Anglo‐Boer Wars (1880–1881, 1899–1902)

AbstractThe Anglo‐Boer Wars were fought in what is now South Africa between the British Empire and the Boers or Afrikaners, descendants of European settlers mainly from the Netherlands (Boeris Dutch for “farmer”). The First Anglo‐Boer War (1880–1881) was a successful revolt by the Transvaal Republic (officially the Zuid‐Afrikaansche Republiek or ZAR) after the British, who had settled Cape Colony and Natal, had annexed the Transvaal peacefully in 1877. The much larger Second Anglo‐Boer War (1899–1902) was fought by the Transvaal together with the neighboring Orange Free State (Oranje Vrystaat) in a failed attempt to prevent their absorption by the British. The First Anglo‐Boer War is also known as the Transvaal War or Rebellion, or to Afrikaners as the First War of Independence. The Second Anglo‐Boer War is also known as the South African Anglo‐Boer War, the South African War, the Boer War, and the Second War of Independence.