Bernardo I of Kongo
Encyclopedia
Bernardo I of Kongo was a 16th century manikongo
(ruler) of the Kingdom of Kongo
, a region encompassing areas in 21st century Angola
and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He came to power after murdering his half-brother Afonso II
who was less well-disposed toward the Portuguese.
The rule of Bernardo I extended from 1561 to 1567. He was killed fighting the Yaka
on Kongo's eastern frontier. The Yaka, who were referred to as Jagas by the Essikongo
and the Portuguese
, would invade and nearly conquer Kongo in 1568.
Manikongo
The Manikongo or MweneKongo was the title of the rulers of the Kingdom of Kongo, a kingdom that existed from the fourteenth to the nineteenth centuries and consisted of land in present-day Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo...
(ruler) of the Kingdom of Kongo
Kingdom of Kongo
The Kingdom of Kongo was an African kingdom located in west central Africa in what are now northern Angola, Cabinda, the Republic of the Congo, and the western portion of the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, a region encompassing areas in 21st century Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He came to power after murdering his half-brother Afonso II
Afonso II of Kongo
-Biography:Little is known about Afonso II or his reign. He may have been the illegitimate son of Diogo I. Six years earlier, King Diogo had cut off all relations with Portugal and expelled them from the kingdom. The Portuguese attempted to return by plotting with another claimant for the throne...
who was less well-disposed toward the Portuguese.
The rule of Bernardo I extended from 1561 to 1567. He was killed fighting the Yaka
Yaka
The Yaka are an ethnic group of Southwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola. They number about 300,000. They live in the forest and savanna areas between the Kwango and Wamba rivers. They are very artistic. Many of their religious and cultural customs transcend ethnic boundaries, and...
on Kongo's eastern frontier. The Yaka, who were referred to as Jagas by the Essikongo
Kingdom of Kongo
The Kingdom of Kongo was an African kingdom located in west central Africa in what are now northern Angola, Cabinda, the Republic of the Congo, and the western portion of the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
and the Portuguese
Portuguese Empire
The Portuguese Empire , also known as the Portuguese Overseas Empire or the Portuguese Colonial Empire , was the first global empire in history...
, would invade and nearly conquer Kongo in 1568.