Thanks for your enthusiastic reply. Attila’s origins and legacy is clearly a serious subject of study for you, understandably, and I appreciate your detailed remarks. The underlying ‘archaeology’ to Knot of Stone is itself a study of history’s great leaders and how they shaped modern Western society. To this end my book looks at historical events and their possible parallels in other parts of the world, most notably in South Africa. (I was born in Cape Town, where I spent most of my life). According to a clairaudient and practising psychitrist—and the one from whom I received the initial message regarding Almeida’s ritual killing—there are indeed links between Egypt’s eighteenth dynasty, thirteenth century China-Mongolia and twentieth century apartheid South Africa. That is, the political leadership of each epoch was, and still is, karmically connected. But more about that another time. It’s a separate chapter in my book.

Below is another clairaudiently received message, cited verbatim, as it appears in Knot of Stone. Please note that it is a rather rare and difficult piece which may not fit comfortably with your own views of the world. Since the Greek idea of the ‘eternal return’ (also called the ‘eternal recurrence’ by Nietzsche) is not readily acceptable in our society, I shall understand if you find its contents problematic. Well, so be it, such matters are not for everyone or, as Spinoza succinctly put it: “All things excellent are as difficult as they are rare”. Personally, I have no issue with this message, or several others in my book, as I believe each comes from a good source. I’ll leave you to judge for yourself:

Napoleon Bonaparte, ‘Man of Destiny’, rose to become Emperor of the French and went on to conquer almost all Europe. As one of history’s greatest military leaders he inaugurated, following the French Revolution, a new world order of constitutional law—the Code Napoléon—enacting the liberty and equality of its citizens, including the freedom of religion. Napoleon was nevertheless an autocratic tyrant acting under a cloak of democratic government.

This was not his first incarnation on French soil, however, as he had previously been King Philip IV of France. Notorious for his suppression of the Knights Templar, Philip IV had, in turn, been Attila the Hun and, in the irony of history, also the infamous Genghis Khan. Notably, both Attila and Genghis are remembered as being short in stature with a broad chest and a large head.

Napoleon, sensing his karmic kinship to other great conquerors, exhorted others to “Read over and over again the campaigns of Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar, Gustavus, Turenne, Eugene and Frederic… This is the only way to become a great general and master the secrets of the art of war.” At the time, he claimed to be the reincarnation of Julius Caesar and Charlemagne, and was not far wrong, having been Cesare (Caesar) Borgia, son of Pope Alexander VI, commander of the papal armies and an eminent statesman.

Cited from the Karmic biographies in KoS (p.347)

With best wishes for your research,
Nicolaas

Yes, I do a lot of military-related writing, but my real interest and passion is comparative history. Many people revere Attila today, including the Mongolians, various Turkic peoples, the Bulgarians and the Hungarians, as these are linked to earlier or later formations of the Hun tribal confederation, which lasted a good long time. It appears Attila tried to revive it but died before he could secure the succession. It’s very interesting to see how his opponents demonised him, while his former subjects remember him with great respect. You could say he is to my people what King Arthur was to the Britons.

It’s fascinating to see Credo Mutwa’s comments on Attila, Caesar, Napoleon and others—he made a good point here. The idea that Napoleon and Attila covered essentially the same routes, using the same cities and rivers, holds some water, I think. Interestingly, both Attila and Genghis were told that the God of the Sky (their people recognise only one) had a destiny for them. Amazing!

What I find most striking is that the Huns, Avars, Bulgars, Magyars and Mongols were so similar to the Khoina—being all large-scale pastoralists with flocks and herds. I wonder if the Khoina language(s) have singular words for “herds of …”? In Hungarian, for instance, a herd of cattle on the hoof is “gulya”, the person in charge of them is the “gulyás”, so please don’t eat him! Same with the “herd of sheep” which is “nyáj” and so on.

I shall continue to follow your website as it contains some truly fascinating ideas that we simply weren’t taught at school!

Keep it up, and thanks again! Chris

The first comes from Credo Mutwa—the much-maligned Zulu sanusi or shaman—who once observed that Attila the Hun, Julius Caesar, Napoleon and Hitler, even his compatriot Shaka Zulu, all died miserable lonely deaths. See KoS p.78

The second reference—also from a healer empowered by the Ancestors—likens Attila to Napoleon and suggests that both soldiers were cut from the same cloth or, rather, forged by the same fire. As two of history’s greatest military leaders, Attila and Napoleon almost conquered all Europe using the same routes, while marching in contrary directions. Attila is similarly compared to Genghis Khan, for which both are remembered as being short with a broad chest and large head. They share the same title as Napoleon, karmically, claims the clairaudient, as the ‘Man of Destiny’. KoS p.347

Regarding your question about the Khoina and their “secret weapon” of trained war-oxen, this should come as no surprise as the use is well documented in the historical records. Please see the rock-art sketch above or jump to Chapter 4.

In fact, I only became aware of your research during my online debate with Patric Mellet, above, and have since ordered a copy of Imagining the Cape Colony.
I look forward to reading your first chapter and suggest that we all get together, somewhere, sometime, if only to exchange hotel pens or sign each others’ books.

Regarding the choice for my cover, I selected it from your splendid catalogue of the Hoerikwaggo exhibition at the SA National Gallery. I am fascinated to see in your email that the original coloured engraving is from c.1750. If possible, I’ll have this added on subsequent editions of my book (Edinburgh University Press are planning a paperback edition soon).

I see you have a new book out on Almeida’s demise (the subject of my own first chapter). Like you, I am sorry we never met to exchange ideas before finishing our work. I’ll buy yours this week. Again, thank you indeed for making contact.