51-827: The Free State–Basotho Wars refers to a series of wars fought between King Moshoeshoe I , the ruler of the Basotho Kingdom , and white settlers, in what is now known as the Free State . These can be divided into the Senekal's War of 1858, the Seqiti War in 1865−1866 and the Third Basotho War in 1867−68. These three wars were fought over the territorial rights in the area between the Caledon and Orange rivers; from present day Wepener to Zastron , and
102-509: A Basotho-Taung army at the Battle of Viervoet . In October Moshoeshoe wrote to both Smith and Warden, explaining that he had acted in self-defense and intended to maintain cordial relations with the British. In February 1852, the British agreed to redraw the boundaries in the south-west and to cease colonial interference into inter-tribal conflicts in exchange for the restoration of the cattle
153-400: A central role in their lives and a man's wealth was measured by the number of cattle he possessed. In 1804, Mokhachane convened the initiation ceremony for Lepoqo and his agemates. The initiation school lasted for six months, during which Lepoqo was circumcised, learned the customs of his people, military tactics and ancient songs. He also composed praise poetry about himself and received
204-550: A considerable strip of territory, and each had grounds for asserting a right to it. Further conflict occurred after Jacobus Nicolaas Boshoff ; President of the Orange Free State [OFS], and Moshoeshoe discussed issues of armed conflict and cattle rustling. However, these discussions only led to Boshoff declaring war on the Basotho on 19 March 1858 (also reported as 22 March 1858). The Basotho were formidable opponents, and
255-492: A leader. While it deprived him of some lands he had laid claim to, it also recognized his rule over various ethnic groups living in the region. In 1848, Cape governor Sir Harry Smith pressured Moshoeshoe into signing an agreement whereby he recognized British paramount authority over the lands north of the Orange River ; while retaining his traditional rights. The agreement also envisioned the creation of an alliance between
306-736: A minor chief of the Bamokoteli sub-clan of the Basotho people and his first wife Kholu. Kholu was the daughter of the Bafokeng clan chief Ntsukunyane and came from the area of the Butha-Buthe further north. The Bamokoteli numbered at most 4,000 people, they were an offshoot of the Koena tribe to whom they regularly paid tribute. Lepoqo's family lived in a small kraal near the Tlotsi stream,
357-618: A new name; Letlama, meaning "the Binder". As the chief's son Letlama became the leader of the other boys who underwent initiation with him, forming a strong personal bond with each one of them. Shortly after his graduation, Letlama led his band on a successful cattle raid against chief RaMonaheng's village. To commemorate the raid he composed another praise poem where he likened himself to "a razor which has shaved Ramonaheng's beard". Thereafter he became known as Moshoeshoe, meaning "the Shaver", after
408-521: A temporary British retreat from the area. Fearing that a second British assault would result in his military defeat, Moshoeshoe sued for peace attaining favorable terms and restoring amicable relations with the British. In 1853, Moshoeshoe grew tired of Sekonyela's raiding, deciding to decisively deal with the Batlokoa. In November 1853, the Basotho army defeated the Batlakoa and their Koranna allies at
459-571: A treaty was signed, which recognised Boer settlement in the area; however no boundaries were drawn between the area of Boer settlement and Moshoeshoe's kingdom. This dispute led to inevitable border clashes and a discernible boundary became necessary. The British , who controlled the area between the Orange and Vaal Rivers eventually proclaimed the Warden line (after Major Henry Douglas Warden ). This line divided territory between British territory and
510-553: A tributary of the Caledon River . Little is known about his childhood; however, he remained on good terms with his parents until their death. Around the age of six he began tending to the family's sheep and goats. Lepoqo had an older sister named MaTsouenyane as well as younger brothers named Makhabane and Posholi, and a younger sister named 'MaNtoetse. Mokhachane went on to marry over four other women and father other children. The Sotho people were keen pastoralists ; cattle played
561-638: The Bafokeng chief, Seephephe, who was chosen for him by his father. She became his senior wife assuming the name ’MaMohato with whom he had four sons and Letsie , Molapo, Masopha and Majara as well as a daughter named Mathe. Their relationship was described by visiting missionaries as deeply affectionate. ’MaMohato died in 1834 either due to complications during childbirth or due to a violent domestic argument stemming from an act of infidelity she had committed with one of Moshoeshoe's main councilors. Moshoeshoe practiced polygamy , he had 30 wives in 1833, with
