Transvaal

South African statesman, known as Oom ('Uncle') Paul, who is considered the architect of the Afrikaner nation. He was president of the Boer state of the Transvaal which, following the discovery of gold, he fought to protect against the British and other foreign powers. He fled to Europe in 1900 after the tide of the second South African War turned against the Boers.

Former province of northeast South Africa to 1994, when it was divided into Mpumalanga, Northern, and Gauteng provinces. It bordered Zimbabwe to the north, Botswana to the northwest, and Swaziland and Mozambique to the east. It was settled by Voortrekkers, Boers who left Cape Colony in the Great Trek from 1831. Independence was recognized by Britain in 1852, until the settlers' difficulties with the conquered Zulus led to British annexation in 1877. It was made a British colony after the South African War 1899-1902, and in 1910 became a province of the Union of South Africa.