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Orange Free State

Orange Free State
Oranje-Vrijstaat
1854–1902
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem
Vrystaatse Volkslied
Location of the Orange Free State c. 1890
Capital Bloemfontein
Languages Dutch (official), English, Sesotho, Zulu
Religion Dutch Reformed
African religions
Government Republic
State President
 •  1854 – 1855 Josias P. Hoffman
 •  1855 – 1859 Jacobus N. Boshoff
 •  1860 – 1863 Marthinus Wessel Pretorius1
 •  1864 – 1888 Jan H. Brand
 •  1889 – 1895 Francis William Reitz
 •  1896 – 1902 Marthinus Theunis Steyn
Legislature Volksraad
Historical era 19th century
 •  Republic founded 17 February 1854
 •  Battle of Blood River 16 December 1838
 •  Start of 2nd Boer War 11 October 1899
 •  Treaty of Vereeniging 31 May 1902
Area
 •  1875 181,299 km² (70,000 sq mi)
Population
 •  1875 est. 100,000 
     Density 0.6 /km²  (1.4 /sq mi)
Currency Orange Free State pound
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Orange River Sovereignty
Orange River Colony
Today part of  South Africa
1 Also State President of the Republic of Transvaal

The Orange Free State (Dutch: Oranje-Vrijstaat,Afrikaans: Oranje-Vrystaat, abbreviated as OVS) was an independent Boer sovereign republic in southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century, and later a British colony and a province of the Union of South Africa. It is the historical precursor 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 seat of a British Resident in Bloemfontein.

In the northern part of the territory a Voortrekker Republic was established at Winburg in 1837. This state merged with the Republic of Potchefstroom which later formed part of the South African Republic (Transvaal).

Following the granting of sovereignty to the Transvaal Republic, the British recognised the independence of the Orange River Sovereignty on 17 February 1854 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 both the Orange River Sovereignty and the traditions of the Winburg-Potchefstroom Republic.


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