Andries Pretorius

Andries Wilhelmus Jacobus Pretorius (November 27, 1798 – 23 July 1853) was a leader of the Boers who was instrumental in the creation of the Transvaal Republic, as well as the earlier but short-lived Natalia Republic in present-day South Africa. Image File history File links Andries Pretorius (1799-1853), leader of the Boers. ... Image File history File links Andries Pretorius (1799-1853), leader of the Boers. ... November 27 is the 331st day (332nd on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1798 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... July 23 is the 204th day (205th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 161 days remaining. ... 1853 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Boer is the Afrikaans (and Dutch) word for farmer which came to denote the descendants of the Afrikaans-speaking migrating farmers of the expanding eastern Cape frontier. ... The South African Republic (Dutch: Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek), often informally known as the Transvaal Republic, not to be confused with the Republic of South Africa, occupied the area later known as the province of Transvaal, first from 1857 to 1877, and again, after a successful Afrikaner rebellion against British rule... Flag The Natalia Republic was located in the southern half of this region Capital Pietermaritzburg Language(s) Dutch, Zulu Religion Dutch Reformed Church Government Republic Prime Minister  - 1839 – 1843 Andries Pretorius Historical era 19th century  - Republic founded October 12, 1839  - Battle of Blood River December 16, 1838  - Alliance with Zulu...

Originally a Boer farmer from Graaff-Reinet in the Cape Colony, and a descendant from one of the earliest Dutch settlers in South Africa, he left his home and joined the Great Trek. By way of the Orange Free State, he crossed the Drakensberg into Natal, arriving in November 1838, at a time when the emigrants there were without a recognized leader. Pretorius was at once chosen commandant-general and speedily collected a force to avenge the deaths of Piet Retief and his party, who had been murdered by the Zulu king Dingane the previous February under treacherous circumstances. Boer is the Afrikaans (and Dutch) word for farmer which came to denote the descendants of the Afrikaans-speaking migrating farmers of the expanding eastern Cape frontier. ... Graaff Reinet, a town in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, 185 miles by rail NW by N of Port Elizabeth. ... Anthem: God Save the Queen Cape Colony Capital Cape Town Language(s) English and Dutch1 Religion Dutch Reformed Church, Anglican Government Constitutional monarchy Last Monarch King George VI Last Prime Minister  - 1908 – 1910 John X. Merriman Last Governor  - 1901 - 1910 Walter Hely-Hutchinson Historical era 19th century  - Dutch East India... Trekboers on the Karoo. ... Flag of the Orange Free State Capital Bloemfontein Language(s) Afrikaans, English Religion Dutch Reformed Church Government Republic President  - 1854 - 1855 Josias P. Hoffman  - 1855 - 1859 Jacobus Nicolaas Boshoff  - 1859 - 1863 Marthinus Wessel Pretorius (also President of the South African Republic from 1857 to 1871). ... The Drakensberg Drakensberg Range from space, April 1993 Maluti mountains in Lesotho The Drakensberg (Afrikaans for Dragons Mountain) mountains are the highest in Southern Africa, rising up at Thabana Ntlenyana to 3,482 m (11,422 ft) in height. ... KwaZulu-Natal, often referred to as KZN, is a province of South Africa. ... | Jöns Jakob Berzelius, discoverer of protein 1838 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Dingane kaSenzangakhona Zulu (ca. ...

