Original subtitles

EPILOGUE: THE DEATH OF AN EMPIRE

England, August 1882, End of the Zulus Wars.

In a country house of His Imperial Majesty, Queen Victoria.

And in the midst of an intense advertising campaign, unprecedented

and of a public intéres in the town Zulu of South Africa.

A historic meeting took place between the Queen, the Councilors,

political and military and the defeated and exiled King of the Zulus.

He came with a single goal. "I wanted the kingdom back."

His Majesty, His Highness Cetshwayo Kampande Zulu.

Ndlovukazi.

His Highness thanks His Imperial Majesty

the nice reception you had here in Britain.

Expect to be here to confirm the friendship pact already.

His Majesty, the Colonial Cabinet

think any act of clemency would underestimate the Zulu threat.

Madame, Gentlemen.

Our concern is not limited to mere territorial discussions

claimed by a defeated king.

We are called to defend Africa.

I think it is our supreme duty to protect the well-being of our compatriots

who colonized these distant lands,

as much as those of the Kaffir tribes who entrusted us with the mission

to bring peace to this land,

that has been devastated in the last 60 years

for one of the most formidable military empires ever created,

The Empire of Shaka Zulu,

here represented by the rightful heir, King Cetshwayo.

Professor Bramston.

Shaka Zulu, Your Majesty.

Yes, founder of the great nation and the Zulu Empire.

Kingdom between 1816 and 1828.

Definitely one of the greatest military geniuses in history,

to the level of a Caesar or Alexander the Great.

If you prefer, imagine the prowess.

This African Achilles twentieth century, Shaka Zulu.

In less than 12 years, he transformed a few idyllic

and relatively harmless shepherds,

that were by nature contrary to any type of war,

in a Spartan army with more than 80,000 relentless warriors.

And extended its influence to almost all of Southeast Africa.

An empire comparable to that of Napoleon, in extension and power,

and the one of Genghis Khan, in cruelty.

His Majesty, Gentlemen.

The war machine created by Shaka Zulu was so monolithic.

Who survived his own death for over half a century.

Yes, the crown defeated him but only temporarily.

It may arise and arise many times,

if we do not destroy it once and for all.

And why?

Because King Shaka was not an ordinary mortal!

It was a Messiah! "A divine figure!"

As an African Mephistopheles, gave glory to the Zulus

in exchange for their souls, taking the forces of life and death,

in an endless bloody and cruel battlefield.

His Majesty.

Madame, the threat is real and the decision obvious.

The Colonial Cabinet suggests that it be constituted in the Zulu kingdom

progressive destruction and relocation

military and economic systems.

In this way we believe that the Zulu people, deprived of a central leadership,

return to the state of harmless joy

that I enjoyed before Shaka's crazy conditioning.

I agree with Kimberley. If the Zulus do not give,

We must destroy them and end the problem. That's what I think.

I'd rather think we're doing you a favor.

The return to the plow must be therapeutic for these savages.

They can even be blessed with a little civilization.

Do you want me to translate, my lords?

It is not necessary, sir. We have so little in common,

especially in the conception of human respect.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for your advice.

Thank you very much.

Tell me,

What does Shaka Zulu mean to you?

He is one of those few men with courage to live the ideals

and inculcate their dreams into the hearts of their compatriots.

That's why we can not give them back the kingdom.

Today, Shaka Zulu is more alive than ever.

His military strength still triumphs.

You are the King,

but it is the spirit of him who leads the people.

I am a practical woman, Your Highness.

We will not establish an alliance with a myth.

And so the Empire created by Shaka Zulu six decades ago...

was dissolved.

The territory of the King was divided and placed under British supervision,

the resulting political mismanagement and the continuous interference of whites

in the subsequent conflict would eventually destroy the family of Shaka.

From that moment the Zulu people could hardly dream

with the dignity and glory granted by the legendary king.

This is his story!

SHAKA ZULU

SOUTH AFRICA - 1822

The first time Europeans felt.

The effect of the Shaka war machine was in 1823.

King Zulu was at the height of his power,

but like most military despots.

Shaka became both the chief and the victim of his own regime.

Being the empire created with aggressiveness.

I needed a warfare action now to stay alive.

Shaka had attacked and subjugated all neighboring territories,

uniting the defeated tribes in a single Zulu nation.

But Shaka needed more victims,

Not only to satisfy his predisposition for war,

but also to keep the army occupied.

Some regiments were sent away

to increase and enrich the empire.

