Griqualand East

This article is about the former 19th-century country. For other uses, see Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Griqua people.

Griqualand East
Nieuw Griqualand
Griekwaland-Oos
1862–1879
Flag of Griqualand East
Griqua Flag†
Emblem of Griqualand East
Emblem
Motto: Pro Rege Lege et Grege
Latin: For King, Law and the People
Seal:
Location of Griqualand East within the Cape Colony
Location of Griqualand East within the Cape Colony
StatusBritish Colony (1874–1879)
CapitalKokstad
Common languagesDutch (written)
proto-Afrikaans (spoken)
Xhosa
GovernmentRepublic?
President? 
• 1862–1875
Adam Kok III
LegislatureRaad/Volksraad
(12 members)
History 
• 
Annexation of Philippolis
Expulsion to Nomansland

1860
1862 (1863?)
• Laager
1862
• Move from Mt.Currie
1869
• Kokstad founded
1872
• Annexation
1874 ~ 1879
• Adam Kok's death
1875
Area
Estimate‡[1]20,000 km2 (7,700 sq mi)
Population
• Griqua[2]
1,100
• Xhosa* (Mpondo)
30,000
CurrencyTokens
 Succeeded by
Cape Colony
† The Griqua flag is a vertically flipped version of the "Vierkleur" used by the South African Republic. A single source dates its origin to 1903; whether or not independent Griqualand East actually deployed it is uncertain.[3]
‡ Maximum extend given, defined as unclaimed/un-annexed by other established governments. Total area was in flux throughout history. Source for given figure under References (below).
* +Zulu refugees from earlier Shaka war
Historical states
in present-day
South Africa
before 1600
1600–1700
1700–1800
1800–1850
1850–1875
1875–1900
1900–present
flag South Africa portal

Griqualand East (Afrikaans: Griekwaland-Oos), officially known as New Griqualand (Dutch: Nieuw Griqualand), was one of four short-lived Griqua states in Southern Africa from the early 1860s until the late 1870s and was located between the Umzimkulu and Kinira Rivers, south of the Sotho Kingdom.[1]

Griqualand East's capital, Kokstad, was the final place of settlement for a people who had migrated several times on their journey from the Cape of Good Hope and over the mountains of present-day Lesotho.

The territory was occupied by the British Empire and became a colony in 1874, shortly before the death of its founder and only leader, Adam Kok III. A short while later, the small territory was incorporated into the neighbouring Cape Colony. Though for a long time overshadowed in history by the story of the Voortrekkers, the trek of the Griquas has been described as "one of the great epics of the 19th century."[4]

  1. ^ a b Burton, Alfred R. E. Cape Colony to-day. Townshend, Taylor & Snashall. Cape Town/Kaapstad: 1907. p219f
  2. ^ Statistics based on the 1907 estimate. Estimate for Xhosa population ranges from 25,000 to 40,000.
  3. ^ Griqualand (South Africa) on flagspot.net; Accessed 2009-07-31
  4. ^ "...een van die epiese gebeurtenisse van die 19de eeu."
    Webster, Roger. Die Adam Kok-Trek. in:Langs die Kampvuur. Waare Suider-Afrikaanse stories. Spearhead. p84f