Orange Free State

Marthinus Pretorius The Orange Free State (;}} }}) was an independent Boer sovereign republic under British suzerainty in Southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century, which ceased to exist after it was defeated and surrendered to the British Empire at the end of the Second Boer War in 1902. It is one of the three historical precursors to the present-day Free State province.

Extending between the Orange and Vaal rivers, its borders were determined by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1848 when the region was proclaimed as the Orange River Sovereignty, with a British Resident based in Bloemfontein. Bloemfontein and the southern parts of the Sovereignty had previously been settled by Griqua and by ''Trekboere'' from the Cape Colony.

The ''Voortrekker'' Republic of Natalia, founded in 1837, administered the northern part of the territory through a ''landdrost'' based at Winburg. This northern area was later in federation with the Republic of Potchefstroom which eventually formed part of the South African Republic (Transvaal).

Following the granting of sovereignty to the Transvaal Republic, the British sought to drop their defensive and administrative responsibilities between the Orange and Vaal rivers, while local European residents wanted the British to remain. This led to the British recognising the independence of the Orange River Sovereignty and the country officially became independent as the Orange Free State on 23 February 1854, with the signing of the Orange River Convention. The new republic incorporated the Orange River Sovereignty and continued the traditions of the Winburg-Potchefstroom Republic.

The Orange Free State was annexed as the Orange River Colony in 1900. It ceased to exist as an independent Boer republic on 31 May 1902 with the signing of the Treaty of Vereeniging at the conclusion of the Second Boer War. Following a period of direct rule by the British, it attained self-government in 1907 and joined the Union of South Africa in 1910 as the Orange Free State Province, along with the Cape Province, Natal, and the Transvaal. In 1961, the Union of South Africa became the Republic of South Africa.

The Republic's name derives partly from the Orange River, which was named by the Dutch explorer Robert Jacob Gordon in honour of the Dutch ruling family, the House of Orange, whose name in turn derived from its partial origins in the Principality of Orange in French Burgundy. The official language in the Orange Free State was Dutch. Provided by Wikipedia
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  1. 1
    Bloemfontein : The Friend Newspapers, Limited.
    1 online resource ( volumes)
    “...Orange Free State...”
    Center for Research Libraries: 1911-1921; 1927-1967; 1980; 1986
    Online Resource
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  2. 2
    1989.
    2 pt. (xviii, 504 leaves) : ill., music ; 30 cm.
    “...University of the Orange Free State...”
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  3. 3
    1990.
    582 p.
    “...University of the Orange Free State...”
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  4. 4
    by Heerden, Frederik Jacobus van
    Published 1972
    Bloemfontein : [s.n.], 1972.
    vii, 42l leaves ; 28 cm.
    “...University of the Orange Free State...”
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  5. 5
    [Pretoria], 1970.
    303 leaves.
    “...University of the Orange Free State...”
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  6. 6
    1978.
    200 p.
    “...University of the Orange Free State...”
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  7. 7
    by Van Vuuren, Daniël Jacobus
    Published 1972
    1972.
    241 leaves.
    “...University of the Orange Free State...”
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  8. 8
    by Venter, Andor Margaretha
    Published 2000
    2000.
    273 leaves : ill., maps ; 30 cm.
    “...University of the Orange Free State...”
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  9. 9
    by Rensburg, A. P. J. van
    Published 1964
    1964.
    8 microfiches.
    “...University of the Orange Free State...”
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  10. 10
    by Eksteen, Michiel Casparus
    Published 1968
    1968.
    1 microfilm reel ; 35mm.
    “...University of the Orange Free State...”
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  11. 11
    by Moll, Johannes Cornelis
    Published 1968
    1968.
    1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm.
    “...University of the Orange Free State...”
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  12. 12
    Published 1904
    London : Crowther & Goodman, 1904.
    20 p.
    “...Transvaal and Orange Free State Chamber of Mines...”
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  13. 13
    Johannesburg, Transvaal Chamber of Mines.
    v. ill.
    “...Transvaal and Orange Free State Chamber of Mines...”
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  14. 14
    Published 1906
    Johannesburg : Transvaal Chamber of Mines, 1906.
    8 p.
    “...Transvaal and Orange Free State Chamber of Mines...”
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  15. 15
    Published 1904
    London : Crowther & Goodman, 1904.
    1 online resource (20 p.)
    “...Transvaal and Orange Free State Chamber of Mines...”
    Center for Research Libraries
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  16. 16
    Johannesburg.
    24 cm.
    “...Transvaal and Orange Free State Chamber of Mines...”
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  17. 17
    Johannesburg, The Chamber.
    14 v. : ill.
    “...Transvaal and Orange Free State Chamber of Mines...”
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  18. 18
    Grahamstown, Cape Colony : African Book Company, Limited, 1904.
    1 online resource (308 pages)
    “...Orange Free State...”
    LLMC Digital
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  19. 19
    [Bloemfontein] Instituut vir Eietydse Geskiedenis, Universiteit van die Oranje-Vrystaat.
    v. 21 cm.
    “...University of the Orange Free State. Institute of Contemporary History...”
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  20. 20
    [Bloemfontein, Onderwysdepartement]
    v. 33 cm.
    “...Orange Free State (South Africa). Education Dept...”
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