Andries Pretorius facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andries Pretorius
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| Prime Minister of Natalia Republic | |
| In office 1839–1843 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Andries Wilhelmus Jacobus Pretorius
27 November 1798 Graaff-Reinet, Cape Colony |
| Died | 23 July 1853 (aged 54) Magaliesberg, South African Republic |
| Resting place | Heroes' Acre, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa |
| Children | Marthinus Wessel Pretorius |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  South African Republic Natalia Republic Voortrekkers |
| Years of service | 1838–1852 |
| Rank | Commandant-General |
| Commands | Transvaal and Orange River Commandos |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Blood River Battle of Boomplaats |
Andries Wilhelmus Jacobus Pretorius (born November 27, 1798 – died July 23, 1853) was an important leader of the Boer people in South Africa. He played a big role in creating the South African Republic. He also helped establish the earlier, but short-lived, Natalia Republic. The large city of Pretoria, which is a capital city of South Africa today, is named after him.
Contents
About Andries Pretorius
His Early Life
Andries Pretorius learned at home. Even though formal schooling was not common on the eastern border of the Cape Colony, he could read the Bible. He was also able to write down his thoughts.
He had five children. His oldest son, Marthinus Wessel Pretorius, later became the first President of the South African Republic. Pretorius came from early Dutch settlers in the Cape Colony. His family name, Pretorius, came from a Latin form of an older name. He likely grew up on his father's farm, Driekoppen, near Graaff-Reinet.
Becoming a Leader
In 1836, many Boers, also known as Voortrekkers, started leaving the Cape Colony. This movement was called the Great Trek. Pretorius decided to join them in October 1837.
He quickly traveled to the Klein-Tugela river in Natal. The Voortrekkers there needed a leader. Their previous leaders, Gerrit Maritz and Andries Potgieter, were no longer with them. Sadly, the Zulu king Dingane had also killed Piet Retief and his men in February 1838. They had been invited to a meeting unarmed.
Pretorius arrived at the Voortrekkers' main camp on November 22, 1838. His strong actions and careful planning quickly gave the people confidence. He was chosen as the main commander to lead a group against Dingane.
The Battle of Blood River
Pretorius led 470 men with 64 wagons into Dingane's territory. On the morning of December 16, 1838, they fought a big battle. This battle took place next to the Ncome river. The Voortrekkers won against a large Zulu army of 10,000 to 15,000 warriors.
The Voortrekkers used muzzle-loading rifles and two small cannons. The Zulus lost about 3,000 warriors in this fight, known as the Battle of Blood River. The Boers had no deaths. Only three men were injured, including Andries Pretorius, who was hurt on his hand by a spear.
The Boers believed that God helped them win. They promised to remember this day as a day of rest. They called it "Dingane's Day" until 1910. It was later renamed "Day of the Vow" or "Day of the Covenant". After apartheid ended in 1994, it became a public holiday called "Day of Reconciliation". This was to help bring people together.
Later Actions and Agreements
In January 1840, Pretorius helped Mpande in his fight against his half-brother Dingane. Pretorius and Mpande's forces defeated Dingane's army at the Battle of Maqongqo. This made Dingane go into exile, where he was soon killed. After this, Pretorius announced that the Boer land in Natal had become much bigger. This was part of the agreement with Mpande for their help.
Pretorius also led the Natal Boers against the British. In 1842, he surrounded the small British army in Durban. However, he had to retreat when more British soldiers arrived. He then worked to find a peaceful solution with the British. The British later took control of Natalia.
Pretorius stayed in Natal as a British subject. In 1847, Boer farmers chose him to tell their problems to the governor of the Cape Colony. They were worried about native people moving onto land they claimed. Pretorius went to Grahamstown to meet the governor, Sir Henry Pottinger. But the governor refused to see him.
Pretorius decided to leave his farm and move beyond British control. He was preparing to cross the Drakensberg mountains. Then, Sir Harry Smith, the new governor, met him in January 1848. Smith promised the farmers protection. Many were convinced to stay.
Pretorius, however, left. When the British declared control up to the Vaal River, he settled north of that river. He became the leader of the Boers living on both sides of the Vaal. In July, he led a group against the British, taking Bloemfontein on July 20. But in August, he was defeated at Boomplaats by Smith. He then went back north of the Vaal.
He became a leader of one of the largest groups of Transvaal Boers. He was the commandant-general of Potchefstroom and Rustenburg.
Independence and Legacy
In 1851, some Boers and the Basotho chief Moshoeshoe I asked Pretorius for help. He announced he would cross the Vaal to "restore order." His main goal was to get the British to recognize the independence of the Transvaal Boers. The British government decided to agree. They even removed the reward they had offered for his capture after the Boomplaats battle.
Pretorius met British representatives near the Sand River. On January 17, 1852, they signed an agreement. This agreement recognized the independence of the Transvaal Boers from Britain.
Pretorius crossed the Vaal River again. On March 16, he made peace with another leader, Potgieter, in Rustenburg. The followers of both leaders approved the agreement. In 1852, Pretorius also visited Durban to start trade between Natal and the new republic.
Andries Pretorius died at his home in Magaliesberg in July 1853. He is remembered as a very capable leader of the Emigrant Farmers. In 1855, his son, Marthinus Wessel Pretorius, created a new district and town. He named the town Pretoria to honor his father. Marthinus Wessel Pretorius later became the first president of the Transvaal Republic.
See also
In Spanish: Andries Pretorius para niños
