SOUTH AFRICAN HISTORY: The Cape Frontier Wars from 1779 to 1878.

By 1770 the Trekboer reached the Visrivier where for the first time the white man and black man of Africa came face to face with each other.

Around 1779, cattle theft by Xhosas forced the Trekboers from their farms on the south-eastern border along the Bushmans River.

The trekboer react to these attacks and cattle theft in the form of nine Frontier Wars (also referred to as the 'Kaffir Wars', 'Xhosa Wars' or 'Cape Frontier Wars') between 1779 and 1878.

During this period three changes of government occur at the Cape.

Firstly the Dutch through the offices of the Dutch East Indies Company (VOC) until 1795. After that the First British occupation of the Cape from 1795 to 1802. Once again the Dutch as the Batavian Republic from 1802 to 1806. Lastly the final British annexation and colonisation of the Cape from 1806.

source

British Land Acquisitions, the 1800s
Yellow--4th Frontier War (1811)
Orange--5th Frontier War (1818)
Red--7th Frontier War (1846)
Purple--"Cattle Killing" Relocations (1858)
Green--9th Frontier War (1878)
Blue--Mpondoland Campaigns (1894)

FRONTIER WARS (1779-1878).

First (Cape) Frontier / Xhosa War (Dutch rule, chiefly Trekboer Settlers): 1779-81

Second (Cape) Frontier / Xhosa War (Dutch rule, chiefly Trekboer Settlers): 1789-93

Third (Cape) Frontier / Xhosa War (British rule, chiefly Trekboer Settlers): 1799-1803

Fourth (Cape) Frontier / Xhosa War (British rule, chiefly Trekboer Settlers): 1811-12

Fifth (Cape) Frontier / Xhosa War (British rule, chiefly Trekboer Settlers): 1818-19

Sixth (Cape) Frontier / Xhosa War (British rule, chiefly Trekboer and 1820 British Settlers):1834-35

Seventh (Cape) Frontier / Xhosa War (British rule, after the Trek, chiefly 1820 British Settlers): 1846-47, 'War of the Axe' or the 'Amatola War'

Eighth (Cape) Frontier / Xhosa War (British rule):1850-53

Ninth (Cape) Frontier / Xhosa War (British rule):1877-78

The conflict introduces changes for both the Trekboer and the Xhosa.

In 1820 the British government tried to stabilise the region by allowing British settlers settle in the Eastern Cape. By the sixth war, the Trekboer decide to find peace by trekking north and became known as the Voortrekker in the history. Lastly, the Xhosa lost a significant part of its prime pastoral land. The level of severity of the wars increased with each conflict. Especially the 7th and 8th Frontier Wars were particularly bitter. The situation lead to the prophecy of Nongqawuse

Sources:
http://www.artefacts.co.za/main/Buildings/style_det.php?styleid=672
http://www.sahistory.org.za/article/conquest-eastern-cape-1779-1878#
http://www.wildcoast.co.za/nongqawuse
http://www.siyabona.com/eastern-cape-xhosa-cattle-killing.html