In 1902 the Boers lost the second Boer War to Britain after three years of intense struggle and often bittter fighting. Swaziland was considered to be Boer ''territory'' and as Britain was the victor in the colonial system Swaziland became british ''territory''. However Britain had previously promised the country independence for help in fighting the Pedi, therefore the incorporation of the country into the empire was seen as a betrayal by the Swazis and the royal family.
Despite their protests the country remained a protectorate until the 1960s when there was a groundshift in African politics and the colonial powers were granting independence. From 1960 onwards there were discusssions about the handover of power, draft constitutions and the election of a prototype parliament. When independence finally arrived on September the 6th in 1968 King Sobhuza II signed the new nation of Swaziland into existence.
