Piet Uys

Piet Uys

Petrus Lafras Uys (more commonly known as "Piet Uys") (1797 - 1838) was a Voortrekker leader during the Great Trek.

He was born in Swellendam, the third son (of six) of Jacobus Johannes Uys (nicknamed "Koos Bybel" (Bible) because of his religious beliefs). In 1823 Piet Uys moved to a farm in the Humansdorp area near Uitenhage together with his father.

Uys married a cousin, Alida Maria Uys, in 1815. The couple had three sons. He was described as a "well-spoken, intelligent man" with a wide circle of friends, including the Governor of the Cape Colony, Sir Benjamin d'Urban and Colonel Harry Smith. His conduct during the Cape Frontier wars led him to assume a leadership role at the relatively young age of 37. As a result of this, Uys was chosen to lead the "Commission Trek" to Natal in 1834, where he visited Port Natal and may also have met Dingane.

After this successful scouting expedition, the party returned to Uitenhage in February 1835. The subsequent favourable reports of the Commission Treks resulted in many farmers leaving their farms and trekking into the interior of Southern Africa, in what later became known as the Great Trek. Uys sold his own farm in December 1836 and left the Uitenhage area with his party of 100 Voortrekkers (as they became known) in April 1837.

On 29 June of the same year, the Uys Trek arrived at the combined Voortrekker laager at the Sand River where, unbeknownst to them, Piet Retief had been elected Governor and a constitution drafted. Uys refused to accept either and insisted that, once they had reached Natal, democratic elections should be held. He also proposed a constitution based on that of the United States of America.

Uys then received a request by Andries Potgieter to help him against the Matabeles and their leader, Mzilikazi, who had recently defeated him. A commando led by Uys responded, and their combined forces eventually drove the Matabeles into what is now the country of Zimbabwe, opening up the Highveld area for future settlement.

On their return to the laager, the men found that Retief had already left for Natal. Uys and Potgieter subsequently travelled with a scouting party to Natal to visit Retief, but left for what later became known as the Orange Free State after being made to feel unwelcome.

However, after the massacare of Retief and his men by Dingane and the subsequent Zulu attacks on the Voortrekker laagers in Natal, commandos led by Uys and Potgieter rode to their aid. During the subsequent Battle of Italeni both Uys and his second son, Dirkie, were killed. Uys was to be the only Voortrekker leader to be killed in battle during the Great Trek.

References

* [http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol036iu.html South African Military History Society]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Piet Uys — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Petrus Lafras Uys (más comúnmente conocido como Piet Uys) (1797 1838) fue un líder Voortrekker durante el Gran Viaje dificultoso (Great Trek). Nació en Swellendam, el tercer hijo (de seis) de Jacobus Johannes Uys… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Uys — ist der Familienname mehrerer Personen: Amalia Uys (* 1984), südafrikanische Schauspielerin Antoinette Uys (* 1976), südafrikanische Badmintonspielerin Dirkie Uys (1823 1838), burischer Pionier Südafrikas Jamie Uys (1921 1996), südafrikanischer… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Dirkie Uys — (1823 1838) was a Voortrekker hero during the Great Trek. After the massacare of Piet Retief and his men by Dingaan on 6 February 1838, a number of Voortrekker camps were also attacked by the Zulu impis. These Voortrekkers appealed to other treks …   Wikipedia

  • Jacobus Johannes Uys — Jamie Uys Jacobus Johannes Uys dit Jamie Uys (30 mai 1921 à Boksburg – 29 janvier 1996 à Johannesburg) était un acteur, réalisateur et scénariste d Afrique du Sud, issu de la communauté afrikaner. Biographie Il réalise son premier film Daar doer… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Jamie Uys — Jacobus Johannes Uys dit Jamie Uys (30 mai 1921 à Boksburg – 29 janvier 1996 à Johannesburg) était un acteur, réalisateur et scénariste d Afrique du Sud, issu de la communauté afrikaner. Biographie Il réalise son premier film Daar doer in die… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Battle of Italeni — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Italeni partof=the Great Trek caption= date=9 April, 1838 place=Near Umgungundlovu, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa casus= territory= result=Zulu victory combatant1= combatant2=Zulu Kingdom commander1=Piet …   Wikipedia

  • Liste des sélectionnés en équipe d'Afrique du Sud de rugby à XV — Ceci est une liste des sélectionnés en équipe d Afrique du Sud de rugby à XV. La liste ci après comprend 828 sélectionnés. Le premier Springbok est Ben Duff, alors que le plus récent est Zane Kirchner. 1 à 100 Paul Roos …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Battle of Blood River — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Blood River, iMpi yaseNcome partof=the Great Trek caption=Voortrekker laager date=16 December, 1838 place=Blood/ Ncome river, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa casus= territory= result=Decisive Voortrekker… …   Wikipedia

  • Bataille De Blood River — Bataille de Bloodriver Informations générales Date 16 déce …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Bataille de Blood River — Bataille de Bloodriver Informations générales Date 16 décembre 1838 Lieu Vallée du Ncome, KwaZulu Natal, Afrique du Sud …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”