South African War

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South African War: Boer troops

Boer siege of Ladysmith

South African War: Battle of Belmont

Battle of Modder River

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South African War: Boer troops

South African War summary

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South African War: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts

Also Known As	Second War of Independence • Anglo-Boer War • Second Boer War • Boer War
Date	October 11, 1899 - May 31, 1902
Location	South Africa
Participants	Orange Free State • South African Republic • United Kingdom
Context	British Empire • Western colonialism

Did You Know?

Britain won the previously Dutch colony in the Napoleonic Wars.
The Boers originally resented Britain's 1806 takeover due to its implementation of anti-slavery laws and its Anglicizing influence.
The unearthing of gold and diamonds in South Africa in 1867 fueled the conflict between the British and the Boers.

Photos

South African War: Boer troops

Boer siege of Ladysmith

South African War: Battle of Belmont

Battle of Modder River

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Topics

Boer Uitlander Witwatersrand

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Key People

Jan Smuts.

Jan Smuts

South African statesman

Robert Cecil, 3rd marquess of Salisbury

Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd marquess of Salisbury

prime minister of United Kingdom

Paul Kruger

Paul Kruger

South African statesman

Frank Holl: Joseph Chamberlain

Joseph Chamberlain

British politician and social reformer

Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

British field marshal

Milner, detail of an oil painting by Hugh de Twenebrokes Glazebrook, 1901; in the National Portrait Gallery, London

Alfred Milner, Viscount Milner

British diplomat

Louis Botha

Louis Botha

prime minister of Union of South Africa

J.B.M. Hertzog

prime minister of South Africa

Garnet Joseph Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley

Garnet Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley

British field marshal

French, John, 1st earl of Ypres

John French, 1st earl of Ypres

British field marshal

Joubert, Petrus Jacobus

Petrus Jacobus Joubert

South African politician

Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell of Gilwell

Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell

British army officer

Christiaan Rudolf de Wet

Boer statesman

de la Rey, Jacobus Hercules

Jacobus Hercules de la Rey

Boer leader

Roberts, Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl, Viscount St. Pierre

Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts

British field marshal

Marthinus Theunis Steyn

president of Orange Free State

Boer Gen. Pieter Arnoldus Cronjé (left) surrendering to British Field Marshal Lord Roberts, 1900, during the South African War (1899–1902).

Pieter Arnoldus Cronjé

Boer general

Beyers

C.F. Beyers

South African politician

Emily Hobhouse

British social worker

Dill

Sir John Greer Dill

British field marshal

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