South African Republic

South African Republic Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek
1852–1902
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Eendragt maakt magt" Unity makes strength
Anthem: "Volkslied van Transvaal"
National seal Great Seal of the South African Republic
Capital	Pretoria
1858–1860 1880–1881 (exile)	Potchefstroom Heidelberg
Official language	Dutch
• Common languages	English, Afrikaans, Pedi, and other Bantu languages
Religion	Dutch Reformed Church[a]
Government	Parliamentary republic
Executive Council
• 1857–1860	Marthinus W. Pretorius
• 1860–1862	Stephanus Schoeman
• 1862–1864	W. C. J. van Rensburg
• 1864–1866	Marthinus Pretorius
State President
• 1866–1871	Marthinus W. Pretorius
• 1872–1877	Thomas F. Burgers
• 1883–1902	Paul Kruger
• 1900–1902 (acting)	Schalk Willem Burger
State Secretary
• 1880–1888	Willem Eduard Bok
• 1888–1898	Willem Johannes Leyds
• 1898–1902	Francis William Reitz
Legislature	Volksraad
Establishment
• Sand River Convention	17 January 1852
• Civil War	7 October 1862
• Transvaal Colony	12 April 1877
• First Boer War	12 December 1880
• Pretoria Convention	3 August 1881
• London Convention	27 February 1884
• Second Boer War	11 October 1899
• Treaty of Vereeniging	31 May 1902
• Maritz rebellion	Sep. 1914 – Feb. 1915
Area
• Total	191,789 km2 (74,050 sq mi)
Population
• 1897	867,941
Currency	South African pound
Preceded by Succeeded by Klein Vrystaat Nieuwe Republiek Republic of Zoutpansberg Republic of Lydenburg Potchefstroom Nylstroom Transvaal Colony
Today part of	South Africa Eswatini

The South African Republic (Dutch: Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek, abbreviated ZAR; Afrikaans: Suid-Afrikaanse Republiek), also known as the Transvaal Republic, was an independent Boer republic in Southern Africa which existed from 1852 to 1902, when it was annexed into the British Empire as a result of the Second Boer War.

The ZAR was established as a result of the 1852 Sand River Convention, in which the British government agreed to formally recognise independence of the Boers living north of the Vaal River. Relations between the ZAR and Britain started to deteriorate after the British Cape Colony expanded into the Southern African interior, eventually leading to the outbreak of the First Boer War between the two nations. The Boer victory confirmed the ZAR's independence; however, Anglo-ZAR tensions soon flared up again over various diplomatic issues. In 1899, war again broke out between Britain and the ZAR, which was swiftly occupied by the British military. Many Boer combatants in the ZAR refused to surrender, leading British commander Lord Kitchener to order the adoption of several scorched-earth policies. In the treaty which ended the war, the ZAR was transformed into the Transvaal Colony, and eventually the Union of South Africa. During World War I, there was a failed attempt at resurrecting the republic in the Maritz rebellion.

The land area that was once the ZAR now comprises all or most of the provinces of Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North West in the northeastern portion of the modern-day Republic of South Africa.
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