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Boer republic in Southern Africa (1795-1796)
The
Republic of Graaff-Reinet
(
Afrikaans:
['χr?ːf
r??n?t]
) was from 1795 to 1796 a self-proclaimed
Boer republic
that existed in and around the city of
Graaff-Reinet
in present-day
South Africa
.
[2]
It was named after
Cornelis Jacob van de Graaff
and his wife, Cornelia Reynet.
History
In the 18th century, the first mounted commandos of the
Dutch
settlers reached the area where Graaff-Reinet currently lies. They moved east from the Cape Colony. The first farms were established in the 1770s. In the first years there was anarchy and lawlessness in the area. After a new magistrate was sent to the region to maintain law and order, the peaceful development of the settlement could begin. In 1795, after years of oppression by the
Dutch East India Company
(VOC), the inhabitants proclaimed a republic. The residents of
Swellendam
also did this (see map). Before the leaders of the Cape Colony could retake the new republics, the
Cape Colony
(together with the two rebellious areas) was itself conquered by Great Britain in 1795 (and Graaff-Reinet until August 1796). After the
Netherlands
regained the Cape Colony from the British, it was finally taken over by the British in 1806. Many inhabitants of the colony were very dissatisfied with this. For this reason, especially many people from the Graaff-Reinet district participated in the
Great Trek
.
[3]
Fictional map of the country in 1890.
The flag of the Republic of Graaff-Reinet if it was mixed with its coat of arms.
References
[
edit
]