The Republic of Lydenburg was founded in 1856 by the Voortrekkers under the leadership of Hendrik Potgieter. Lydenburg was declared the capital of the country in 1856. It later merged with the Republic of Utrecht. This union joined the South African Republic in 1860.[1]
| Conventional Long Name: | The Republic of Lydenburg |
| Capital: | Lydenburg |
| Official Languages: | Dutch |
| Regional Languages: | Afrikaans and various Bantu languages |
| Religion: | Dutch Reformed |
| Demonym: | Lydenburger |
| Government Type: | Boer Republic |
| Leader Title1: | President |
| Leader Name1: | Hendrik Potgieter |
| Date Start: | 1856 |
| Date End: | 1860 |
| P1: | Swazi people |
| S1: | South African Republic |
| Today: | South Africa |
The Republic of Lydenburg was founded after a group of Boers had separated from the Potchefstroom Republic in 1856. The village of Lydenburg was founded in 1849 by a group of Voortrekkers led by Hendrik Potgieter after they had left their previous settlement near Ohrigstad in the North due to a malaria epidemic. The republic later, in 1857, joined the republic of Utrecht. In 1860 both merged republics rejoined the South African Republic[2]