Orange Free State
independent Boer sovereign republic in southern Africa between 1854–1902
The Orange Free State (Dutch: Oranje-Vrijstaat) was a country in southern Africa. It was ruled by the Afrikaners. It was defeated by the British Empire and its colonies, the British Cape Colony and the Natal Colony, in the Second Boer War. It became the Orange River Colony and later joined with other colonies to make the Union of South Africa.
Orange Free State Oranje-Vrijstaat | |||||||||
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| 1854–1902 | |||||||||
 Flag
 Coat of arms
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| Anthem: Vrystaatse Volkslied | |||||||||
 Location of the Orange Free State c. 1890 | |||||||||
| Capital | Bloemfontein | ||||||||
| Common languages | Dutch (official) English Sesotho Zulu | ||||||||
| Religion | Dutch Reformed African religions | ||||||||
| Government | Republic | ||||||||
| State President | |||||||||
• 1854 – 1855 | J. P. Hoffman | ||||||||
• 1855 – 1859 | J. N. Boshoff | ||||||||
• 1860 – 1863 | M. W. Pretorius1 | ||||||||
• 1864 – 1888 | J. H. Brand | ||||||||
• 1889 – 1895 | F. W. Reitz | ||||||||
• 1896 – 1902 | M. T. Steyn | ||||||||
| Legislature | Parliament | ||||||||
• house of representatives | Volksraad | ||||||||
| Historical era | 19th century | ||||||||
• Republic founded | 17 February 1854 | ||||||||
| 16 December 1838 | |||||||||
• Start of 2nd Boer War | 11 October 1899 | ||||||||
• Treaty of Vereeniging | 31 May 1902 | ||||||||
| Area | |||||||||
| 1875[1] | 181,299 km2 (70,000 sq mi) | ||||||||
| Population | |||||||||
• 1875[1] | 100000 | ||||||||
| Currency | Orange Free State pound | ||||||||
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1 Also State President of the Transvaal Republic | |||||||||
References change
- ↑ Sketch of the Orange Free State of South Africa. Bloemfontein: Orange Free State. Commission at the International Exhibition, Philadelphia, 1876. 1876. p. 10.