And in doing so,

those who did not want to submit to the Zulu government fled the massacre,

attacking others along the way.

The effects of these seizures

they touched not only the town for which they were oriented,

but also to the British settlers of the colony of the Cape,

that were beginning to expand to the north.

It was then inevitable that sooner or later

the two empires faced each other.

The Governor of the Cape Colony, Charles Somerset, was forced

to send an urgent communication to London.

"For Lord Henry Bathurst."

Secretary of State of War in the Colonies of His Majesty.

Dear Lord, consequently to the request of his lordship

to communicate in writing, my suspicion of the future

of the Crown Colony of the Cape of Good Hope,

I ask permission to send the following notes,

concerning the threat of the Zulu nation under the rule of King Shaka Zulu.

Since rising to the throne of the Zulus in 1816,

Shaka forged one of the most powerful empires

that the African continent never knew.

In less than six years,

The small and insignificant tribe came out of nowhere.

And gave name to an all-powerful nation,

organized in a terrible military machine.

Shaka is known as a mass murderer,

an evil ogre, whose thirst for conquest knows no bounds.

Fill the country with innocent blood,

ignoring the most sacred bonds of affection,

putting father against son, brother against brother,

in a bloodbath that defies any description. " ENGLAND JUNE 1823."

" I am sorry to inform the Honorable Member that I have been informed"

that the Shaka Zulu threat may be coming soon

"in the direction of the white settlers, residing in the crown lands."

"MAJESTY'S COUNTRY HOUSE JORGE IV " If that happened, the Cape would be virtually unprotected.

And at the mercy of implacable barbarians.

I send with respect this urgent matter

for the consideration of Your Lordships and His Majesty,

Signed, Sir Charles Somerset,

Governor of the Cape Colony, Colonial Africa.

Cape Town, January 7, 1823." His Majesty, the King, woke up,

after a nice night of rest.

Lord Bathurst,

- Your Majesty will receive it first. - Thank you.

For you, there goes.

Good morning, Your Majesty.

- Is it, Lord Henry? - Mr?

His expression, Lord Henry.

It does not allow for a good day.

Enough!

See you later, at night.

We are all attentive, Lord Henry.

It's the colonies, sir. It seems we have a small problem.

His cabinet seems to always have small problems with the colonies,

Is not it, Lord Henry? - Well, this is the Colonial Cabinet

and crashes with boiling boilers,

So sometimes we burn.

Who is this time? The Canadians?

No, sir. Fortunately, what remains of North America is still there,

so to speak, in the palm of our hands.

I fear it is in Africa, sir.

I received a very disturbing letter from Lord Somerset, from the Cape.

It has relation with the Zulus.

The Zulus?

Do you mean that the Colonial Cabinet of the British Empire.

Do you consider a tribe of savages who walk naked as a problem?

What an incredible nonsense, Lord Henry!

They are more than a tribe.

We believe that we are before a respectable empire

of a quarter of a million of those who walk naked.

Really? They really multiply...

Same as rabbits!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

There is a possibility that the Zulus attack the Cape.

If that happened, we would have to deal with quite a few of those rabbits,

on the command of a lunatic named Shaka.

Then... Send reinforcements.

We already thought about that, sir.

But the journey to the Cape is long,

are 9600 km and four months of boat, to be precise.

I am afraid that when we finish instructing new regiments

in the warlike art of the natives and send them there,

it will be too late.

Then,

transfer some Bengali regiments from India.

- And we lose India? - Then use mercenaries.

- I'm afraid they are not trustworthy. - What a crazy think!

It was the Lord who said it.

Look out, Lord Henry. What is about to fall?

Rain, sir.

Does this usually happen in England?

Rain?

Unfortunately, sir, too many times.

And what do the colonies represent?

- Sun, sir? "Exactly."

And it's your privilege

safeguard our sun.

Thomas Jefferson made my father

lose your head.

I hope you deprive me of that destiny.

Take care of the Zulus, Bathurst,

or we will have the sad task of finding someone to do it.

His Majesty.

The Zulus armies were now fighting south.

And the sound of victory radiated across the northern Cape border,

what Shaka's threatening advance towards settlers means.

In the city of the Cape, in the castle of the Good Hope,

Lord Charles Somerset expected a response from the superiors in London.

But nothing seemed to be coming and time was running out.

LONDON JUNE 1823

We were blinded knights.

