23 February - The official independence of the Orange Free State, (South Africa) is declared.

 

The Orange Free State (Oranje Vrijstaat in Dutch) gained official independence on February 23, 1854. The region, situated in the central part of South Africa, was initially a British colony known as the Orange River Sovereignty. However, due to various factors, including disputes with local communities and the desire for self-governance, the British decided to withdraw their administration.

On February 23, 1854, the Bloemfontein Convention was signed, leading to the establishment of the Orange Free State as an independent Boer republic. The name "Orange Free State" reflected both the Orange River and the Boer desire for independence. The Boers, descendants of Dutch settlers, sought to govern themselves and establish their own republics.

The Orange Free State continued to exist as a sovereign state until the Second Boer War (1899–1902), during which it was annexed by the British Empire in 1900. After the war, the region became the Orange River Colony under British control until the establishment of the Union of South Africa in 1910. Today, the area corresponds largely to the Free State province of modern South Africa.