A conflict in southern Africa between British forces and the Boer‐ruled Transvaal (or South African Republic) and Orange Free State, 1899–1902, provoked by British expansionism. In the late 1890s, Joseph CHAMBERLAIN, the British colonial secretary, and Alfred MILNER in southern Africa, pressurized Paul Kruger, the Transvaal’s president, to enfranchise uitlanders (British and other immigrants in Transvaal). In response, Kruger demanded withdrawal of British troops from the region (9 Oct. 1899). His ultimatum was rejected.
The ensuing war had three phases. The first, from 11 Oct. 1899 to Jan. 1900, saw Boer incursions into British territory, with sieges of Ladysmith, Kimberley and MAFEKING, and heavy British losses in the ‘Black Week’ of Dec. 1899. Great Britain sent reinforcements, with Lord ROBERTS as the new supreme commander.
In the second phase, Feb.–Aug. 1900, Roberts launched counter‐offensives, raising the sieges, defeating the Boers at Paardeburg (27 Feb.) and capturing the Transvaal capital Pretoria (5 June). Britain annexed the Orange Free State (24 May) and Transvaal (1 Sept.).
Finally, from Nov. 1900, there was guerrilla warfare, to which Lord KITCHENER (new British commander) responded by destroying Boer farms and interning occupants in concentration camps. Boer resistance ended in May 1902 (see VEREENIGING, TREATY OF).
About 22,000 British troops died (two‐thirds from disease and illness), at least 25,000 Boers (most in concentration camps), and 12,000 Africans. The war also had profound consequences for British society, provoking debates about Army reform, social welfare and the morality of imperial rule. See also SOUTH AFRICA; NATIONAL DETERIORATION; ESHER, 2ND VISCOUNT; HALDANE, R.B.
BOHUN FAMILY
A noble family prominent in England from the mid 12th century; they were important in the MARCH OF WALES 1241–1373 through the marriage of Humphrey of Bohun (d. 1265) to Eleanor, daughter of William de BRAOSE (d. 1230). Eleanor inherited (1241) lordships of Brecon and Hay (C Wales) and Haverfordwest (SW Wales).
In the reign of King EDWARD II of England (1307–27), Humphrey de Bohun (c.1276–1322) opposed PIERS GAVESTON and the DESPENSERS. Humphrey de Bohun (1342–73) died without a male heir.
BOLEYN, ANNE
(b. c.1500, probably at Blickling, Norfolk, England; d. 19 May 1536 at London, England, aged about 36). A courtier’s daughter, Anne was courted by King HENRY VIII from 1526 although he was married to KATHERINE OF ARAGON. (Divorce proceedings began in April 1527; see GREAT MATTER.) Anne was created marchioness of Pembroke in Sept. 1532. She slept with Henry from Nov. and became pregnant. They were married secretly on 25 Jan. 1533 (marriage publicized at Easter, Anne crowned 1 June). On 7 Sept. Anne gave birth to a daughter (see ELIZABETH I). At court Anne sponsored evangelical clergy and writers.
Anne’s failure to produce a male heir disenchanted Henry. She was imprisoned for treasonable adultery (2 May 1536). Her marriage was declared invalid (17 May) and she was executed. See also HENRY VIII, WIVES OF; BROWNE, GEORGE.
BOLINGBROKE, VISCOUNT
(b. 16 Sept. 1678, probably at Lydiard Tregoze, Wiltshire, England; d. 12 Dec. 1751 at Battersea, Surrey, England, aged 73). An MP from 1701 and a TORY, Henry St John collaborated with Robert HARLEY. He was secretary at war 1704–8 and SECRETARY OF STATE from 1710. From 1711 he supervised negotiations with France which resulted in the Peace of UTRECHT (1713), ending the War of the SPANISH SUCCESSION. He was created Viscount Bolingbroke in 1712. Like other Tories, Bolingbroke became dissatisfied with Harley (see OCTOBER CLUB). In 1714 he persuaded Queen ANNE to dismiss Harley, but the earl of SHREWSBURY succeeded as leading minister.