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#1732780685269612-697: The Boers in the area, due to the Great Trek , was initially useful to the Great King Moshoeshoe, as they created a buffer between the Basotho and the Korana. The Boers crossed the Orange River from the Cape Colony in the mid-1820s. Although these settlers allegedly asked for this permission to settle there, they later claimed it - despite Moshoeshoe's view that he had lent it to them. In 1845
663-682: The Mfecane . Mfecane is a Zulu word and in the Sesotho language its called Difaqane, which means "the crushing" or "scattering". It describes a period of warfare and famine in southern Africa between 1815 and about 1840. In 1820, King Moshoeshoe became the king of the Basotho Nation, who had fallen under his centralized authority due to competition for resources, which was intensified by a drought. Morena e Moholo (the Great King), as he
714-560: The Paris Evangelical Missionary Society led by French missionaries Eugène Casalis and Thomas Arbousset [ fr ] began setting their outposts in Basotho lands following Moshoeshoe's invitation. They promoted a combination of Christianity, Western civilization, and commerce. They saw Basotho customs linked to obligatory labor and the dependence of the population on their chiefs as evil. They sought to undermine them by promoting private property,
765-488: The Qwa-Qwa region. King Moshoeshoe allowed the British, Boers and Nguni escapees to settle on his designated settlements with the notion of giving them land and food for survival. However whenever either of them attempted to claim his land without his authority then war would ensue, which would lead to the Basotho Nation claiming victories to protect their land and resources. King Moshoeshoe and some of his people retreated to
816-549: The onomatopoeic Sesotho word for the sound made by the razor shaving. As a young man Moshoeshoe continued to lead his band into cattle raids, becoming notable for his skill in seizing cattle. He was ambitious but also known for his short temper, once killing a follower for milking one of his cows without his approval. Moshoeshoe and his followers, mostly the Bakoena Bamokoteli, some Bafokeng from his maternal side and other relations as well as some clans including
867-545: The Amazizi, established his village at Butha-Buthe, where his settlement and reign coincided with the growth in power of the well-known Zulu King, Shaka and what is now known as the 'time of troubles' (previously known as ' Difaqane '). During the early 19th century Shaka raided many smaller chiefdoms along the eastern coast of Southern Africa (modern day Kwa-Zulu Natal ), incorporating parts of them into his steadily growing Zulu chiefdom. Various small clans were forced to flee
918-464: The Basotho Nation and the British, who were defeated by King Moshoeshoe at the battle of Viervoet in 1851. In 1851, King Moshoeshoe also offered Boer leader Andries Pretorius an alliance against the British in the sovereignty. To punish Basotho, British General Sir George Cathcart then brought troops to the Mohokane River, and King Moshoeshoe was ordered to pay a fine. When he did not pay
969-508: The Basotho caused a defeat in the two wars that followed, which lasted until 1868. In 1866, the two sides signed the Treaty of Thaba Bosiu , whereby Moshoeshoe ceded most of his kingdom's arable land to the Boers. Hostilities resumed soon afterwards and the Boers began employing a scorched earth policy, leading to starvation among the Basotho. Fearing that the destruction of the Basotho people
1020-491: The Basotho had stolen since September 1850. Negotiations fell through and Smith's replacement Major-General Sir George Cathcart was waiting for the hostilities with the Xhosa to wane before launching a punitive expedition against the Basotho. On 20 December 1852, a British expeditionary forced clashed with the Basotho in the Battle of Berea . A combination of poor British planning and determined Basotho resistance resulted in
1071-542: The Basotho managed to either capture or acquire horses and guns of their own, and began stockpiling gunpowder. By 1843, Moshoeshoe had accumulated more horses and guns than any other chieftain in South Africa. Nevertheless, most of the guns in Basotho possession were outdated flintlocks , which had flooded the South African market after the introduction of percussion lock muskets. In 1833, missionaries from
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#17327806852691122-545: The Basotho under Moshoeshoe, and stretched from Cornetspruit and the Orange River through Vechtkop to Jammerbergdrift on the Caledon. The Warden line caused much resentment, as the fertile Caledon River Valley served as a vital area in terms of agriculture for both the British and the Basotho. This border line was therefore not acceptable to the Great King Moshoeshoe, and hostility followed, which led to conflict between
