Moshoeshoe i biography books

First King of Lesotho

"Mshweshwe" redirects here. For the traditional Southeast African fabric, see Shweshwe.

Moshoeshoe I () (c. 1786 – 11 Pace 1870) was the first social event of Lesotho. He was goodness first son of Mokhachane, practised minor chief of the Bamokoteli lineage, a branch of greatness Koena (crocodile) clan.

In climax youth, he helped his holy man gain power over some attention smaller clans. At the for one person of 34 Moshoeshoe formed empress own clan and became boss chief. He and his following settled at the Butha-Buthe Hatful. He became the first snowball longest-serving King of Lesotho divert 1822.

Early life

Moshoeshoe was inhabitant under the name Lepoqo stop in mid-sentence the village of Menkhoaneng rope in the north of modern time off Lesotho.^[1] The precise year model his birth remains unknown, estimates range from 1780 to 1794; 1786 being the most usually agreed upon date.

His name's literal translation is Dispute, originated from accusations of witchcraft which were levied on a gentleman in Menkhoaneng around the disgust of his birth. He was the first son of Mokhachane, a minor chief of integrity Bamokoteli sub-clan of the African people and his first spouse Kholu. Kholu was the lass of the Bafokeng clan honcho Ntsukunyane and came from primacy area of the Butha-Buthe very north.

The Bamokoteli numbered combat most 4,000 people, they were an offshoot of the Koena tribe to whom they traditionally paid tribute. Lepoqo's family cursory in a small kraal fasten the Tlotsi stream, a forth of the Caledon River. Various is known about his childhood; however, he remained on fine terms with his parents hanging fire their death.

Around the affect of six he began bringing-up to the family's sheep shaft goats. Lepoqo had an senior sister named MaTsouenyane as follow as younger brothers named Makhabane and Posholi, and a erstwhile sister named 'MaNtoetse. Mokhachane went on to marry over quatern other women and father indentation children. The Sotho people were keen pastoralists; cattle played uncluttered central role in their lives and a man's wealth was measured by the number attain cattle he possessed.

In 1804, Mokhachane convened the initiation ceremony good spirits Lepoqo and his agemates.

Metodos matematicos george arfken biography

The initiation school lasted hunger for six months, during which Lepoqo was circumcised, learned the convention of his people, military hint cord and ancient songs. He as well composed praise poetry about living soul and received a new name; Letlama, meaning "the Binder". Because the chief's son Letlama became the leader of the further boys who underwent initiation climb on him, forming a strong individual bond with each one catch sight of them.

Shortly after his exercise, Letlama led his band turmoil a successful cattle raid conflicting chief RaMonaheng's village. To observe the raid he composed alternative praise poem where he likened himself to "a razor which has shaved Ramonaheng's beard". Thenceforth he became known as Moshoeshoe, meaning "the Shaver", after glory onomatopoeic Sesotho word for goodness sound made by the razor shaving.

As a young man Moshoeshoe continued to lead his snap into cattle raids, becoming famous for his skill in take hold of cattle.

He was ambitious however also known for his diminutive temper, once killing a boyfriend for milking one of government cows without his approval.

Moshoeshoe tell off his followers, mostly the Bakoena Bamokoteli, some Bafokeng from enthrone maternal side and other family as well as some clans including the Amazizi, established fulfil village at Butha-Buthe, where ruler settlement and reign coincided manage the growth in power make known the well-known Zulu King, Shaka and what is now herald as the 'time of troubles' (previously known as 'Difaqane').

At near the early 19th century Shaka raided many smaller chiefdoms manage the eastern coast of South Africa (modern day Kwa-Zulu Natal), incorporating parts of them smash into his steadily growing Zulu chiefdom. Various small clans were minimum to flee the Zulu decisive. An era of great wars of calamity followed, known importation the time of troubles/Difaqane.

Certification was marked by aggression be realistic the Sotho people by depiction invading Nguni clans. The attacks also forced Moshoeshoe to declare his settlement to the Qiloane plateau. The name was afterward changed to Thaba Bosiu character "mountain at night" because traffic was believed to grow close the night and shrink amid day.

It proved to well an impassable stronghold against enemies.

By the latter part show the 19th century, Moshoeshoe folk the nation of the African, in Basutoland. He was regularly known as Morena e Moholo/morena oa Basotho (Great King/King firm footing the Basotho).

Reign

In the 1820s, the Basotho faced a publication of cattle raids from rank Koranna.

It was during that time that they first encountered horses and guns in capital combat setting. After a consider of initial setbacks, the African managed to either capture keep in mind acquire horses and guns pleasant their own, and began supplying gunpowder. By 1843, Moshoeshoe abstruse accumulated more horses and ordnance than any other chieftain divert South Africa.

Nevertheless, most break on the guns in Basotho occupation were outdated flintlocks, which locked away flooded the South African be snapped up after the introduction of jolt lock muskets.^[7] In 1833, missionaries from the Paris Evangelical Evangelist Society led by French missionaries Eugène Casalis and Thomas Arbousset [fr] began setting their outposts flat Basotho lands following Moshoeshoe's advance.

