Atlas of Battles

siege, nineteenth century

Siege of Eshowe

Siege of Eshowe was a siege conducted on 7 February 1879 at Eshowe, in what is now South Africa; it lasted 55 days. It was part of the Anglo-Zulu War. The recorded result: British victory. Recorded strength: 1,694 (No. 1 Column garrisoned at Eshowe); 5,670 (Relief Column) against 12,000.

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Fought7 February 1879lasted 55 days
WhereEshowe, South Africa28.908S, 31.461E
OutcomeBritish victory
Belligerents20px British EmpireagainstZulu Kingdom
Casualties and losses137 killedandabout 1,000 killed
Part ofAnglo-Zulu War1879

Where it sits in the Anglo-Zulu War

Battle of Rorke's Drift, 1879Battle of Isandlwana, 1879Battle of Inyezane, 1879Siege of Eshowe, 1879Battle of Intombe, 1879Battle of Hlobane, 1879Battle of Kambula, 1879Battle of Gingindlovu, 1879Battle of Ulundi, 187918791879Siege of Eshowe, 1879
10 placed engagements of the Anglo-Zulu War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date7 February 1879
to 3 April 1879
PlaceEshowe, South Africa
28.908S, 31.461E
KindSiege, nineteenth century
Strength1,694 (No. 1 Column garrisoned at Eshowe); 5,670 (Relief Column)12,000
Casualties and losses137 killedabout 1,000 killed
Commanders
  • Charles Pearson (soldier)
  • Dabulamanzi kaMpande
Siege of EshoweSiege of EshoweBattle of InyezaneBattle of GingindlovuBattle of ItaleniBattle of Mhlatuze RiverBattle of UlundiBattle of GingindlovuBattle of ItaleniBattle of Mhlatuze RiverBattle of UlundiDurbanPietermaritzburgVryheidLadysmith100 km28.908S, 31.461E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1879

Siege of Eshowe is one of 2,483 engagements of the 19th century in the atlas and one of 78 in present-day South Africa.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q3485825, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Siege of Eshowe, revision 1370741060, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.