Lydenburg (J 7)

Name: Lydenburg

Google count:
Date:

Historic fact:

More than 1300 years before the first Europeans entered the area, there were thriving communities of probably Nguni people, as demonstrated by the Lydenburg Masks found here. The first Europeans entered the area in the 1840s. The town itself was founded in 1849 by a group of Voortrekkers (pioneers) under the leadership of Andries Potgieter.

Different groups of Voortrekkers proclaimed their own republics. In 1856 'De Republiek Lydenburg in Zuid Afrika' was proclaimed, and in 1857 it joined the Republic of Utrecht. Three years later in 1860 they joined the Pretoria based Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR).

Sekhukhune (1814 - 1882), was king of the Marota (or baPedi) people who lived in this region. He defended his people against both the ZAR (1st Sekhukhune War or ZAR-Pedi War) and the British (2nd Sekhukhune War, or Anglo-Pedi War).

In 1871 a road was built between Pretoria and Delagoa Bay (today known as Maputo, and previously known as Lorenco Marques) in Mocambique, which was the closest harbour. Lydenburg was an important stop-over on this route.

In 1873 alluvial gold was discovered in Lydenburg and the town experienced a gold rush. The British wished to control the gold industry and eventually annexed the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR).

The First Anglo-Boer War (16 December 1880 until 23 March 1881) was fought mainly between the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR) and Britain, hence also known as the Transvaal War. Skirmishes between the warring factions happened in the Lydenburg area.

The planned railway between Pretoria and Delagoa Bay only reached Lydenburg in 1910.

More info: http://www.routes.co.za/mp/lydenburg/index.html

Other interesting info:



Where to stay: