Rhodesian Africa
10-06-2007, 12:52
The Scramble for Africa was an event in which the Europeans carved the pie that was known as Africa amongst themselves. France took a chunk of West Africa, Britain took the South, and the Germans got bits here and there. However, historians will comment on one man's actions, this one man brought all of Africa under his control. His name was Cecil Rhodes.
There is a sketch that shows Rhodes standing over Africa, with the caption: "From Cairo to Cape Town". No one knew in a couple of years that Rhodes would control all of Africa, they assumed the European powers of the day would have done that.
The day came when Cecil Rhodes, then holding power in parts of South Africa (a nation that is now part of "Rhodesian Africa") began the "Jameson Raid", which was a successful raid on the Transvaal. However, he grew alienated from the British, who resented his actions.
Rhodes then proceeded to consolidate his power in the area, his policies gaining more resentment from Westminster. It was in some time that Rhodes broke off from London and made the areas he controlled an independent nation.
Rhodes began expanding his control over Africa by military methods. One of his plans was to hire Confederate American mercenaries, fresh from the American Civil War. Using these "Yankees", he was able to seize most of Southern Africa.
The British were pushed back from South Africa and some of their possessions in Southern Africa. France, Belgium and other European powers watched as the "Rhodesians" advanced, annexing lands to Cecil Rhodes' growing dominion.
Europe became more involved when Rhodes went to attack Nambia, held by the German Empire. Nambia quickly fell to Rhodesian soldiers and it was annexed to the Rhodesian nation.
Finally, in 1902, when Cecil Rhodes laid on his deathbed, he controlled a nation that stretched from Cairo to the Cape. He had built the city of Salisbury, capital of Rhodesia Province as his capital and asked to be laid to rest there.
With the burial of Rhodes, an era ended. The Europeans, who had lost their holdings in Africa, decided it was best to pursue diplomatic relations with "Rhodesian Africa", which was now being led by Leander Jameson, namesake of the raid.
And so, after over 50 years, Rhodesian Africa (composing of the entire continent of Africa) has kept its independence from European powers and has been the first nation to control an entire continent.
There is a sketch that shows Rhodes standing over Africa, with the caption: "From Cairo to Cape Town". No one knew in a couple of years that Rhodes would control all of Africa, they assumed the European powers of the day would have done that.
The day came when Cecil Rhodes, then holding power in parts of South Africa (a nation that is now part of "Rhodesian Africa") began the "Jameson Raid", which was a successful raid on the Transvaal. However, he grew alienated from the British, who resented his actions.
Rhodes then proceeded to consolidate his power in the area, his policies gaining more resentment from Westminster. It was in some time that Rhodes broke off from London and made the areas he controlled an independent nation.
Rhodes began expanding his control over Africa by military methods. One of his plans was to hire Confederate American mercenaries, fresh from the American Civil War. Using these "Yankees", he was able to seize most of Southern Africa.
The British were pushed back from South Africa and some of their possessions in Southern Africa. France, Belgium and other European powers watched as the "Rhodesians" advanced, annexing lands to Cecil Rhodes' growing dominion.
Europe became more involved when Rhodes went to attack Nambia, held by the German Empire. Nambia quickly fell to Rhodesian soldiers and it was annexed to the Rhodesian nation.
Finally, in 1902, when Cecil Rhodes laid on his deathbed, he controlled a nation that stretched from Cairo to the Cape. He had built the city of Salisbury, capital of Rhodesia Province as his capital and asked to be laid to rest there.
With the burial of Rhodes, an era ended. The Europeans, who had lost their holdings in Africa, decided it was best to pursue diplomatic relations with "Rhodesian Africa", which was now being led by Leander Jameson, namesake of the raid.
And so, after over 50 years, Rhodesian Africa (composing of the entire continent of Africa) has kept its independence from European powers and has been the first nation to control an entire continent.