Companion to the Anglo-Zulu War

Companion to the Anglo-Zulu War is Ian Knight’s reference guide to the short but complex campaign of 1879. It explains the origins of the conflict, the organisation and equipment of the opposing armies, the major battles and sieges, and the individuals who shaped the war. Entries place British imperial policy alongside the political structure and military traditions of the independent Zulu kingdom.

Knight covers the famous British defeat at Isandlwana, the defence of Rorke’s Drift and the later battles that ended with the destruction of Cetshwayo’s military power at Ulundi. The book is designed as a concise route into the campaign rather than a single continuous battle narrative, making it useful for readers who need context on commanders, units, places, weapons and the sequence of operations.