Free Orange State: Map & History
The Orange Free State was a landlocked independent Boer republic 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.
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The Orange Free State was a landlocked independent Boer republic 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.
Modern Countries Once Part of Free Orange State
At its mapped extent, Free Orange State covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Free Orange State's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Free Orange State in Depth
History
Europeans first visited the country north of the Orange River towards the close of the 18th century. One of the most notable visitors was the Dutch explorer Robert Jacob Gordon, who mapped the region and gave the Orange River its name. At that time, the population was sparse. The majority of the inhabitants appear to have been members of the Sotho people but in the valleys of the Orange and Vaal were Korana (Khoikhoi) and a section of Barolong in the Drakensberg and on the western border lived numbers of Nomadic Southern Africans. Early in the 19th century Griqua established themselves north of the Orange.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Orange Free State (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Free Orange State: Key Facts
| Capital | Bloemfontein |
|---|---|
| Official language | Dutch |
| Religion | Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk |
| Form of government | republic |
| Currency | Orange Free State pound |
| Founded | 17 February 1854 |
| Dissolved | 31 May 1902 |
Preceded by
- Orange River Sovereignty
Succeeded by
- Orange River Colony
Facts from Wikidata Q218023 (CC0).
Free Orange State Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 133,104 km² in 1878 CE.
Free Orange State: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Free Orange State exist?
Free Orange State is dated to 1856 CE – 1899 CE, in the Industrial era.
What was the capital of Free Orange State?
The capital of Free Orange State was Bloemfontein.
How large was Free Orange State at its peak?
At its peak in 1878 Free Orange State covered about 133,104 km².
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