Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03

1880 in South Africa

Explore 19 historical events and records for South Africa in 1880.

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Historical records for South Africa in 1880

Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 19 of 19 unique records.

19Unique records

1 of 1Page

11Named events on this page

8Named people on this page

6Places on this page

December

13 December 1880

Independence of South Africa

Joubert, Piet · Transvaal · Government / Government of South Africa

Kruger, Joubert & Pretorious announce the restoration of republican Government

13 December 1880

Independence of South Africa

Kruger, Paulus · Transvaal · Commandant General · Government / Government of South Africa

Kruger, Joubert & Pretorious announce the restoration of republican Government

13 December 1880

Independence of South Africa

Pretorious, Andries Wilhemus Jacobus · Transvaal · Government / Government of South Africa

Kruger, Joubert & Pretorious announce the restoration of republican Government

13 December 1880

Independence of Transvaal

Joubert, Piet · Transvaal · Government / Government of South Africa

Kruger, Joubert & Pretorious announce the restoration of republican Government

13 December 1880

Independence of Transvaal

Kruger, Paulus · Transvaal · Commandant General · Government / Government of South Africa

Kruger, Joubert & Pretorious announce the restoration of republican Government

13 December 1880

Independence of Transvaal

Pretorious, Andries Wilhemus Jacobus · Transvaal · Government / Government of South Africa

Kruger, Joubert & Pretorious announce the restoration of republican Government

13 December 1880

Paardekraal Meeting

Joubert, Petrus Jacobus · Paardekraal · Boer Commander · Warfare / Boer War, 1st

Joins the triumvirate directing the Transvaal rising.

13 December 1880

Paardekraal Meeting

Kruger, Paulus · Paardekraal · Boer Leader · Warfare / Boer War, 1st

Boer leaders proclaim restoration of the republic.

13 December 1880

Paardekraal Meeting

Pretorius, Marthinus Wessel · Paardekraal · Boer Commander · Warfare / Boer War, 1st

Joins Kruger and Joubert in restoring Transvaal authority.

16 December 1880

Independence of South Africa

Cronje, Piet Arnoldus · Potchefstroom · General · Warfare / Boer War, 1st

Carries the declaration of Transvaal independence to be printed.

16 December 1880

Independence of Transvaal

Cronje, Piet Arnoldus · Potchefstroom · General · Warfare / Boer War, 1st

Carries the declaration of Transvaal independence to be printed.

16 December 1880

Potchefstroom Declaration

Cronje, Piet Arnoldus · Potchefstroom · Boer Commander · Warfare / Boer War, 1st

Carries the independence proclamation to Potchefstroom.

16 December 1880

Siege of Potchefstroom

Cronje, Piet Arnoldus · Potchefstroom · General · Warfare / Boer War, 1st

The 1st shots in the struggle for the Transvaal are fired against British soldiers

20 December 1880

Battle of Bronkhorstspruit

Joubert, Frans · Bronkhorstspruit · Boer Commander · Warfare / Boer War, 1st

Defeats Anstruther's column at Bronkhorstspruit.

Other events (month unknown)

1880

Joubert Organises First Boer War Forces

Joubert, Piet · Transvaal · Government / Government of South Africa

Piet Joubert organised military resistance against British rule during the outbreak of the First Boer War.

1880

Paardekraal Meeting Unites Republican Supporters

Kruger, Paul · Paardekraal · Government / Government of South Africa

Kruger and other leaders rallied supporters at Paardekraal in the movement that restored a republican government and precipitated armed conflict.

1880

Rebellion of Begins the Transvaal

Cronje, Piet Arnoldus · Transvaal · General · Warfare / Boer War, 1st

Begins the Transvaal rebellion as a protest against taxes

1880

Rebellion of Paulus Kruger

Kruger, Paulus · Boers · Commandant General · Warfare / Military

Leads the Boer rebellion against the British

1880

Transvaal Leaders Restore Republican Government

Kruger, Paul · Heidelberg · Government / Government of South Africa

Paul Kruger and fellow Boer leaders declared a restoration of republican government after rejecting British annexation of the Transvaal.

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How these records were prepared

Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.