We are trying to find a way to deal with an entire regiment,

when we only need a single Caucasian.

I'm afraid I do not understand.

Let's suppose, just for the example, that Worthing is King Shaka.

And also that Wilkins is an assassin killer,

as Somerset so vividly describes in his letter.

Now, discuss the idea of attacking whites,

creatures they never saw, would not that excite them?

I mean, it is very easy to fight against what is known,

but against lunarios?

That is very different!

What if a lunar visit our court

as a kind of diplomat from another world?

And if he said, "Wait, Shaka, we know what you're up to."

"Now listen to me before deciding on the war."

"We have spears that fire, you know? They go for you." Bang, bang!

A lion falls dead at 600 steps!

"We also have a magic dust that generates thunder,

and hollow trunks that make thunder."

I mean, scare him?

In a word, Worthing, yes.

Surely the spies will have told you about the guns and the gunpowder.

Yes, probably,

but these are not our only top weapons.

We have another, gentlemen... Civilization!

Years of ambiguous babble tried and tested.

If we can not calm the beast,

we can at least confuse it

while setting up a military strategy.

Where do you plan to find the lunar

willing to go there,

and to carry out that plan?

I think I know the perfect man, Worthing.

Yes, I had the pleasure and honor to serve you

in Her Majesty's navy.

Lieutenant Francis George Farewell.

Master on land and at sea and eccentric enough to do so.

First... Meet Shaka.

Only that should be one of the biggest obstacles.

Now to begin. Thank you.

Using a nautical term, let us look at the problem.

Of the rumors I heard

on my last trip to the Portuguese Lagoon,

it seems that the capital of Shaka,

which the natives call Bulawayo,

If I remember well,

is located somewhere in this area.

There are only two ways to get there, by land from the Cape,

even if you exclude that possibility,

because the only target that tried that crossing,

A certain Dr. Cowan never appeared again.

So we only have the sea trip,

disembarking somewhere on that coast,

the Costa Brava of Natal.

Based on a study of the Navy,

the two best places to land

are the Bay of Santa Lucia and the Rio de Natal,

- Although it can also be a problem. - In what way, Lieutenant?

No one ever landed on that coast

and survived to tell his story.

SOUTH AFRICA

Colonel Cloete is here, sir.

- What is it, Colonel? - News from the North, Shaka.

What is that damn savage plotting?

Well, sir.

According to reports,

It seems that the Zulu army is already at the border.

- Are you sure? - Yes.

Check my sources. Everything points in that direction.

And the London reinforcements?

I do not think they are coming, Colonel.

Although no one has yet conquered that coast,

does not mean that I do not.

Only God knows the situations I went through when I was a sailor.

Does that mean that we are going to join?

Of course, Tim. Yes!

I would not waste a chance to serve my King,

nor to get ivory.

Did he say ivory, Lieutenant?

It is said that Natal is a paradise for ivory hunters.

Dear Worthing, already thought that I will need

of strong men and adventurers to accompany me on this mission?

Men willing and able to face the crossroads of the coast

and especially Shaka Zulu.

From my experience, men of that type are very ambitious.

What would you say to seduce them?

What will be for the honor of the King? "For the glory of Brittany?"

I need courage, Worthing, not patriotism!

There is always a price to pay for courage

and in this case will be paid with ivory.

"Farewell Trading Company."

Sounds pretty good, does not it?

He says there are two big problems.

The first, if I understood correctly, is to reach Shaka.

- What is the other one? "The most obvious, Tim."

Convincing the king of a primitive empire

that our civilization must be feared,

When, in fact, we are not up to it.

Centuries of knowledge do not transform anyone stronger on a military level.

As Attila, or Hun, tested, domestication weakens.

No! Fear is not the answer.

I'm sure Shaka knows that, more than we do.

No, we will have to go through other emotions,

- As pride vanity. - Vanity, Francis!

That is the greatest human weakness,

whether they are Hun, English or Zulus.

Elizabeth!

Let me introduce Mr. Worthing.

Tim Wilkins. "Gentlemen, my wife."

- Madame. "Delighted, ma'am."

Lieutenant, I did not know he was married.

Most believe that this is impossible

that my husband can reconcile his dreams with anything else.

And without the practical mind of it,

My dreams would be drifting.

Then let us toast to the sun of the colonies

and ivory.

CAPE CITY FOUR MONTHS LATER

"To Lord Charles Somerset, Governor of the Cape Colony, Colonial Africa. Dear Lord Charles,"

I was quite worried to read

your letter from the past day January 7.

