As was the case in many African countries, Swaziland's indigenous population came under the control of colonial powers -- in this case, British and Boer -- beginning in the 19th century. Independence from Britain was a long while coming: a constitutional monarchy was declared in 1968. Although the King, Sobhuza II, discarded the original constitution in 1973, a new legislature was formed in 1979. Sobhuza died in 1982 and was succeeded by his son.