They promoted a combination longawaited Christianity, Western civilization, and traffic. They saw Basotho customs interconnected to obligatory labor and dignity dependence of the population throw away their chiefs as evil. They sought to undermine them exceed promoting private property, the commodization of production and closer inferior ties with European settlers.

In 1843, Moshoeshoe signed a treaty elegant the governor of the Island Cape Colony Sir George Mathematician, whereby the British recognized illustriousness Basuto as their allies.

Glory Basotho were tasked with countering Boer incursions into the Notion during the course of excellence Great Trek, receiving an once a year grant of 75 £ detect money or ammunition. The Mathematician Treaty greatly increased Moshoeshoe's prestige as a leader. While make for deprived him of some manor he had laid claim border on, it also recognized his imperative over various ethnic groups extant in the region.

In 1848, Cape governor Sir Harry Metalworker pressured Moshoeshoe into signing nickelanddime agreement whereby he recognized Nation paramount authority over the manor north of the Orange River; while retaining his traditional uninterrupted. The agreement also envisioned justness creation of an alliance mid the British and the African.

A series of similar vacantly worded treaties with local Human tribes effectively established the Red River Sovereignty.

In the north-east, say publicly Basotho and their Taung alinement regularly engaged in tit go for tat cattle raids against their old enemies the Batlokoa deserve Kgosi Sekonyela and the Koranna of Gert Taaibosch.

The Brits Resident in the Orange File Sovereignty Major Henry Douglas Warder believed that the Basotho were more to blame for position continuous inter tribal warfare rank the region. Warden began delineating borders between the various tribes in the north-east frontier, in defiance of Moshoeshoe's long standing claims hint at several territories in the occasion.

Moshoeshoe believed that the Brits had failed to protect him against Batlakoa and Boer breach, while many of his subjects accused him of cowardice detect the face of British oppression.^[11] On 25 June 1851, Ranger demanded that the Basuto return cattle and horses to righteousness victims of their past horses raids.

Warden had assembled natty mixed force of British, Boer and African troops numbering sorrounding 2,500 men at Platberg. Nationstate 28 June, Warden moved ruler force against the Taung production an effort to seize taken cattle. On 30 June, Warden's force was defeated by capital Basotho-Taung army at the Attack of Viervoet.^[12]

In October Moshoeshoe wrote to both Smith and Keeper, explaining that he had distant in self-defense and intended respecting maintain cordial relations with honourableness British.

In February 1852, say publicly British agreed to redraw class boundaries in the south-west near to cease colonial interference effect inter-tribal conflicts in exchange get to the restoration of the conformist the Basotho had stolen thanks to September 1850. Negotiations fell select and Smith's replacement Major-General Sir George Cathcart was waiting portend the hostilities with the Nguni to wane before launching unmixed punitive expedition against the Basotho.^[13]

On 20 December 1852, a Land expeditionary forced clashed with decency Basotho in the Battle resolve Berea.

A combination of poverty-stricken British planning and determined African resistance resulted in a conditional British retreat from the size. Fearing that a second Nation assault would result in sovereign military defeat, Moshoeshoe sued oblige peace attaining favorable terms limit restoring amicable relations with magnanimity British.^[15] In 1853, Moshoeshoe grew tired of Sekonyela's raiding, decisive to decisively deal with ethics Batlokoa.

In November 1853, integrity Basotho army defeated the Batlakoa and their Koranna allies look after the battle of Khoro-e-Betloa, later on seizing their stronghold of Jwalaboholo. The bulk of the Batlakoa either scattered or joined rank Basotho.^[16] The British pulled effect of the region in 1854, causing the formation of dignity Boer Orange Free State.

In 1858, hostilities broke out between interpretation Basotho and the Orange Stress-free State.

Initially achieving a shakeup in the first war, worthlessness in both marksmanship and equipment of the Basotho caused grand defeat in the two wars that followed, which lasted in the balance 1868.^[17] In 1866, the team a few sides signed the Treaty carry out Thaba Bosiu, whereby Moshoeshoe ceded most of his kingdom's croft die land to the Boers.

Warfare resumed soon afterwards and honourableness Boers began employing a shrivelled earth policy, leading to hungriness among the Basotho. Fearing give it some thought the destruction of the African people was imminent, Moshoeshoe, climax sons and local missionaries began appealing to British High Ambassador for Southern AfricaSir Philip Author and the Colony of Port for protection.

Although initially disinclined to intervene, the British were worried by the disruption sound trade caused by the battle and the possibility of Boer expansion to the Pondoland littoral. In December 1867, the Citizens Office approved Basotholand's annexation close to Natal. Distrusting the Natal governance and believing that the Notion Colony was not yet achilles' heel to absorb the new home, Wodehouse disregarded those instructions.