1173-413: The Basotho were more to blame for the continuous inter tribal warfare in the region. Warden began delineating borders between the various tribes in the north-east frontier, ignoring Moshoeshoe's long standing claims to several territories in the process. Moshoeshoe believed that the British had failed to protect him against Batlakoa and Boer encroachment, while many of his subjects accused him of cowardice in
1224-566: The Boers suffered substantial losses, as they were unable to penetrate the Basotho mountain stronghold of Thaba Bosiu (also called Thaba Bosigo). This war is also known as the First Basotho War or the War of Senekal . During this war, the Boers destroyed many mission stations in the Basotho kingdom, as they blamed them for educating and instilling a sense of pride among the Basotho. These mission stations had been set up by missionaries from
1275-640: The Boers through the signing of the Sand River Convention. The Boers therefore claimed the land beyond the Caledon River, naming it the Republic of the Orange Free State . This began further conflict over land and undefined boundaries with the Basotho, who regarded themselves as the rightful owners, and who continued to use the land for grazing. In February 1858, tensions rose in the Orange Free State over land. The Boers and Basotho claimed
1326-757: The British and the Basotho. A series of similar ambiguously worded treaties with local African tribes effectively established the Orange River Sovereignty . In the north-east, the Basotho and their Taung allies regularly engaged in tit for tat cattle raids against their old enemies the Batlokoa of Kgosi Sekonyela and the Koranna of Gert Taaibosch. The British Resident in the Orange River Sovereignty Major Henry Douglas Warden believed that
1377-628: The Conquered Territory to the Orange Free State, and the boundary line was moved further south to Langeberg. No further armed conflict between the Free State and the Basotho took place after this. As a result, King Moshoeshoe was able to save his kingdom from being overrun by the Boers. He died in 1870, two years after the end of war, and was buried at the summit of Thaba Bosiu. Moshoeshoe I Moshoeshoe I ( / m ʊ ˈ ʃ w ɛ ʃ w ɛ / ) ( c. 1786 – 11 March 1870)
1428-461: The Natal administration and believing that the Cape Colony was not yet ready to absorb the new territory, Wodehouse disregarded those instructions. He blocked the supply of ammunition to the Free State and on 12 March 1868 proclaimed Basotho land to be a royal dominion. Moshoeshoe died on 11 March 1870 and was succeeded by his oldest son Letsie I . In 1810, Moshoeshoe married ’Mamabela, daughter of
1479-569: The Orange Free State launched the Second Basotho War known in Sesotho as the Seqiti War. The word "seqiti" refers to the sound made by the new cannon the Boers used to crush the Basotho strongholds, mainly in the present day Free State province . President Johannes Brand appointed Johan Fick as general to lead the Free State army. The Free State army then began to seize cattle and destroy crops, and two attempts were then made to storm Moshoeshoe's stronghold at Thaba Bosiu. Moshoeshoe
1530-479: The Paris Evangelical Society, who arrived at Thaba Bosiu in 1833. These missionaries were the first to write the Sesotho language and helped teach the Basotho people learn how to write the language. The Orange Free State forces had dissolved, and Boshoff was compelled to make overtures to Moshoeshoe for a suspension of hostilities. Moshoeshoe agreed unconditionally to mediation, for though he
1581-630: The Zulu chief. An era of great wars of calamity followed, known as the time of troubles/ Difaqane . It was marked by aggression against the Sotho people by the invading Nguni clans . The attacks also forced Moshoeshoe to move his settlement to the Qiloane plateau . The name was later changed to Thaba Bosiu or "mountain at night" because it was believed to grow during the night and shrink during day. It proved to be an impassable stronghold against enemies. By
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1632-595: The area north of the Caledon River, which includes present day Harrismith and the area further westwards. The wars resulted in the white settlers acquiring large tracts of land from Basotho, and the Basotho eventually accepting annexation as a part of the British Empire . In 1818, King Moshoeshoe I, who was the son of Mokhachane , chief of the Ba-Mokoteli branch of the Koena (Crocodile) clan, helped to gain power over small clans who had been displaced during
1683-504: The battle of Khoro-e-Betloa, subsequently seizing their stronghold of Jwalaboholo. The bulk of the Batlakoa either scattered or joined the Basotho. The British pulled out of the region in 1854, causing the formation of the Boer Orange Free State . In 1858, hostilities broke out between the Basotho and the Orange Free State. Initially achieving a victory in the first war, inferiority in both marksmanship and materiel of
