Imagine ruling a country for more than eight decades, witnessing its transition from colonialism to independence, and fathering hundreds of children with dozens of wives. Such was the extraordinary life of Swazi King Sobhuza II, the longest-reigning monarch in history.
Born on July 22, 1899, at Zombodze Royal Residence near the Swazi village of Zombodze, Swaziland, King Sobhuza II ascended the throne at the age of four months following the death of his father, King Ngwane V.
Sobhuza's grandmother Labotsibeni, assisted by her son Prince Malunge, led the Swazi nation as regent until the young monarch came of age in 1921, when he ascended the Swazi throne as direct ruler at the age of twenty-two.
Sobhuza was educated in his native kingdom of Swaziland, as well as in neighboring South Africa and Great Britain, where he studied anthropology.
Fight for Independence
The Swazi King was a visionary leader who sought to preserve and promote the culture and traditions of his country. He also fought for the restoration of the lands that had been taken by the British authorities in 1907. He led a delegation to London to formally request the return of the land to the Swazi people from the British King George V.
He also took his case to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, a court of final appeal for some Commonwealth countries and British territories, but he was defeated by the terms of the Foreign Jurisdictions Act 1890. Despite these setbacks, Sobhuza II continued to exert his influence as the traditional head of the Swazi nation.
Reign and Legacy
Sobhuza II ruled with wisdom and compassion, using political and family alliances to hold the nation together. He had at least 70 wives and 210 children, tying all major families to his own clan, the Dlamini.
Sobhuza II celebrated the diamond jubilee (60 years) of his direct reign in 1981, which was attended by Princess Margaret on behalf of Queen Elizabeth of England. He also celebrated his 83rd birthday in 1982, where he gave a speech with the theme: "Unity is Strength".
Barely a month after his 83rd birthday, the Swazi Monarch passed away on August 21 at Lobzilla Palace near Mbabane.
Remarkably, his reign would last an astonishing 82 years and 254 days, the longest precisely dated monarchical reign on record and the world's longest documented reign of any ruler since antiquity.
Succession
He was succeeded by Mswati III, his young son by his youngest wife Inkhosikati Ntfombi Tfwala. Mswati III was crowned in 1986 at the age of 18, making him the youngest reigning monarch in the world at the time.
Today, Eswatini honors the legacy of King Sobhuza II with a public holiday and various celebrations. King Sobhuza II Memorial Park in Lobamba is a museum showcasing the late monarch's life and impact on the kingdom's history.
The memorial park also features a statue of Sobhuza II and his 1959 Buick LeSabre car, which he used for official occasions. The park is a special encounter with the history and culture of Eswatini.