empire that arose in northern Zululand, in South Africa, at the end of the 18th century, probably in response to the increased trading opportunities in Delagoa Bay and possibly also because of population growth and an increasing need for grazing land. Under the rule of Dingiswayo (died 1817) many of the military and administrative innovations, including the system of age-regiments that later characterized the Zulu empire, were initiated, and it was in the Mtetwa armies that the Zulu chieftain Shaka first rose to fame. On Dingiswayo's death the Mtetwa was absorbed by the Zulu empire.