His adopted father, Kigeli IV Rwabugiri, had proclaimed him co-ruler in 1889, effectively designating him his successor. On Rwabugiri's unexpected death in 1895 while on an expedition in modern-day
Democratic Republic of the Congo, he was proclaimed king. Rwandan Queen Mothers were politically powerful. Rutarindwa's mother had died and, consequently, Rwabugiri appointed another of his wives,
Kanjogera, as his surrogate mother. With the death of Rwabugiri, she and her brothers Kabare and Ruhinankiko plotted to put her own young son Musinga, the future king
Yuhi V Musinga, on the throne. This culminated in late 1896 in a battle between the King's and the Queen Mother's factions called the
Rucunshu Coup, named for the hill that Rutarindwa had moved his court to. After the battle, Rutarindwa committed suicide, and the royal drum was destroyed when his house was burnt down. ==References==