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.

This union joined the South African Republic in 1860.

[1] 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.