The Rharhabe kingdom is a royal traditional monarchy located in South Africa which has existed since the 18th century. It is mainly inhabited by the Rharhabe tribe (amaRharhabe) who are a branch of the larger xhosa group. The Rharhabe royal house is the right royal house while the gcaleka royal house is the great royal house that rules the xhosa kingdom of South Africa. This traditional monarchy was officially recognised in 2021 by president Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa.
According to history, King Phalo married two royal brides , amampondomise and abathembu pincesses who both arrived the same day. This resulted in a crisis on who would be senior to the other. This was solved by having one wife as Great royal wife and the other as Right hand royal house. Gcaleka KaPhalo faced tried to usurp his father’s rule and interclan war broke out resulting in the Xhosa nation to split into two major sub-groups
This kingdom is today divided into two according to the two sons of the two royal houses :
- Gcaleka – Great royal house. Named after Gcaleka, Great royal Son and heir of King Phalo and amaMpondomise princess. Today Lineage rules Xhosa Kingdom
- Rharhabe – right hand house. Named after Rharhabe, right hand house son of King Phalo . Today lineage rules Rharhabe Kingdom
Kings of United Xhosa
- Xhosa kaMnguni ( Nguni nation would come to be known as AmaXhosa )
- Malangana KaXhosa,
- Ngcwangube KaMalangana,
- Nkosiyane KaNgcwangube,
- Nkosiyamntu KaNkosiyane,
- Tshawe KaNkosiyamntu (Xhosa royal clan is named after him),
- Ngcwangu KaTshawe,
- Sikhomo KaNgcwangu,
- Togu KaSikhomo,
- Ngconde KaTogu,
- Tshiwo KaNgconde,
- Phalo KaTshiwo – 1736 to 1775
- Gcaleka KaPhalo & Rharhabe KaPhalo.
Rharhabe Kings
- Rharhabe KaPhalo,
- Mlawu KaRharhabe,
- Ndlambe kaRharhabe,
- Ngqika KaMlawu,
- Maqoma KaNgqika(Also commander of the Xhosa Army, – Aa! Jongumsobomvu!),
- Sandile KaNgqika,
- Gonya KaSandile,
- Faku KaGonya (Not to be confused with the Amampondo King),
- Velile KaFaku,
- Mxolisi KaVelile,
- Maxhob’ayakhawuleza KaMxolisi,
- Jonguxolo KaMaxhob’ayakhawuleza (Aa!Vululwandle!)
King Jonguxolo kaSandile aah Vululwandle
King Jonguxolo kaSandile is the only son of late King Maxhoba Sandile and his Zulu royal wife Queen Noloyiso Sandile Zulu. He is 29 years old and was named heir after the passing of his mother Queen regent Noloyiso Sandile who has served as regent since 2011 when his father died. He is the current reigning monarch of Rharhabe kingdom which is part of the larger Xhosa people. Under him are 42 chiefs and 300 head men.
King Maxhobayakhawuleza Sandile
King Maxhobayakhawuleza Sandile or shortly as Maxhoba was the king of Rharhabe kingdom, South Africa from his ascension to his death in 2011. He married Princess Nomusa Zulu who became Queen Noloyiso Sandile of Rharhabe. He was the father to King Jonguxolo kaSandile and princess Nomatshawe Sandile
Queen regent Noloyiso Sandile
Queen Noloyiso Sandile was born Princess Nomusa Zulu as the daughter of late King Cyprian Bhekuzulu of Zulu kingdom, South Africa, she was therefore sister to current King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu. She was the wife and consort of late HM King Maxhobayakhawuleza Sandile (died in 2011) whom she married in 1988. Queen Noloyiso then became regent for her young son until he became of age. Her daughter is Princess Nomatshawe Sandile. She passed on in 2020
Princess NomaRharahbe Sandile
HRH Princess NomaRharahbe Sandile of Rharhabe kingdom, South Africa, Only Daughter of late TM King Maxhobayakhawuleza Sandile and Queen Regent Noloyiso Sandile of Rharhabe kingdom, South Africa. She is only Sister and sibling to current HM King Jonguxolo kaSandile of Rharhabe Kingdom, AmaRharhabe people of South Africa
Below are some pictures of the royal family
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