Isandlwana is a mountain in South Africa and the location of one of the greatest
colonial British military defeats.
Lord Chelmsford, leading three invading columns into
Zulu territory, encamped the primary at the base of Isandlwana and proceded ahead with a smaller force, attempting to locate the main
Zulu army.
The Zulu army, numbering around 20,000 men to the 1,500 or so British, missed Chelmsford and soon arrived on scene. The Zulu fell upon the British force and destroyed it. Of the 1,500 British, some 60 escaped alive, along with about 400 native troops.
The Zulu reserves, unable to fight at Isandlwana, proceeded on to attack Rorke's Drift.