Xhosa Kingdom, amaXhosa people of South Africa

Xhosa Kingdom is a traditional monarchy of the amaXhosa people of South Africa. They are a nguni speaking people who speak the isixhosa language and the second largest ethnic group in Southern Africa. The Kingdom was founded in 15th century by King Tshawe.

AmaTshawe is Royal clan that rules Xhosa Kingdom. It is named after King Tshawe KaNkosiyamntu.

Royal Titles

King – iKumkani
Queen – iKumkanikazi
Queen Mother / great royal wife – iNdlunkulu (Great royal wife/house), sometimes Indlovukazi
Prince – iNkosana
Princess – iNkosazana
Chief – iNkosi
Palace – Nqadu Great Place

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.

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

Prior the arrival of the Europeans, the Xhosa territory stretched from Mbhashe River to Gamtoos River in the Southern Cape. The Gcaleka House had jurisdiction from Mbhashe river to Kei river, and the Rharhabe House beyond the Kei River and extended beyond the Fish River.

Gcaleka Kings: Great House / Xhosa kingdom	Rharhabe Kings: Right Hand House
King Gcaleka KaPhalo – 1775 to 1792	King Rharhabe KaPhalo
King Khawuta KaGcaleka – 1792 – 1804	King Mlawu KaRharhabe
King Hintsa KaKhawuta (The most renowned & respected King in Xhosa history – Aa! Zanzolo!) – 1820 – 1835	King Ndlambe kaRharhabe
King Sarhili KaHintsa – 1835 – 1892	King Ngqika KaMlawu
King Sigcawu KaSarhili – 1892 – 1902	King Maqoma KaNgqika(Also commander of the Xhosa Army, – Aa! Jongumsobomvu!)
King Gwebinkumbi KaSigcawu – 1902 – 1921	King Sandile KaNgqika
King Ngangomhlaba KaGwebinkumbi – 1923 – 1933	King Gonya KaSandile
King Zwelidumile KaGwebinkumbi – 1933 – 1965	King Faku KaGonya
King Xolilizwe KaGwebinkumbi – 1965 – 2005	King Velile KaFaku
King Zwelonke Calvin Mpendulo KaXolilizwe, Aa! Zwelonke – 2006 – 2019	King Mxolisi KaVelile
King Ahlangene KaXolilizwe Aa! Vulikhaya – current	King Maxhob’ayakhawuleza KaMxolisi
	King onguxolo KaMaxhob’ayakhawuleza (Aa!Vululwandle!)
	see more on –Rharhabe Royal Family

King Xolilizwe Sigcawu
- Queen Nondwe Sigcawu born Princess Feziwe Ndamase of amaMpondo AseNyandeni (Great wife)
  - Prince Siseko Sigcawu
  - Princess NomaGcaleka Sigcawu
- Queen Nozamile Sigcawu
  - King Zwelonke Sigcawu Calvin Mpendulo
  - Prince Simphiwe Sigcawu
  - Princess Vuyiswa Sigcawu
  - Princess Nontathu Sigcawu
- Queen Nogaweni Sigcawu
  - King Ahlangene Vulikhaya Sigcawu
  - Princess Bukelwa Sigcawu
  - Princess Thobeka Sigcawu
  - Princess Sheila Sigcawu
- Queen Nolusapho –
  - Prince Phandulwazi Sigcawu
- Queen Nolitha
King Zwelonke Sigcawu Calvin Mpendulo
- King had eight children, including three sons including Princess Inathi NomaTshawe Sigcawu with four wives namely
- Queen Nolwando Sigcawu
- Queen Sive Sigcawu
- Queen Simanye Sigcawu
- Queen Liyema Sigcawu
King Ahlangene Vulikhaya Sigcawu
- Queen Nonzuze