Natalia Republic

The Natalia Republic was a short-lived Boer republic founded in 1839 after a Voortrekker victory against the Zulus at the Battle of Blood River. The area was previously named Natália by Portuguese sailors, due to its discovery on Christmas ("Natal" is the Portuguese word for Christmas). The republic came to an end in 1843 when British forces annexed it to form the Colony of Natal. After the British annexation of the Natalia Republic, most local Voortrekkers trekked northwest into Transorangia, later known as the Orange Free State, and the South African Republic.

On Christmas Day 1497, Vasco da Gama sailed past the region now known as Transkei and named the country Terra Natalis. He next sighted the bluff at the entrance to what is now the harbour of Durban. Da Gama made no landing here, but in later years the name Natália became associated with the area. Like the rest of South Africa, Natal was neglected by the Portuguese, whose nearest settlement was at Delagoa Bay.

At some unknown date, the amaZulu clan of Nguni people settled in the region north of the Tugela River. Under chief Shaka, the clan became the Zulu Kingdom, and between 1818 and 1820 overran the area. Shaka was succeeded in 1828 by Dingane. British traders established a small settlement at Port Natal, so founding what became the town of Durban, established in 1835.

The next Europeans to settle in the country were emigrant Boers from the Cape Colony, who came by land over the passes of the Drakensberg. These Voortrekkers were led by Piet Retief. Passing through the almost deserted upper regions, Retief arrived at Port Natal in October 1837. During this journey, he chose a site for the capital of the future state that he envisioned. Retief met with Dingane to obtain a grant of land for Boer settlement. Dingane consented on condition that the Boers recover cattle stolen by another chief. Retief managed that, and with the help of Rev. Francis Owen,a missionary living at Dingane’s kraal, drew up a deed of cession in English. Dingane and Retief signed it on 4 February 1838.

Two days later, Dingane ordered the execution of Retief and all of his party, 66 whites and 34 Khoikhoi servants. The Zulu king commanded his impis to kill all the Boers who had entered Natal. The Zulu forces crossed the Tugela River the same day, and massacred the most advanced parties of Boers, many near the future site of the town of Weenen; its name (meaning wailing or weeping) commemorates the event. In one week after the murder of Retief, the Zulus had killed 600 Boers. Other Boers hastily laagered and repulsed Zulu attacks. The Zulus suffered serious loss at a fight near Bushman River.

Hearing of the attack on the Boers, the British settlers at Port Natal sent a force to help them. Robert Biggar led 20 British and 700 friendly Zulus across the Tugela River near its mouth. On 17 April, in a desperate fight with a Zulu force, Biggar's force was overwhelmed. Only four Europeans escaped to Port Natal. The pursuing Zulus attacked the settlement, and the surviving inhabitants took refuge on a ship then in harbour. After the Zulus retired, fewer than a dozen Britons returned to Port Natal; the missionaries, hunters, and other traders returned to Cape Colony.

The Boers had repelled the Zulu attacks on their laagers. Additional Boers arrived from the Drakensberg, and about 400 men under Hendrik Potgieter and Piet Uys advanced to attack Dingane. On 11 April, they fell into a trap and with difficulty cut their way out. Among those slain were Piet Uys and his son Dirk, aged 15.

Toward the end of the year, the Boers received reinforcements. In December 460 men set out under Boer general Andries Pretorius to take on the Zulus. Andries Pretorius selected Jan Gerritze Bantjes (1817-1887) as his scribe and secretary in recording events of the campaign and coming retaliation battle with the Zulus. Bantjes documented daily in his journal the progress of the commando, from their start on 27 November 1838 until they reached their selected battle site on 15 December 1838. They avoided being led into a trap as happened on the previous attempt to attack the Zulus in April which ended in disaster. On the journey, they had small skirmishes with various kraals but the main Zulu army had not arrived yet to attack. Boer and Zulu scouts were constantly monitoring each other's whereabouts. On 9 December 1838 as Bantjes wrote in his journal, the Boers congregated under a clear sky to sing appropriate psalms and celebrate the Sabbath, taking a vow which became known as the "Day of The Vow or Covenant" that "if the Lord might give us victory, we hereby deem to found a house as a memorial of his Great Name at a place where it shall please Him", and that they also implore the help and assistance of God in accomplishing this Vow and that they write down this Day of Victory in a book and disclose this event to our very last posterities in order that this will forever be celebrated in the honour of God."^{[citation needed]}