The Russo-Boer War (Dutch: Russisch-Boer Oorlog; Russian: Русско-бурская война, Russko-burskaya voyna), also known as the Midnight Coast War (Полуночнобереговая война, Polunochnobyeryegovaya voyna), was a year long war fought between the Russian Empire and the Dutch settlers in the Midnight Coast. The war began when the Netherlands agreed to hand over control over their Antarctic claims to Russia, which the Dutch-speaking settlers (mostly Boers from the Cape Colony) refused to accept Russian rule. The Boers proclaimed an independent Republic of the Midnight Coast, which promoted Russian forces to quell the movement.