Boer Wars

There were two Boer Wars:

• First Boer War, from December 16 1880 until March 23 1881
• Second Boer War, from October 11 1899 until May 31 1902

Both were between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Orange Free State and the South African Republic (Transvaal Republic), founded by settlers known as Voortrekkers who made the Great Trek from the Cape Colony and were primarily of Dutch, French and German origin. These settlers were often called Boers and were mainly the descendents of generations of semi-nomadic pastoralists who were living in the eastern Cape frontier.