In this continuation of Rwandan history, we delve deeper into the intriguing events surrounding the reign of Cyilima1 Rugwe, offering a unique insight into the realm of political manipulation and power struggles in ancient Rwanda.

The Legacy of Ruganzu1 Bwimba: A Sacrificial King and Shifting Traditions

The previous article left us with the intriguing tale of Ruganzu1 Bwimba and his naming of Cyilima, later known as Cyilima1 Rugwe, who ruled from 1345 to 1378 (as documented in Alex Kagame's book, "Un abrege de l’ethno-histoire du Rwanda").

ALSO READ: Rwandan History, Part 2: Monarchy and Political Manipulation

After naming his child, Ruganzu Bwimba traveled to Gisaka, where a tragic fate awaited him. He met his end at a place called Nkungu near Munyaga, which is now in the Eastern province (Rwamagana district), but was then part of Gisaka before Rwanda&039;s conquest.

Four significant events in Rwandan history can be traced back to Ruganzu1 Bwimba's actions: he was the only king who died as umucengeli (sacrificed himself); he established the principle that leaders should bear the burdens of their people rather than transferring them onto others, leading to the saying, "abo ingoma yahaye amata nibo isaba amaraso" - those empowered economically by a regime are the ones to sacrifice and take the lead in supporting it; there would be no more 'musingakazi' becoming queen mothers, and a queen mother was henceforth allowed to remarry.

The Rise and Fall of Prince Mwendo and Cyilima1 Rugwe's Ascendancy

Upon Ruganzu1 Bwimba's death, his mother married Prince Mwendo, the brother of the fallen king. Cyenge, the guardian of the esoteric code (ubwiru) as mentioned in the previous article, became the actual regent. However, Prince Mwendo was not content with this arrangement. He desired to succeed his brother not as a regent but as the de facto monarch. Tradition tells us that he even attempted to poison the young Cyilima1 Rugwe.

When Cyilima fell seriously ill, accusations of poisoning surfaced, forcing Prince Mwendo into self-exile in Bugesera. Consequently, it was decided that a queen mother must remain single until death in the event of her husband's passing. When Cyilima1 Rugwe reached adulthood, Cyenge transferred power to him. In return for his loyalty, the former regent earned the title of honorary president of the "Abiru - guardians of esoteric code" and became the official guardian of the royal drum of the dynasty.

Ubwiru's Designation and the Fateful Love Triangle

Ubwiru, the esoteric code, dictated that the future queen mother should come from the Abakono clan. The divine oracles identified Nyanguge, daughter of Sagashya, the Monarch of Bugufi (in the former Shyorongi commune), as the chosen one. Rwandan emissaries presented their case to demand her consent, only to discover she was already engaged to Nsoro1 Bihembe. Nkima, the chief of Nyamweru and Nyanguge's relative, served as the envoy of Nsoro.

A Twist of Destiny: Cyilima's Cunning Ploy

Cyilima Rugwe devised a clever plan to deprive Nsoro Bihembe of Nyanguge. Through strategic maneuvers and befriending Nsoro, he succeeded in obtaining Mount Kigali and Mount Nyamweru, with Nkima falling under his influence. As a result, Nyanguge's fate was sealed, and she eventually married Cyilima1 Rugwe. Mount Nyamweru enjoyed autonomy within the Kingdom of Abanyiginya.

Expansion under Cyilima1 Rugwe: Conquest and Social-Economic Categories

With the assistance of his son Mukobanya, Cyilima1 Rugwe embarked on the expansion of his territories. He conquered various regions, including Ubuliza in Rulindo district, and introduced social-economic categories (Ubudehe) like Abahutu, Abatutsi, and Abatwa. These categories aimed to aid in understanding the economic and social consciousness of the people in the newly conquered areas, facilitating their assimilation into the kingdom.

The highest category, Ubutsi, was determined based on the possession of cattle, which formed the backbone of Rwanda's economy. Members of Ubutsi demonstrated high social consciousness, particularly concerning the conquest of foreign lands and the country's economic development. They supported the king by gifting cows to lower categories, contributing to the leadership's popularity and fighting poverty, the internal enemy that served as the basis for confronting foreign adversaries. Membership in this category carried significant responsibilities, and some individuals even shunned it to avoid the burden, facing punishment from the leadership.