On 16 December 1838, Pretorius' force of some 500 men was attacked by over 10,000 Zulus, who were beaten off with an estimated loss of 3,000 men in what became known as the Battle of Blood River. The day was remembered previously as Dingane's Day by Afrikaners until 1910, when it was renamed Day of the Vow and recognised as a public holiday by the first South African government. After the fall of Apartheid in 1994, the day was kept as a public holiday as an act of conciliation to Afrikaners, but renamed Day of Reconciliation. In January 1840, Pretorius, along with a commando of 400 burghers, helped Mpande in his revolt against his half-brother Dingane. He was also the leader of the Natal Boers in their opposition to the British. In 1842, he besieged the small British garrison at Durban, but retreated to Pietermaritzburg on the arrival of reinforcements under Colonel Josias Cloete. Afterwards, he exerted his influence with the Boers in favour of coming to a peaceful solution with the British. December 16 is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... | Jöns Jakob Berzelius, discoverer of protein 1838 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Combatants Voortrekkers Zulu Commanders Andries Pretorius Dambuza Ndlela kaSompisi Strength about 470 men between 10,000 and 20,000 men Casualties 3 wounded 3,000 dead The Battle of Blood River (Afrikaans: Slag van Bloedrivier) was fought on 16 December 1838 on the banks of the Blood River (Bloedrivier) in... Afrikaners (sometimes known as Boers) are white South Africans, predominantly of Calvinist German, French Huguenot, Friesian and Walloons descent who speak Afrikaans. ... 1910 (MCMX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Sunday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... A segregated beach in South Africa, 1982. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... The Day of Reconciliation is a public holiday in South Africa held annually on 16 December. ... 1840 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Mpande (1798 - 1872) was king of the Zulu nation from 1840 to 1872, making him the longest reigning Zulu king. ... 1842 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Aerial view of Durban Durban (Zulu: eThekwini (IPA: ) is the second most populous city in South Africa, forming part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. ... City motto: City of Choice Province KwaZulu-Natal Mayor Zanele Hlatshwayo Area   Unknown Population  - Total (1991)   228,549 Established 1838 Time zone SAST (UTC+2) Calling code 033 Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city of the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. ...

He remained in Natal as a British subject, and in 1847 was chosen by the Boer farmers there to represent their grievances before the governor of Cape Colony. This sprung from the continuous immigration of natives who were assigned locations to the detriment of Boer land claims. Pretorius went to Grahamstown in order to seek an audience with the governor, Sir Henry Pottinger, however he refused to see Pretorius or receive any communication from him. Pretorius returned to Natal determined to abandon his farm and once more trek beyond the British dominions. 1847 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Anthem: God Save the Queen Cape Colony Capital Cape Town Language(s) English and Dutch1 Religion Dutch Reformed Church, Anglican Government Constitutional monarchy Last Monarch King George VI Last Prime Minister  - 1908 – 1910 John X. Merriman Last Governor  - 1901 - 1910 Walter Hely-Hutchinson Historical era 19th century  - Dutch East India... Grahamstown from Fort Selwyn Grahamstown is a city in the Eastern Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa and is the seat of the Makana municipality. ... Sir Henry Pottinger. ...

With a considerable following, he was preparing to cross the Drakensberg when Sir Harry Smith, newly appointed governor of the Cape, reached the emigrants' camp on the Tugela River in January 1848. Smith promised the farmers protection from the natives and persuaded many of the party to remain, but Pretorius departed, and, on the proclamation of British sovereignty up to the Vaal River, fixed his residence in the Magaliesberg, north of that river. He was chosen by the burghers living on both banks of the Vaal as their commandant-general. At the request of the Boers at Winburg, Pretorius crossed the Vaal in July and led the anti-British party in their "war of freedom," occupying Bloemfontein on 20 July. In August, he was defeated at Boomplaats by Smith and retreated to the north of the Vaal, where he became leader of one of the largest of the parties into which the trans-Vaal Boers were divided, and commandant-general of Potchefstroom and Rustenburg, his principal rival being Commandant-General A. H. Potgieter. Lieutenant-General Harry George Wakelyn Smith (28 June 1787-12 October 1860) was a notable English soldier and military commander of the early 19th century. ... The Tugela River (also known as Thukela) is the largest river in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. ... Year 1848 (MDCCCXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Vaal River is the largest tributary of the Orange River in South Africa. ... Hamerkop Kloof in the Magaliesberg Magaliesberg from Breedtsnek to Tonquani The Magaliesberg is a mountain range extending from Pretoria in the north-west of the Gauteng Province to a point south-east of Pilanesberg, in the North West Province, South Africa (see also Pilanesberg National Park). ... Winburg is a small mixed farming town in the Free State Province of South Africa. ... Bloemfontein at night Bloemfontein (IPA: , Afrikaans and Dutch for fountain of Bloem (bloom) or flower fountain is one of South Africas three capital cities, along with Pretoria and Cape Town. ... July 20 is the 201st day (202nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 164 days remaining. ... Combatants Great Britain Boers Commanders Sir Harry Smith Andries Pretorius Strength 1200 300 Casualties 22 7 The Battle of Boomplaats was fought on August 29, 1848, between the British and the Boers. ... Potchefstroom Flag Potchefstroom is a large academic town with the North-West University, situated on the banks of the Mooi River (literally pretty river), 120 km west-southwest of Johannesburg in the North West Province of South Africa. ... Rustenburg (place of rest) is a large town situated in at the foot of the Magaliesberg mountain range in North West Province of South Africa. ... Andries Hendrik Potgieter (1792 - 1852) was a South African Boer political figure. ...

