| "Fort Wilhelm" | |
| Middelburg, South Africa | |
|
9 2 242 0002-Fort Merensky-Middelburg-Mpumalanga-s.jpg The main wall and tower. | |
| Type | Medieval Castle, Dry Wall construction. |
| Coordinates |
Latitude: Longitude: |
| Built | 1865 |
| Construction materials | Local stone. |
| Current condition | Intact |
| Open to the public | Yes |
| Controlled by |
 South Africa |
| Garrison | Local converts of the Berlin Missionary Society. |
| Events | Sekhukuni War, Mapoch War, First Boer War |
Fort Merensky, also called Fort Wilhelm, stands on a prominent hill in a commanding position near Botshabelo, a former Berlin Mission Station (BMS), 13 kilo- metres from Middelburg on the road to Groblersdal. It was built in order to protect the mission's convert from attacks by the local Bantu tribes using dry wall construction.
History[edit | edit source]
In February 1865 in what was then the Transvaal Republic (ZAR).[1][2] Merensky had fled with a small number of parishioners, following the attacks on his previous mission station, Ga-Ratau, by the soldiers of Sekhukhune, the king of the baPedi. Within a year of having established the mission station, the population had grown to 420 persons. In order to protect their new settlement Merensky had Fort Wilhelm built above the church and village and two further forts that protected the Moutse area where built. Botshabelo was the major spiritual, cultural and educational centre of the Berliner Mission Society in that part of the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR). It played a significant role during the Sekhukuni, the Mapoch, First Boer and the Second Boer Wars.[2]
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "The Berlin Missionary Society". safrika.org. http://www.safrika.org/berlin_en.html. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Van der Merwe, Werner The Berlin Missionary Society
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