Skip to main content
Menu
♥ Donate
eventREF E-0011080Revised

Event record

The Anglo-Boer War 1 (Transvaal War of Independence) begins

Date
13 Dec 1880
Updated
7 Dec 2020
The Anglo-Boer War 1 (Transvaal War of Independence) begins

Three years prior to this date, the British had annexed the Transvaal under Shepstone. Following this was a period of passive resistance and repeated attempts by Boer leaders to have the annexation of the Transvaal revoked. These attempts did not work. So on 8 December 1880 between 8 000 and 10 000 Boers gathered at Paardekraal, near Krugersdorp. A triumvirate of leaders were elected (Paul Kruger, Piet Joubert and M. W. Pretorius) and on 13 December 1880 the leaders resolved to restore the Transvaal Republic and three days later raised their Vierkleur flag at Heidelberg, thus rejecting British authority. The events of the 13 December 1880 thus in effect started the war and ended passive resistance. The war became known as the Anglo-Boer War 1 or the Transvaal War of Independence.

Search events by date

What happened on your birthday?
View more events from this day

How we know this

  1. 01Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau.
  2. 02Swart, M.J., et al. (eds) (1980). Afrikaanse Kultuuralmanak,  Aucklandpark: Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge.
  3. 03Potgieter, D.J. et al. (eds) (1970). Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa, Cape Town: NASOU, v. 1, p. 381.

Last updated · 7 Dec 2020

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). The Anglo-Boer War 1 (Transvaal War of Independence) begins. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011080

South African History Online (2011) 'The Anglo-Boer War 1 (Transvaal War of Independence) begins', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011080 (Accessed: 3 September 2026).

South African History Online, The Anglo-Boer War 1 (Transvaal War of Independence) begins [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011080, (accessed 3 September 2026).

"The Anglo-Boer War 1 (Transvaal War of Independence) begins." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011080. Accessed 3 Sept. 2026.

South African History Online. "The Anglo-Boer War 1 (Transvaal War of Independence) begins." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011080.

Further reading

Oyster Bay Place

Oyster Bay

Oyster Bay or “Oesterbaai” in Afrikaans, is a small coastal hamlet and resort located about 22.5 kilometres (14.
Popular Content

SAHO is free because readers fund it. Donate →