Cy Endfield.” He goes on to point out that people often “exaggerate the importance of Rorke’s Drift in the hope of reducing the impact of Isandlwana.”
