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The Kasanje Kingdom (1620–1910), also known as the Jaga Kingdom, was a state. It was formed in 1620 by a mercenary band of Imbangala, which had deserted the Portugal ranks. The state gets its name from the leader of the band, Kasanje, who settled his followers on the upper Kwango River. The Kasanje people were ruled by the Jaga, a king who was elected from among the three clans who founded the kingdom.
By the 1650s Kasanje had been making war with many of its neighbors for quite some time. These included Queen Nzinga of Ndongo and Matamba, and also areas called Lubolo, Beebe, Haku and Sango.Thornton, p. 189
Kasanje also had relations with the Yaka Kingdom of the Yaka people. Nbangu a Kutana kwa Mbuku, whose father was the King of Yaka, was for a time a prisoner in Kasanje but later was freed and established more peaceful relations between the states.Thornton. p. 189
In the 1650s Kasanje had six major languages as a result of recent conquests. The conquests continued in this decade with significant taking of areas in Bembe in 1657.Thornton. p. 190
On the south Kasanje bordered a domain called Muzumbu a Kalungu which controlled an area between the Kwanza River and the headwaters of the Cunene River. It appears that Kasanje captured some of the territory of Muzumbu a Kalungu.Thornton. p. 190
There were many Portuguese merchants who operated in Ksanje by the 1650s.Thornton, p. 190
In 1680, the Portuguese traveller António de Oliveira de Cadornega estimated the kingdom had 300,000 people, of whom 100,000 were able to bear arms. However, it is noted that this claim may be exaggerated.
The kingdom of Kasanje remained in a constant state of conflict with its neighbours, especially the kingdom of Matamba, then ruled by queen Nzinga Mbande. The Imbangala state became a strong commercial center until being eclipsed by Ovimbundu people trade routes in the 1850s. The decreased importance of the slave trade caused the position of the kinguri (king) to grow weak. Kasanje was finally incorporated into Portuguese Angola in 1910–1911.
List of kings of Kasanje
The kings of Kasanje ( kinguri) are listed below based on a compilation of several different contemporary king lists by Joseph C. Miller.
+Kings of Kasanje (WIP) Zimbo c. 1500s? Existence disputed Donji Husband of Mussasa Mussasa Mother of Tembandumba Tembandumba c. 1500s? Existence disputed Kulembe 1560s? Kinguri 1560s? Kalanda ka Imbe c. 1600s Met by the English traveler Andrew Battel, 1601-1603 Kulashingo c. 1610-1616 Became allies with the Portuguese, c. 1612-1616 Kasanje ka Kulashingo c. 1616-1620s Kalunga ka Kilombo c. 1630s-1650 Ngongo a Mbande c. 1650-1680 Known personally by the missionary Cavazzi "Dom. Pascoal Machado" 1680 Killed in an attack from Matamba and Ambundu armies Kingwangwa kya Kima c. 1680-1681 Usurper; possibly identified as "Luiz Dala" Kitamba kya Keta 1681-1690? Possibly identified as "Luiz Dala" Mwanya a Kasanje c. 1690s? Kiluanje kya Ngonga c. 1690s-1700s? Kinguri kya Kasombe c. 1700s? Kitumba kya Kalunga c. 1710s Kambamba ka Kinguri c. 1720s? Kasanje ka Kiluanje c. 1730s? Lubame lwa Kipungo c. 1739-1750s? Ngunza a Kambamba c. 1750-1770 Extremely powerful Lukala lwa Njinje Early 1770s? Kalunga ka Luhame Mid 1770s? Kitumba kya Wanga Late 1770s-Early 1780s? Kisweya kya Kambamba Mid 1780s? Kitamba kya Shiba c. 1785-1792 Malenge a Ngonga 1792-c. 1810 Defeated by Félix Velazco Galiano, commander of Pungo Andongo, in 1805 Kitumba kya Ngonga c. 1810-1820 Kansanje kya Kambolo c. 1820s Kihengo kya Kambolo Early 1830s Kamasa ka Kiwende Mid 1830s Mbumba a Kinguri c. 1840-1850 Expelled by a Portuguese expeditionary force in 1850 Kalunga ka Kisanga 1850 Ruled as a Portuguese vassal; assassinated in late 1850 by Mbumba a Kinguri loyalists Kambolo ka Ngonga 1851-1856 Known as "Dom Fernando Accacio Ferreira" to the Portuguese Kamweje ka Kalunga 1856-1857 Died under mysterious circumstances Mbumba a Kinguri 1857-1873 2nd reign, probably arranged Kamweje ka Kalunga's death. Kingdom embroiled in civil war after his death Malenge a Kitumba 1873 Killed in battle Kwango 1883-1885 Swore fealty to Luis I of Portugal Kasanje ka Kalanyi 1888 Had little authority, upon death a political stalemate lasted until 1896 Kinguri kya Kiluanje 1896 Also known as Mushabata; immediately expelled and another stalemate occurred until 1911 Ngwangwa 1911-1912 Defeated both warring factions; led a failed revolt against the Portuguese in 1912 that led to the end of the kingdom
Location
Kasanje is located on the upper Kwango River in what is now Angola. Kasanje - Britannica Concise
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