In Aug. 1714 Bolingbroke was dismissed by the pro‐WHIG King GEORGE I. Fearful that Whigs would seek his execution for Jacobite plotting, he fled to France and served the Jacobite claimant as secretary of state (1715–16). Allowed to return in 1723, he became an opponent of Robert WALPOLE, notably attacking his Excise Bill (1733). See also JACOBITISM, IMPACT ON BRITISH POLITICS; EXCISE CRISIS; WYNDHAM, WILLIAM.
BONDFIELD, MARGARET(b. 17 March 1873 at Chard, Somerset, England; d. 16 June 1953 at Sanderstead, Surrey, England, aged 80). A shopworker from 1887, Bondfield became involved in trade unionism. She was the first woman chairman of the TRADES UNION CONGRESS (1923) and a LABOUR PARTY MP 1923–4, 1926–31. In 1924 she became the first woman minister in a British government (as parliamentary secretary to the Ministry of Labour), and from 1929 the first woman CABINET member (as minister of labour) and privy councillor. In both instances, she served under Ramsay MAC DONALD. In 1931 she refused to join his NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.BONIFACE
(b. early 670s in Wessex; d. 5 June 754 near Dokkum, Frisia, aged about 80). Responding to a missionary vocation, the monk Wynfrith lived in Frisia (modern Netherlands) in 716. In 719 the Pope commissioned him to evangelize pagans and named him Boniface. He worked with WILLIBRORD in Frisia (719–21). In 722, while revisiting Rome, he was made bishop and authorized to preach E of the R. Rhine (eastern Francia). He founded monasteries and churches, and recruited assistants from England.
In 732 Boniface was appointed archbishop. He reorganized dioceses in Bavaria (739), founded new bishoprics to the N (741–2), and founded Fulda monastery. Around 746 he adopted Mainz (in modern Germany) as his see. After resigning (753), he returned to Frisia, where he was martyred (buried at Fulda). See also LEOBA; MISSIONS TO CONTINENTAL EUROPE, ANGLO‐SAXON.
BONNER, EDMUND
(b. probably at Hanley, Worcestershire, England; d. 5 Sept. 1569 at London, England). Bonner, a clergyman, served King HENRY VIII as a diplomat (late 1520s–1540s). He accepted Henry’s supremacy in the English Church (confirmed 1534). He was appointed bishop of Hereford (1538), then of London (1539). But during the reign of EDWARD VI (1547–53) Bonner resisted Protestant reforms. He was imprisoned and deprived of his bishopric (Oct. 1550).
Restored as bishop by MARY I (Aug. 1553), Bonner promoted Catholicism and combated heresy in his diocese – 113 heretics were burnt (1555–8). After the accession of ELIZABETH I (1558), Bonner refused to acknowledge her supremacy in the Church. He was again deprived (May 1559) and later imprisoned (1560). See also REFORMATION, ENGLAND.
BOOKLANDIn Anglo‐Saxon England, land held by written CHARTER or ‘book' (OE bocland). Unlike other land, bookland was given (e.g., by kings) with freedom to alienate (by grant, sale or bequest). Kin had no entitlement to inherit. Bookland tenure was introduced in the 7th century to endow MINSTER churches. From the late 8th century, senior lay people also held (and alienated) bookland. Bookland was replaced by new tenures in the late 11th century. See also TENURES, ENGLAND BEFORE 1066; THREE PUBLIC SERVICES.BOOK OF ORDERSIn England and Wales, instructions issued Jan. 1631 by the PRIVY COUNCIL to JUSTICES OF THE PEACE requiring quarterly reports about the administration of laws relating to the poor. Although the Book arose from short‐term problems (e.g., grain shortage), and did not represent the policy of THOROUGH, it reflected the concern