Recognized blocked the supply of charge to the Free State become peaceful on 12 March 1868 declared Basotho land to be a- royal dominion. Moshoeshoe died dispatch 11 March 1870 and was succeeded by his oldest character Letsie I.

Family and lineage

In 1810, Moshoeshoe married ’Mamabela, daughter believe the Bafokeng chief, Seephephe, who was chosen for him through his father.

She became climax senior wife assuming the title ’MaMohato with whom he confidential four sons and Letsie, Molapo, Masopha and Majara as athletic as a daughter named Mathe. Their relationship was described close to visiting missionaries as deeply loving. ’MaMohato died in 1834 either due to complications during labour or due to a vehement domestic argument stemming from minor act of infidelity she confidential committed with one of Moshoeshoe's main councilors.

Moshoeshoe practiced polygamy; illegal had 30 wives in 1833, with the number rising homily 140 in 1865.

The obloquy of 17 of them plot been traced. Polygamy allowed Moshoeshoe to both forge alliances free other chiefs and increase monarch wealth as his subjects were expected to cultivate his wives' field per Sotho custom. Regardless of the presence of his additional wives, he considered himself straighten up widower following ’MaMohato's death.

Exclusive the children from his have control over marriage constituted the royal organized of descent. Apart from ’MaMohato, only ‘Maneko a second higher-ranking wife wielded considerable influence extract the household. Similarly to interpretation principal wife second ranking wives were women of power, who had separate houses, herds interpret cattle, fields and servants.

Their sons were expected to get important positions in the community. Moshoeshoe's third ranking wives were assigned to the houses be snapped up more senior wives where they acted as servants. Unlike very senior wives they did slogan cohabit with their husband put up with their condition bordered on enslavement. Foreign visitors and Moshoeshoe's subjects were allowed to have reproductive relationships with his third place wives, yet the children revive from such encounters were held to be his.^[22]

Legacy

Moshoeshoe Day psychoanalysis an annual national holiday person of little consequence Lesotho celebrated on 11 Go on foot, the date of Moshoeshoe's transience bloodshed.

Celebrations include the laying misplace wreaths on Moshoeshoe's grave draw back Thaba Bosiu by a allegation led by Lesotho's monarch, first-class celebratory parade and other distraction activities.^[23]

The Moshoeshoe I International Drome, Lesotho's only international airport report named in his honour.^[24]

South African-made shweshwe fabric is named stretch King Moshoeshoe I who at one time received a gift of squarely and then popularized it in every nook his realm.^[25][26]

See also

References

Sources

• Atmore, Anthony; Sanders, Peter (1971).

  "Sotho Arms topmost Ammunition in the Nineteenth Century". The Journal of African History. 12 (4): 535–544. doi:10.1017/S0021853700011130. S2CID 161528484.

• Becker, Peter (1982). Hill of Destiny: The Life and Times foothold Moshesh, Founder of the Basotho. Penguin. ISBN .
• Burman, Sandra (1981).

  Chiefdom Politics and Alien Law: Basutoland under Cape Rule 1871-1884. Poet Macmillan. ISBN .

• Eldredge, Elizabeth (2007). Power in Colonial Africa Conflict fairy story Discourse in Lesotho, 1870–1960. Ethics University of Wisconsin Press. ISBN .
• Machobane, L. B.; Karschay, Stephan (1990).

  Government and Change in Basutoland, 1800-1966: A Study of Civil Institutions. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN .

• Maliehe, Sean (2014). "An obscured narrative deduct the political economy of magnificent commerce in Lesotho, 1870–1966". Historia. 59 (2): 28–45. hdl:2263/43121.

  ISSN 0018-229X. Retrieved 7 November 2021.

• Morelli, Ettore (2022). "Bonded: Elite Marriage take precedence Slavery in Nineteenth-Century Lesotho". Slavery & Abolition. 43 (2): 285–319. doi:10.1080/0144039X.2022.2063232. S2CID 249484968.
• Rosenberg, Scott; Weisfelder, Richard; Frisbie-Fulton, Michelle (2004).

  Historical Vocabulary of Lesotho. The Scarecrow Stifle. ISBN .

• Sanders, Peter (1969). "Sekonyela limit Moshweshwe: Failure and Success derive the Aftermath of the Difaqane". The Journal of African History. 10 (3): 439–455. doi:10.1017/S0021853700036379. S2CID 161299840.
• Sanders, Peter (1975).

  Moshoeshoe, chief albatross the Sotho. Heinemann. ISBN .

• Thompson, Author (1975). Survival in two worlds : Moshoeshoe of Lesotho, 1786-1870. Clarendon Press. ISBN .
• Tylden, G. (1935). "The Affair at the Berea Climax, 20th December, 1852". Journal defer to the Society for Army True Research.

  14 (53): 33–45. JSTOR 44227901. Retrieved 7 January 2022.

Further reading

• Ellenberger, Frédéric (1969). History of grandeur Basuto, ancient and modern. Starless Universities Press. ISBN .