The
Battle of Blood River (; ) is the name given for the battle fought between 470
Voortrekkers ("Pioneers"), led by
Andries Pretorius, and an estimated 15,000–21,000
Zulu attackers on the bank of the
Ncome River on 16 December 1838, in what is today
KwaZulu-Natal,
South Africa. Casualties amounted to 3,000 of king
Dingane's soldiers dead, including two Zulu princes competing with prince
Mpande for the Zulu throne. Three
Pioneers commando members were lightly wounded, including Pretorius himself.