Who was Shaka?

Shaka was a Zulu ruler who lived during the Age of Napoleon; he was born around 1727 and died in 1828.  Like Napoleon, Shaka was a warrior who helped the Zulu tribe gain control over a large portion of South Africa.  Shaka was fierce, having successfully killed over 2 million people during a ten-year period.  Shaka is known for bringing the Zulu tribe into a significantly powerful position and for his fierce military maneuvers and prowess. In fact, Shaka was so much like Napoleon he was frequently called the Napoleon of Africa.  Shaka created a military that showed the Zulu enemy little mercy: he designed new weapons for use in war; he was tough on his military and boys that were six and older became part of Shaka’s military.

For more information on Shaka visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaka

The Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte

While many of the Zulus called Napoleon the Shaka of Europe, Shaka himself was frequently called the Napoleon of Africa.  During the Age of Napoleon, a period of time that consists of the years between 1793 and 1816, Napoleon Bonaparte became quite powerful in Europe.  The rise of Napoleon Bonaparte was in part due to his military prowess: as a general for the French army, Napoleon later became the self appointed emperor of France.  While the Napoleon Waterloo Battle is well remembered because Napoleon was defeated in the battle after making a return form being exiled, in truth during the Age of Napoleon, Bonaparte fought many battles with European leaders, forcing much of Europe to fall under his rulership.  Interestingly, while it has been surmised that Napoleon died of stomach cancer, there is evidence that suggests that he was possibly poisoned with arsenic and therefore murdered.

For more information on Napoleon Bonaparte visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon

Shaka Biography and Napoleon Biography Parallels

Napoleon came into power and became an emperor of France in a roughly ten year time period and Shaka has been noted to become quite powerful in a ten-year time span as well.  Both warriors and leaders, Napoleon and Shaka overtook other regions and forced them into submission.  It is suggested that Shaka was exiled by his birth father, and Napoleon was exiled on more than one occasion. There are theories that Napoleon was actually murdered, and Shaka was assassinated by his own half brother.  Both Napoleon and Shaka are remembers for their fierce military styles, their incredible proficiency, their relatively swift rise to power and fairly sudden downfalls.