Editing Orange Free State (section)

===Boer immigration===

In 1824 farmers of Dutch, [[Huguenots|French Huguenot]] and German descent known as [[Trekboers]] (later named [[Boers]] by the English) emerged from the [[Cape Colony]], seeking pasture for their flocks and to escape British governmental oversight, settling in the country. Up to this time the few Europeans who had crossed the Orange had come mainly as hunters or as missionaries. These early migrants were followed in 1836 by the first parties of the [[Great Trek]]. These emigrants left the Cape Colony for various reasons, but all shared the desire for independence from British authority. The leader of the first large party, [[Hendrik Potgieter]], concluded an agreement with [[Makwana (Bataung chief)|Makwana]], the chief of the [[Bataung]] tribe of [[Tswana people|Batswana]], ceding to the farmers the country between the [[Vet River|Vet]] and [[Vaal River|Vaal]] rivers.<ref name="eb1911-cite"/> When Boer families first reached the area they discovered that the country had been devastated, in the northern parts by the chief [[Mzilikazi]] and his [[Northern Ndebele people|Matabele]] in what was known as the [[Mfecane]], and also by the [[Difaqane]], in which three tribes roamed across the land attacking settled groups, absorbing them and their resources until they collapsed because of their sheer size. Consequently, large areas were depopulated.<ref name="eb1911-cite">{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Orange Free State| volume= 20 |last1= Hillier |first1= Alfred Peter |author1-link= Alfred Peter Hillier |last2= Cana |first2= Frank Richardson |author2-link= |pages = 151&ndash;160 |short= 1}}</ref> The Boers soon came into collision with Mzilikazi's raiding parties, which attacked Boer hunters who crossed the Vaal River. Reprisals followed, and in November 1837 the Boers decisively defeated Mzilikazi, who thereupon fled northward<ref name="eb1911-cite"/> and eventually established himself on the site of the future [[Bulawayo]] in Zimbabwe.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

In the meantime another party of Cape Dutch emigrants had settled at [[Thaba Nchu]], where the [[Wesleyans]] had a mission station for the [[Barolong]]. These Barolong had trekked from their original home under their chief, [[Moroka II]], first south-westwards to the Langberg, and then eastwards to Thaba Nchu. The emigrants were treated with great kindness by Moroka, and with the Barolong the Boers maintained uniformly friendly relations after they defeated Mzilikazi. In December 1836 the emigrants beyond the Orange drew up in general assembly an elementary republican form of government. After the defeat of Mzilikazi the town of [[Winburg]] (so named by the Boers in commemoration of their victory) was founded, a [[Volksraad (Orange Free State)|Volksraad]] elected, and [[Piet Retief]], one of the ablest of the Voortrekkers, chosen "governor and commandant-general". The emigrants already numbered some 500 men, besides women and children and many servants. Dissensions speedily arose among the emigrants, whose numbers were constantly added to, and Retief, Potgieter and other leaders crossed the [[Drakensberg]] and entered [[Early history of Natal|Natal]]. Those that remained were divided into several parties.<ref name="eb1911-text">{{EB1911|inline=1|wstitle=Orange Free State| volume= 20 |last1= Hillier |first1= Alfred Peter |author1-link= Alfred Peter Hillier |last2= Cana |first2= Frank Richardson |author2-link= |pages = 151&ndash;160 |short= 1}}</ref>