Orange Free State

The Orange Free State was an independent republic in southern Africa established in 1854 by Boer settlers of Dutch descent. It covered parts of what is now central South Africa. Known for its farming economy, especially sheep and cattle, it had its own government and was recognized internationally until 1902. The republic's independence ended after the Second Anglo-Boer War when the British Empire defeated the Boers and incorporated the territory into the Union of South Africa. Today, it is part of the modern province of Free State in South Africa.