I guarantee that I and His Majesty share the concern

in relation to the Zulu threat as it defined it.

Unfortunately, due to the cut of economic and military expenses,

that the Crown adopted since the end of the Napoleonic Wars,

His Majesty's Government has no conditions,

to allow the granting of British troops.

Nevertheless, Sir Charles,

after proper deliberation,

The Colonial Cabinet devised an alternative plan,

whose author is...

Lieutenant Francis George Farewell,

his acquaintance, and bearer of this missive.

I hope you are looking for

that the task of Lieutenant Farewell, receive all the encouragement and support...

and face it as the best possible solution to the problem. " You 60,000 ferocious Zulus warriors",

willing to attack this colony,

and what I Sends the crown to prevent the massacre of every man, woman and child that crosses with them. It is an arrogant apology...

and...

No offense, Lieutenant,

You!

I need a drink. "Are you with me, Lieutenant?"

With pleasure, Sir Charles.

In about two months,

I propose to disembark with a carefully selected group in Natal.

Our excuse will be that we are merchants in ivory,

but that will be just a disguise.

My goal is to get in touch with Shaka Zulu

to secure an alliance with His Majesty, King George.

Alliances are, for civilized people,

Not for savages. The idea is...

completely absurd.

Even if you get a deal,

Shaka will never do his part.

Values of good and evil, life and death,

are not inserted in their moral code. His actions prove it.

There is no definite perspective on their human relationships.

They are pagans, lieutenant,

and the pagans are not rational.

Will it be so, reverend?

Cicero was not a heathen? "Tacitus, Virgil, Homer?"

Julius Caesar, Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?

- Do you want to continue? "Those were wise, Lieutenant."

Do not want to compare them with Shaka.

He is a barbarian and a murderer!

Also Charlemagne was, in his own way.

I do not understand, Farewell.

Lord Charles,

the only way the Crown preserves its territories

in Africa, America or Asia,

is to remove hypocrisy and start treating others as equals.

I think that is the true Christian message.

Do not you agree, Reverend?

Or does our moral code justify the means used?

Anyway, I suggest contacting Shaka Zulu

to negotiate an alliance with Great Britain.

If so, I only hope that King Shaka is more sensible

that Pope Alexander Borgia would have been.

I value your idealism, Mr. Farewell,

but certainly not yet informed of the situation in Africa

and I suspect that Mr. Vegte,

our most expert Dutch resident,

agree with what I am saying.

No, I do not think I should approve this absurd mission.

But you have no choice, Lord Charles.

Mr. Farewell's mandate comes from Downing Street

and the Colonial Cabinet demands

total cooperation.

Well, if you give us permission, gentlemen,

We did not spend four months at sea to talk about history.

Lord Charles, I have to recruit a crew.

Good morning, sir.

Lieutenant! Excuse me, gentlemen.

Mr. Farewell, may I accompany you?

I want you to understand, Mr. Farewell,

that is going to face terrible conditions.

Thanks, Mr. Vegte. Your notice will be very useful.

Mr. Farewell,

I want to accompany you on your expedition.

Because I speak the language well Xhosa,

which is very similar to that of the Zulus.

In summary, Mr. Farewell,

I can become indispensable for your expedition.

It is possible.

Is that an English way of saying that you accept me?

It is possible.

NORTH BORDER CAPE COLONY

The situation on the border was becoming unsustainable.

With the Zulu massacre heading south,

The tribes in flight fought for the remaining territory.

Desperate camp battles were frequent in the North

and the farmers of the border began to be more nervous

due to the instability caused by these violent encounters.

This required immediate action from Lord Charles.

Rays! Tell fucking Farewell to act quickly.

- You can go! - Yes sir.

But Lieutenant Francis George Farewell was not intimidated

by the screaming of the grumpy Lord Charles.

Knowing the value of a careful plan for an expedition of this type,

meticulously searched for who knew it would be useful,

What brought him to me,

in a meeting that would change the course

of my already fertile in events and extraordinary stay in Africa.

And I would change my life too.

Hello, Mr. Fynn. "This is Lieutenant Farewell."

We send a message for your residence,

talking about his participation in Mr. Farewell's Christmas expedition.

As doctor and director of charge,

Mr. Vegte tells me that his experience in these areas is broad.

Yes, I received the message.

They say it prevents infections, but after four malaria crises,

- I begin to doubt its effectiveness. - Malaria?

