Epilogue
The Creation of the Kingdom of South Africa
(Zuid-Afrikaansche Koninkryk)
Part Four - South Africa
Transorangia
With the addition of the Transorangia province to the Republic the amount of White settlers increased enormously.
And with that far more men ware available for call up into the army. Pretorius seized the chance and reformed the army.
In addition to the 1,000 Boer soldiers from Natal, another 3,000 Infantry and 1,000 artillery ware assigned to Port Natal.
Also the amount of allies increased. The Sotho chiefs in Transorangia agreed to send 3,000 men when Pretorius would need them. [1]
Map of Natalia Republic and South Africa in 1849.
Elections of 1849.
The last two years of Pretorius' First term as president ware peaceful. The country was growing in power.
The prestige gain from the two wars, the gain of a new province and the win against Portugal made Pretorius even more popular than he already was.
Especially to the soldiers of the Natalia Republic. The elites on the other hand ware getting scared of the ambitions of Pretorius.
Among them the leader of the Voortrekker Partei, Hendrik Potgieter. He claimed that the Brits would never allow them to be if they kept on expanding.
That soon the Brits would seize all their lands. And that ll their work would have been for nothing. Also they feared the warmonger Pretorius.
But they couldn't stop him yet. Pretorius won the election yet again by a landslide. His Second term as the President of Natalia started in July 1849.
Transvaal Republic
In January of 1850 the Republic of Transvaal formed. The second Boer country was located just to the north of Natal Republic.
The Tansvaalians decided that elections would be held in January of 1852.
Pretorius and his Boer Partei ware extremely happy with the creation of the new Boer Republic. Pretorius even proclaimed that he will run
for the President of Transvaal in 1852. The Transvaalians ware not very happy about it as they wanted to stay independent, but Pretorius' enemies
ware more positive about the news. They saw it as an opportunity to get rid of him. Especially as his second term ends in 1853.
The elections came and Pretorius won by a margin. His enemies would say that he lost and that all the followed was his own making. In truth we will never know.
The fact is that alot of people in Transvaal didn't accept Pretorius as their leader and they rose up. [2]
What followed is considered in South Africa as a small rebellion. But in truth Pretorius marched with his army into Traansvaal with his native allies where he destroyed the majority of
their army in one huge battle and conquered all 'rebel' cities.
Second war with Portugal
Just as Pretorius was busy pacifying Transvaal, Portugal saw opportunity to discuss the borders and take back some land. They landed with 3,000 men in Mozambique and blocked Port Natal with 7 ships.
Pretorius stalled his actions in Transvaal and send his main army to Portugese colonies. Most of the native allies followed. In a small battle just outside Sena, the Portugese army was destroyed on 7th December 1852.
Back in Transvaal all their territories ware incorporated into the Natal Republic.
The war with Portugal lasted another seven months. Well war is the wrong word. After the Portuguese army got destroyed the Natalian troops went on conquering Mozambique, while the Portuguese Navy
lost another fleet off Port Natal. 26th of November the Portuguese signed a peace treaty. Natalian Republic gained the Sena colony.
Gain of Sena Colony from Portuguese
Elections of 1853
There was peace yet again in Natal. The elections of 1853 ware going to start in December. But despite his huge popularity among Boers, Pretorius couldn't go for 3rd term.
The elections ware between Potgieter and Johannes Grobler. They ware even at start but Potgieter, the rival of Pretorius won on 22 December with 53% of the votes.
Pretorius was at the time officially back at his farm, but in truth he was in Sena Province where the Boer army was.
Potgieter announced that he wanted to undo what Pretorius did in 1853 and to give independence back to Transvaal.
Atleast thats what Pretorius said to his army, that his soldiers would lose their new land.
Crossing the Rubicon
Four days later Pretorius crossed the Save River with his army. Mostly loyal veterans of the many wars in the past years.
Within weeks they arrived in Port Natal. The troops later claimed that once they arrived at the Potgieter residence that his allies started shooting at
Boer soldiers loyal to Pretorius. Once they fired the first shot the soldiers had to defend themselves and in the fighting Potgieter was shot dead.
On 7th of March Pretorius declared the formation of South Africa. With the backing of the Dutch Kingdom, his army and due to his huge popularity he was offered the crown
of the newly formed Nation. A week later he was crowned King in Port Natal. There was peace yet again. But for how long!?
Not everyone was happy with Pretorius' absolute power. Within South Africa and outside.
Coronation of King
Andrew I Pretorius in Cathedral of St Alban the Martyr in Port Natal
Map of South Africa in 1854
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*1 - I was greatly pleased by this, and surprised. The cores gave me alot of new troops. Troops I would need.
*2 - In game terms I just justified annexation.
*3 - Once I had Transvaal and peace, I could use the decision to form South Africa. For RP reasons I changed the government to a Prussian Constitutionalism.
In the next update The 1st Chapter will start. With all the statistics of the new Kingdom and a few maps of different things