Kingdom of Kongo

Kingdom of Kongo was a state in Lower Congo and Angola (Central and Southern Africa) that lasted from c. 1390 to 1914 CE, about 524 years. Its people spoke Bantu languages (Kongo, Shona, Zulu, Swahili, Luba, Ganda).

Founded by Lukeni lua Nimi, Kongo became a Christian kingdom after 1491 and traded with Portugal. Civil wars followed its defeat at Mbwila in 1665, and Portugal abolished the monarchy in 1914.

See Kingdom of Kongo on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

c. 1390 to 1914 CE

Duration

524 years

Type

State

Region

Lower Congo and Angola, Central and Southern Africa

Language family

Bantu

Capital

Mbanza Kongo (São Salvador)

Became

• Portuguese Angola 1575 to 1975 CE

Events in Central and Southern Africa during its time

• 1483 Diogo Cão reaches the Congo River
• 1491 Kongo's king is baptised
• 1498 Vasco da Gama on the Swahili coast
• 1505 Portuguese sack Kilwa and Mombasa
• 1652 Founding of Cape Town
• 1665 Battle of Mbwila
• 1698 Omanis take Fort Jesus
• 1816 Shaka becomes Zulu king

Neighbours in Central and Southern Africa

• Swahili city-states c. 800 to 1700 CE
• Kingdom of Zimbabwe c. 1220 to 1450 CE
• Zulu Kingdom 1816 to 1897 CE
• Congo Free State 1885 to 1908 CE
• Kingdom of Buganda c. 1300 to 1966 CE
• Kilwa Sultanate c. 957 to 1513 CE
• Bunyoro-Kitara c. 1400 to 1899 CE
• Portuguese Mozambique 1505 to 1975 CE
• Portuguese Angola 1575 to 1975 CE
• Mutapa Empire c. 1430 to 1760 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Republic of Venice c. 697 to 1797 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Middle East
• Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE, Europe
• Ethiopian Empire (Solomonic dynasty) 1270 to 1974 CE, North and West Africa
• Khmer Empire 802 to 1431 CE, Southeast Asia
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Europe
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Middle East
• Portuguese Empire 1415 to 1999 CE, Europe
• Mali Empire c. 1235 to 1670 CE, North and West Africa

Questions