João I of Kongo

For the King of Portugal, see João I of Portugal.

João I Nzinga a Nkuwu

João I of Kongo (died 1509), alias Nzinga a Nkuwu or Nkuwu Nzinga, was ruler of the Kingdom of Kongo between 1470–1509. He was baptized as João on 3 May 1491 by Portuguese missionaries. Due to his interest in Portugal and its culture, he initiated a major cultural initiative in 1485 upon the arrival of Diogo Cão. It was under these conditions that the first Atlantic Creole emerged, forming in both Central Africa and in Portugal.

Early reign

King Nzinga a Nkuwu was the seventh ruler of Kongo.^[1] He was married to Queen Nzinga a Nlaza, a first cousin.^[2] She had a son by the king named Nzinga Mbemba. She would later help him become king of Kongo after her husband's death.^[2] Under the reign of Nzinga a Nkuwu, Kongo had grown to 100,000 square kilometres and contained a very centralised government.^[3]

Arrival of the Portuguese

In 1483, a Portuguese caravel captained by Diogo Cão reached the estuary of the Congo River and made contact with subjects of the king.^[4] Cão sailed back to Portugal carrying a party of Kongo emissaries. On arrival in Lisbon, the emissaries were baptized and placed in a monastery before returning to the king in 1491.^[5]

Along with the emissaries came Portuguese priests, masons, carpenters and soldiers plus European goods.^[5] The ships anchored at Mpinda and after a brief halt to baptise the governor of Soyo, uncle to the manikongo, the procession went on to the capital where they were greeted by the king and five of his leading nobles.^[5]

Baptisms and later relations

On 3 May 1491, the king of Kongo was baptised along with his family.^[6] Initially, only the king and his nobles were to be converted, but the queen demanded to be baptised.^[2] Kongo's royal family took the names of their Portuguese counterparts, thus João, Eleanor (or Leanor in some instances) and Afonso.^[7] A thousand subjects were detailed to help the Portuguese carpenters build a church, meanwhile the Portuguese soldiers accompanied the king in a campaign to defend the province of Nsundi from Bateke raiders.^[6] The European firearms were decisive in the victory and many captives were taken.^[6]

Later life

Most of the Portuguese later departed with slaves and ivory while leaving behind priests and craftsmen.^[6] After this cultural honeymoon, the king's profession of the Catholic faith proved short lived.^[6] His life ended in 1509. He was succeeded by his son via the Queen, Afonso I.^[2]

References

↑ Oliver, Roland and Anthony Atmore: "Medieval Africa, 1250–1800", page 167. Cambridge University Press, 2001
1 2 3 4 Thornton, John: "Elite Women in the Kingdom of Kongo: Historical Perspectives on Women's Political Power", page 442. The Journal of African History, Vol. 47, 2006
↑ Thornton, John: "Elite Women in the Kingdom of Kongo: Historical Perspectives on Women's Political Power", page 438. The Journal of African History, Vol. 47, 2006
↑ Oliver, Roland and Anthony Atmore: "Medieval Africa, 1250–1800", page 168. Cambridge University Press, 2001
1 2 3 Oliver, Roland and Anthony Atmore: "Medieval Africa, 1250–1800", page 169. Cambridge University Press, 2001
1 2 3 4 5 Oliver, Roland and Anthony Atmore: "Medieval Africa, 1250–1800", page 170. Cambridge University Press, 2001
↑ Hilton, Anne: "Family and Kinship among the Kongo South of the Zaire River from the Sixteenth to the Nineteenth Centuries", page 197. The Journal of African History, Vol. 24, No. 2, 1983

Preceded by Nkuwu a Ntinu	Manikongo 1470–1509	Succeeded by Afonso I

Rulers of the Kingdom of Kongo

Awenekongo of the Kilukeni kanda (1390–1567)	Lukeni lua Nimi Nanga of Kongo Nlaza of Kongo Nkuwu a Ntinu of Kongo João I of Kongo Afonso I of Kongo Pedro I of Kongo Diogo I Nkumbi a Mpudi Afonso II of Kongo Bernardo I of Kongo Henrique I of Kongo

Awenekongo of the Kwilu kanda (1567–1622)	Álvaro I of Kongo Álvaro II of Kongo Bernardo II of Kongo Álvaro III of Kongo

Awenekongo of the Nkanga a Mvika kanda (1622–1626)	Pedro II of Kongo Garcia I of Kongo

Mwenekongo of the Kwilu kanda (1626–1636)	Ambrósio I of Kongo Álvaro IV of Kongo

Awenekongo of the Kimpanzu kanda (1636)	Álvaro V of Kongo

Awenekongo of the Kinlaza kanda (1636–1665)	Álvaro VI of Kongo Garcia II of Kongo António I of Kongo

Civil War Awenekongo (1665–1678)	Afonso II of Kongo and Nkondo Álvaro VII of Kongo Álvaro VIII of Kongo Pedro III of Kongo Álvaro IX of Kongo Rafael I of Kongo Afonso III of Kongo Daniel I of Kongo

Post-Civil War states	Kibangu (1669–1709) Garcia III of Kibangu André I of Kibangu Manuel I of Kibangu Álvaro X of Kibangu Pedro IV of Kongo Lemba (1669–1716) Pedro III of Kongo João II of Lemba Mbamba Lovata (1678–1715) Manuel of Lovata

Awenekongo after the recapture of São Salvador (1709–1891)	Pedro IV of Kongo Manuel II of Kongo Garcia IV of Kongo Manuel II of Kongo Garcia IV of Kongo Nicolau I of Kongo Afonso IV of Kongo António II of Kongo Sebastião I of Kongo "Pedro V" Álvaro XI of Kongo José I of Kongo Afonso V of Kongo Álvaro XII of Kongo Alexio I of Kongo Joaquim I of Kongo Henrique II of Kongo Garcia V of Kongo André II of Kongo André III of Kongo Álvaro XIII of Kongo Pedro V of Kongo

Awenekongo after 1881 vassalage treaty with Portugal (1891–1914)	Álvaro XIV of Kongo Henrique III of Kongo Pedro VI of Kongo Manuel Nkomba of Kongo Manuel III of Kongo

Pretenders to the Kongo throne since 1914	Alvaro XV of Kongo Pedro VII of Kongo António III of Kongo Isabel Maria da Gama, Q of Kongo (regent) Pedro VIII of Kongo Isabel Maria da Gama of Kongo (regent)

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