Republic of Graaff-Reinet

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Flag of the rebels of Graaff-Reinet
The Cape Colony with the Batavian daughter republics Graaff-Reinet (blue) and Swellendam (red) on the eve of the British occupation in 1795

The Republic of Graaff-Reinet was a short-lived state in what is now South Africa . It existed from February 6, 1795 to August 22, 1796 and was the first Boer republic .

Soon after the town of Graaff-Reinet and other settlements in the border area of ​​the Cape Colony were founded, tensions arose between the Dutch East India Company and the Boer settlers. In Graaff-Reinet this culminated in the proclamation of a separate republic on February 6, 1795. Adriaan van Jaarsveld was elected chairman of the provisional government and the council of war . The supporters of the independent republic used the flag of the Netherlands as a symbol of their rebellion . This differed from the flag of the Dutch East India Company by the use of red instead of orange in the top stripe. In this way, the intention was to consciously demonstrate the break with colonial authority and at the same time loyalty to the Dutch homeland.

After reinforcements from their Dutch homeland were forced to surrender in Saldanhabucht , the Graaff-Reinet Republic was returned to the British colonial administration on August 22, 1796 , which had meanwhile taken control of the South African territories of the Dutch East India Company Integrated Cape Colony.

Web links