Polity Orange Free State

This article is about the specific polity Orange Free State and therefore only includes events related to its territory and not to its possessions or colonies. If you are interested in the possession, this is the link to the article about the nation which includes all possessions as well as all the different incarnations of the nation.

If you are looking for the page with the statistics about this polity you can find it here: All Statistics

Was an independent Boer sovereign republic. After the Second Boer War it became a British colony.

Establishment

  • February 1854: The Orange River Convention, recognising the independence of the country, was signed at Bloemfontein on 23 February by Sir George Clerk and the republican committee, and in March the Boer government assumed office and the republican flag was hoisted.

Chronology

Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation

1. Boer Wars

Were two wars between the British Empire and the independent Boer republics of South Africa. The British wanted to extend their control over the interior of South Africa and its resources. At the end of the two wars the Boer Republics became British colonies.

1.1. Second Boer War

Was a war that saw the British Empire fight against two Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State. At the end of the war the Boer republics became part of the British Empire.

1.1.1. British offensive (Second Boer War)

Was a British military campaign in the South African Republic and the Orange Free State. Both were occupied by the British.

  • March 1900: British general Roberts advanced into the Orange Free State from the west, putting the Boers to flight at the Battle of Poplar Grove and capturing Bloemfontein, the capital, unopposed.
  • May 1900: At the end of the Second Boer War the military occupation of the Orange Free State ended. The State was annexed by Great Britain and renamed the Orange River Colony.

2. Further events (Unrelated to Any War)

  • February 1869: A short skirmish between Boers and Sotho led to the conclusion of the treaty of Aliwal North, which defined the borders between the Orange Free State and Basutoland. The country lying to the north of the Orange River and west of the Caledon River, formerly a part of Basutoland, was ceded to the Free State, and became known as the Conquered Territory.

Disestablishment

  • March 1900: British general Roberts advanced into the Orange Free State from the west, putting the Boers to flight at the Battle of Poplar Grove and capturing Bloemfontein, the capital, unopposed.
  • May 1900: At the end of the Second Boer War the military occupation of the Orange Free State ended. The State was annexed by Great Britain and renamed the Orange River Colony.