Stellaland
Republic of Stellaland (1882–1883) Republiek Stellaland United States of Stellaland (1883–1885) Verenigde Staten van Stellaland | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1882–1885 | |||||||||||
| Motto: Gewapend en Regtvaardig Dutch: Armed and just(ified) | |||||||||||
Location of Stellaland in Southern Africa (1882–1885) | |||||||||||
| Status | Boer Republic ZAR protectorate (1884) | ||||||||||
| Capital | Vrijburg (Vryburg) | ||||||||||
| Common languages | Dutch Tswana | ||||||||||
| Religion | Dutch Reformed Dutch Reformed dissenters Badimo | ||||||||||
| Administrator | |||||||||||
• Stellaland | Gerrit Jacobus van Niekerk | ||||||||||
• Goshen (1882–1883) | Nicolaas Claudius Gey van Pittius | ||||||||||
| Legislature | Die Bestuur | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
• Founding of Stellaland | 26 July 1882 | ||||||||||
• Founding of Goshen | October 1882 | ||||||||||
• Unification | 1883 | ||||||||||
• Annexation (ZAR) | 10 September 1884 | ||||||||||
• Invasion (British) | December 1884 | ||||||||||
• Abolished | August 1885 | ||||||||||
| Area | |||||||||||
| Stellaland | 15,500 km2 (6,000 sq mi) | ||||||||||
| Goshen | 10,400 km2 (4,000 sq mi) | ||||||||||
| Population | |||||||||||
• Stellaland | 20,500 | ||||||||||
• Goshen | 17,000 | ||||||||||
| Currency | South African pound (£) | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Today part of | South Africa | ||||||||||
The Republic of Stellaland (Dutch: Republiek Stellaland) was, from 1882 to 1883, a Boer republic located in an area of British Bechuanaland (now in South Africa's North West Province), west of the Transvaal. After unification with the neighbouring State of Goshen, it became the United States of Stellaland (Dutch: Verenigde Staten van Stellaland) from 1883 to 1885.
During its short history, the small state became a focal point for conflict between the United Kingdom and the South African Republic, the two major players vying for control of the territory. After a series of claims and annexations, British fears of Boer expansionism led to its demise and, among other factors, set the stage for the Second Boer War.