The Ndongo kingdom ultimately fell due to a significant revolt by its ruler against Portuguese forces, culminating in the capture of its main fortress.
The Final Years of Ndongo Independence
The decline and eventual fall of the Kingdom of Ndongo were marked by increasing Portuguese influence and military pressure. A critical turning point that led to the effective end of Ndongo as an independent kingdom occurred in the late 17th century.
- Ruler's Revolt (1670): In 1670, the then-ruler of Ndongo initiated a revolt against Portuguese authority. This uprising was a direct challenge to the growing colonial power seeking to expand its control in the region.
- Prolonged Siege: Following the revolt, the Portuguese army mounted a sustained and arduous siege against the Ndongo fortress, which served as a crucial stronghold for the kingdom.
- Fortress Capture (1671): After a long and arduous siege, the Ndongo fortress eventually fell to the Portuguese army in 1671. This decisive military victory for the Portuguese effectively dismantled Ndongo's last vestiges of sovereignty and independence.
The fall of its fortress in 1671 thus marked the conclusive end of Ndongo as a self-governing entity, integrating its former territories more firmly into the Portuguese colonial system.
