Rafael I of Kongo

Rafael I Nzinga a Nkanga was a ruler of the Kingdom of Kongo during its civil war. He ruled from 1670 to 1673.^[1]

Accession to the throne

During the civil war period, Soyo, previously under the control of Kongo, became independent.^[2] It still regularly interfered with Kongolese affairs and invaded several times to depose kings who were not pro-Soyo. When the Soyo invaded in 1669, they overthrew Pedro III, who was a member of the House of Kinlaza and replaced him with Álvaro IX, who was a member of the more Soyo sympathetic House of Kimpanzu.^[3] However even the nobles of Kimpanzu had grown resentful of Soyo interfering in Kongo affairs. Rafael deposed Álvaro and took his place as Manikongo.^[4]

Rule

After his ascension, Rafael was driven from his capital São Salvador by Soyo, who were receiving Dutch aid, and were slowly becoming as powerful as Kongo. Rafael travelled to Luanda and sought Portuguese aid, who were rivals of the Dutch at the time, to help subdue Soyo. In return he promised Portugal money, mineral concessions and the right to build a fortress in Soyo to keep out the Dutch.^[5] The Battle of Kitombo was a humiliating defeat for Angola^[6] and they were forced to recognise Soyo's independence and the Pope acquired a papal nuncio from the King of Portugal stating that the crown would make no more attempts on its sovereignty.^[7] However this did give Rafael the opportunity to reoccupy the São Salvador and continue rule until 1673.

Preceded by Álvaro IX	Manikongo 1670–1673	Succeeded by Afonso III

References

^ Kessler, P L. "Kingdoms of Africa - Angola / Kongo Kingdom". www.historyfiles.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-07-12.
^ Thornton, John K: "The Kongolese Saint Anthonty: Dona Beatriz Kimpa Vita and the Antonian Movement, 1684-1706", page 78. Cambridge University, 1998
^ Gray, Richard: "Black Christians & White Missionaries", page 38. Yale University, 1990
^ Battell, Andrew; Samuel Purchas (1901). The Strange Adventures of Andrew Battell of Leigh, in Angola and the Adjoining Regions. The Hakluyt Society. pp. 131.
^ Birmingham, David: "Portugal and Africa", page 61. Palgrave Macmillan, 1999
^ Thornton, John K: "Warfare in Atlantic Africa 1500-1800", page 103. Routledge, 1999
^ Gray, Richard: "Black Christians & White Missionaries", 1990. Yale University. Page 38.

[1] Kessler, P L. "Kingdoms of Africa - Angola / Kongo Kingdom". www.historyfiles.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-07-12.

[2] Thornton, John K: "The Kongolese Saint Anthonty: Dona Beatriz Kimpa Vita and the Antonian Movement, 1684-1706", page 78. Cambridge University, 1998

[Gray,_Richard_page_38-3] Gray, Richard: "Black Christians & White Missionaries", page 38. Yale University, 1990

[4] Battell, Andrew; Samuel Purchas (1901). The Strange Adventures of Andrew Battell of Leigh, in Angola and the Adjoining Regions. The Hakluyt Society. pp. 131.

[Birmingham,_David_page_61-5] Birmingham, David: "Portugal and Africa", page 61. Palgrave Macmillan, 1999

[6] Thornton, John K: "Warfare in Atlantic Africa 1500-1800", page 103. Routledge, 1999

[7] Gray, Richard: "Black Christians & White Missionaries", 1990. Yale University. Page 38.

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v t e 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	Garcia III of Kibangu André I of Kibangu Manuel I of Kibangu Álvaro X of Kibangu Pedro IV of Kongo Pedro III of Kongo João II of Lemba Manuel II of Kongo
Awenekongo after the recapture of São Salvador (1709–1891)	Pedro 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 Aleixo I of Kongo Joaquim I of Kongo Henrique II of Kongo Garcia V of Kongo André II of Kongo Henrique 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 IV 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)