Orange Free State

The Orange Free State (Afrikaans: Oranje Vrystaat) was an independent country in southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century, and later a province in South Africa. It is the historical precursor to the present-day Free State Province. Extending between the Orange and Vaal rivers, it was established as a free state by Boer settlers, after their departure from the British-dominated Cape Province (the Voortrek), and was annexed by the United Kingdom in 1848. The British recognised the independence of the Orange Free State on 17th February, 1854 and the county officially became independent on 23rd February, 1854, with the signing of the Contract of Bloemfontein. The Transvaal Republic, a sister Boer state, was granted independence around the same time.

Flag

The national flag of the Orange Free State was adopted in 1856. The OFS national flag contained alternating horizontal orange and white stripes (3 orange and 4 white with the white stripes on the outside) with a version of the Dutch flag (used initially at Graaff Reinet and Swellendam in 1795) featured in the canton. The former national flag of South Africa (from 1927 - 1994) had, as a feature contained within its central white bar, a vertically hanging flag of the Orange Free State.

Related Topics:
1856 - Graaff Reinet - Swellendam - 1795 - Flag of South Africa

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