In 1851, he was asked by the Boer malcontents in the Orange River Sovereignty and by the Basuto chief Moshoeshoe I to come to their aid, and he announced his intention of crossing the Vaal to "restore order" in the Sovereignty. His object, however, was rather to obtain an acknowledgment of the independence of the Transvaal Boers from the British. The British cabinet, having decided on a policy of abandonment, entertained the proposal of Pretorius, and the reward of 2000 pounds was withdrawn, which had been offered for his apprehension after the Boomplaats battle. Pretorius met the British commissioners at a farm near the Sand River, and on 17 January 1852 they concluded the convention by which the independence of the Transvaal Boers was recognized by Britain. 1851 (MDCCCLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The Orange River is the major river in South Africa. ... The mountainous and largely arid land that came to be Basutoland was populated by San (bushmen, Qhuaique) until the end of the 16th century. ... King Moshoeshoe I Moshoeshoe (1786?-1870) was born at Menkhoaneng in the Northern part of present-day Lesotho. ... Flag of Transvaal For the Russian theme park, see Transvaal Park. ... ISO 4217 Code GBP User(s) United Kingdom Inflation 2. ... January 17 is the 17th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

Pretorius recrossed the Vaal River and on 16 March he was reconciled to Potgieter at Rustenburg. The followers of both leaders approved the convention, even though the Potgieter party was not represented. In the same year, Pretorius paid a visit to Durban with the object of opening up trade between Natal and the new republic. In 1852, he also attempted to close the road to the interior through Bechuanaland and sent a commando to the western border against Sechele. During this expedition David Livingstone's house at Kolobeng was looted. The Vaal River is the largest tributary of the Orange River in South Africa. ... March 16 is the 75th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (76th in leap years). ... 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Bechuanaland Protectorate (BP) was a protectorate established in 1885 by Britain in the area of what is now Botswana. ... David Livingstone (19 March 1813 – 4 May 1873) was a Scottish Presbyterian pioneer medical missionary with the London Missionary Society and explorer in central Africa. ...

Pretorius died at his home at Magaliesberg in July 1853. He is described by Theal as "the ablest leader and most perfect representative of the Emigrant Farmers." In 1855, a new district and a new town were formed out of the Potchefstroom and Rustenburg districts by his son, Marthinus Wessel Pretorius, and named Pretoria in honour of the late commandant-general. Marthinus Wessel Pretorius was also the first President of the Transvaal Republic. 1853 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1855 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Son of Andries Pretorius, Marthinus Wessel Pretorius (17 September 1819 - 19 May 1901) was the first president of the South African Republic, and also compiled the constitution of the Republic. ... City motto: Praestantia Praevaleat Pretoria (May Pretoria Be Pre-eminent In Excellence) Province Gauteng Area  - % water 1,644 km² 0. ... The South African Republic (Dutch: Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek), often informally known as the Transvaal Republic, not to be confused with the Republic of South Africa, occupied the area later known as the province of Transvaal, first from 1857 to 1877, and again, after a successful Afrikaner rebellion against British rule...

References

• Thesis on attitudes towards the commemoration of the Battle of Blood River (Text is Afrikaans, abstract (English))

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain. Look up Wiktionary:Swadesh lists for Afrikaans and Dutch in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Encyclopædia Britannica, the 11th edition The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1910–1911) is perhaps the most famous edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ...