Yuhi IV Gahindiro was the King of Rwanda from 1801 to 1845.[1] He was the head of Bahindiro clan and father of Mutara II Rwogera. His reign is remembered in Rwandan history as the most peaceful. He died with no blood on his hands.
| Yuhi IV Gahindiro | |
|---|---|
| Mwami (King) | |
| Reign | 1801 - 1845 |
| Born | Kingdom of Rwanda |
| Died | 1845 Kingdom of Rwanda |
| Spouse | Nyiramavugo II Nyiramongi |
| Issue | Mutara II Rwogera |
| Dynasty | Nyiginya-Hindiro dynasty |
| Father | adopted Mibambwe III Mutabazi II Sentabyo Bilogical father : Gihana Rurema |
| Mother | Nyirayuhi IV Nyiratunga |
His other recorded children were Nyirindekwe, Nkusi, Rubega, Rwanyanya, Rwayega, Rwabika, Nyabigondo, Nkoronko, Mutijima, Nyamashara, Rubamburamanzi, Mashara and Urujeni.[2] Yuhi IV Gahindiro's mother's name was Nyiratunga. She was in control of the Rwandan Kingdom until her son was old enough to ascend to the throne. Queen Nyiratunga ruled with the help of her brother Rugagi.Together they fended off wars against Kins such as Gatarabuhura who wanted to kill the boy king Gahindiro.
Gahindiro was one of the four most famous Nyinginya kings, namely: Ruganzu Ndoli; Cyilima Rujugira; Yuhi Gahindiro and Kigeli Rwabugili. Gahindiro is the one who broke the popular proverb: "Ak'i Muhana kaza imvura ihise." In the poems when they reach Gahindiro they say: "Gahindiro of Nyiratunga the widow of Gihana Rurema created him and sent him a shield thanks to his first cousin Mibambwe Sentabyo from generation to generation." Gahindiro's mother Queen Nyiratunga was adowger to Gihana son of King Cyirima II Rujugira. Gihana was an uncle to Mibambwe III Sentabyo. Gahindiro's biological father Gihana had died as an Umutabazi wumucengeri in Burundi.
Gahindiro deployed a large number of troops, but it began mainly during the reign of Cyilima II, when they set up camps due to the fact that at that time Burundi was waging a major war against Rwanda seeking to overthrow the Bucura of Rwaka who had taken refuge there and Rugira. Gahindiro changed the culture so that the units of the previous dynasties were not as old as the other dynasties, but were instead run by the courts or parishes. As members of the armed forces aged, they were replaced by their sons. Each camp was a large house made up of warriors and their servants or war companions. It consisted of at least two heads, one made up of 120 combatants.
Yuhi IV died of old age.
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