Is that what they suffer?

That's... A mix of

yellow fever, dysentery, cholera,

and diseases of the soul, which are...

much harder to diagnose and almost impossible to cure.

Only God can make these people come alive

to his, still, unknown destination.

Or perhaps it is by His will that they do not come.

Tell me, Lieutenant, why venture into those abandoned lands?

What do you know about a man named Shaka?

That answers your question, Lieutenant?

The Masane, Nxumalos, Hlubis, Cunus, Ngwanes,

and many others were swept from Southeast Africa,

fleeing the spears of Shaka,

indulging in slave traders

and to the British troops in the borders of the Cape Colony.

In a way, they are the most recent victims of current history.

If I may compare, are the "wandering Jews" of Africa,

fleeing the Pharaoh Shaka,

for the Babylonian captivity of slavery.

Fynn, this territory being as wide as they say it is,

Pharaoh must give something to these people

in exchange for their fidelity. If not all would have been dispersed.

- Have you read "Fausto", Lieutenant? "From Marlowe, Bacon, Lessing or Goethe?"

Touche. What did Faust receive in return for his fidelity?

There is a myth, lieutenant, among the native healers,

about a child. A prophetic child.

They say it will appear in an era

in which the name Amazulu will mean terror and death.

Many see Shaka as the embodiment of that prophecy.

Come on, Fynn. You are too smart to believe in superstitions.

I saw that child, Farewell.

Not in person,

But in the eyes of those who are fleeing.

In the eyes of these prisoners.

Well, tell me then how do you suggest that we end this devilish child?

Stabbing him in the chest on the eve of a full moon night?

If there were no other way out, Lieutenant, we will have to kill him.

I do not think we are going to take stakes with us.

We may find other ways to do this,

without so much blood.

- Are we counting on you? - Is Mr. Vegte going?

Yes, Mr. Fynn.

Then, yes, Lieutenant.

It's better to be with you.

And may God help us!

The next gentleman, please.

Take it easy, we will not be long.

- Name? "Henry Ogle, sir."

Sit down, Mr. Ogle. - Thank my Lord.

- Do you know everything about this expedition? - Most. On the east coast.

What is your trade, Mr. Ogle?

Sailor, but I'm also useful on land.

Did you serve in decent ships?

- In the best, in the H.M.S. Victory. - Very good.

You are hired.

With due anticipation, introduce yourself to Mr. Vegte

and he will teach you basic Zulu. Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Next, please, Tim.

Tonino!

Tonino what?

- Only Tonino. "Only Tonino?"

And where does Solo Tonino come from?

- Italy. - Italy?

- What is your intention? - The adventure!

I think he is capable of getting some.

Good morning, sir.

- Name? "Popham, sir."

I assume Popham is the nickname.

- No, sir. - Is the name of baptism?

I am not Catholic, sir.

John Cane, 45, qualified sailor.

I know how to cook and handle a shotgun like anyone else.

Valuable skills.

- Prove them and hire them. - Thank my Lord.

= Tim, the next one, please.

Next!

- Zacharius Abrahams. "Come in, sir."

Mr. Zacharius Abrahams, gentlemen.

Mr Abrahams?

Do not come to offer to travel with us, right?

I hope so, Mr. Fynn.

Mr. Abrahams is

a leader of the trading community here in Cape Town.

Mr. Abrahams, with the greatest respect,

Our trip will be painful and probably dangerous.

It should also take a long time.

Lieutenant, I have an experience of more than...

60 interesting years.

But my health is optimal.

Tell me, Mr. Abrahams,

What would you give us your positive contribution?

With respect to the rest of the crew,

I am the best trader on the east coast of Africa

without excluding the American advanced

or the Arab experts.

Britain needs to develop trade in its territories

and I would continue to be a valuable British subject.

THREE WEEKS LATER

Come on, hold on to my hand. Hold on!

Lieutenant, let me help you.

Help!

Take it out of the water!

Come on Fynn, there are still people alive! Help me!

Ready.

Lieutenant!

Look!

Lieutenant!

Look!

Someone! Look here!

Come on!

Lower your weapons. Unload them!

Quiet, do not move!

Mr. Vegte, tell them we came in peace on behalf of the White King.

Tell him we want to see Shaka.

Come on!

Quiet!

I think they are taking me because of language.

I will do what I can best. I think they do not want to hurt us.

- What do we do now? - We wait.

There is nothing else to do.