1734-506: The border line, and further tensions mounted. The Orange Free State government began to raise an armed force, which was aggravated by the murder of two Whites in Ladybrand in June 1867. Brand demanded the handover of the murderers, but Moshoeshoe stated that he had not agreed to the frontier line of 1866, and therefore the events had not occurred on Orange Free State territory. In July 1867,
1785-500: The children produced from such encounters were considered to be his. Moshoeshoe Day is an annual national holiday in Lesotho celebrated on 11 March, the date of Moshoeshoe's death. Celebrations include the laying of wreaths on Moshoeshoe's grave at Thaba Bosiu by a delegation led by Lesotho's monarch, a celebratory parade and other entertainment activities. The Moshoeshoe I International Airport , Lesotho's only international airport
1836-675: The commodization of production and closer economic ties with European settlers. In 1843, Moshoeshoe signed a treaty with the governor of the British Cape Colony Sir George Napier , whereby the British recognized the Basuto as their allies. The Basotho were tasked with countering Boer incursions into the Cape during the course of the Great Trek , receiving an annual grant of 75 £ in money or ammunition. The Napier Treaty greatly increased Moshoeshoe's status as
1887-453: The face of British oppression. On 25 June 1851, Warden demanded that the Basuto restore cattle and horses to the victims of their past cattle raids. Warden had assembled a mixed force of British, Boer and African troops numbering approximately 2,500 men at Platberg. On 28 June, Warden moved his force against the Taung in an effort to seize stolen cattle. On 30 June, Warden's force was defeated by
1938-463: The fine in full, a battle broke out on the Berea Plateau in 1852, where the British suffered heavy losses due to the armed Basotho cavalry. This sealed the fate of the sovereignty of the Basotho government, even though Cathcart was initially in favour of withdrawal. In 1854, the cost of maintaining the sovereignty became too much for the British and they therefore handed over the territory to
1989-583: The frontier was not clear. However, hostilities re-surfaced, and President Brand believed that the OFS should use its military superiority against the Basotho. Moshoeshoe had also realized his precarious position, and had applied for British protection from Sir Philip Wodehouse , a new commissioner who had arrived in the Cape in 1861. The Warden Line had then been reaffirmed, and although the Basotho were given time to withdraw, attacks continued later nonetheless. In 1865,
2040-572: The latter part of the 19th century, Moshoeshoe established the nation of the Basotho , in Basutoland . He was popularly known as Morena e Moholo/morena oa Basotho (Great King/King of the Basotho). In the 1820s, the Basotho faced a number of cattle raids from the Koranna . It was during this time that they first encountered horses and guns in a combat setting. After a number of initial setbacks,
2091-622: The mountain fortress of Thaba Bosiu in 1824 whilst the rest of the Basotho Nation still settled in Free State province. In the late 1820s, a group of Korana (a group of Khoikhoi settlers) and Dutch-speaking people of mixed descent arrived in the vicinity of Moshoeshoe I's kingdom. As they were mounted on horseback and armed with guns, Moshoeshoe decided to arm his people and give them horses. As various training stations were established for Basotho Kingdom, they obtained advanced and intensive weapon training to prepare themselves against any war that might erupt. The arrival of white settlers known as
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2142-403: The number rising to 140 in 1865. The names of 17 of them have been traced. Polygamy allowed Moshoeshoe to both forge alliances with other chiefs and increase his wealth as his subjects were expected to cultivate his wives' field per Sotho custom. Despite the presence of his other wives, he considered himself a widower following ’MaMohato's death. Only the children from his first marriage constituted
2193-616: The recognition of the Basotho as British subjects. On 12 March 1868, the British parliament declared the Basotho Kingdom a British protectorate . The Orange Free State was forced to discontinue the war if it was not to raise trouble with the British Empire. In February 1869, the boundaries of present day Lesotho (previously Basutoland ) were then drawn up according to the Convention of Aliwal-North. This convention gave
2244-676: The royal line of descent. Apart from ’MaMohato, only ‘Maneko a second ranking wife wielded considerable influence in the household. Similarly to the principal wife second ranking wives were women of power, who had separate houses, herds of cattle, fields and servants. Their sons were expected to take important positions in the kingdom. Moshoeshoe's third ranking wives were assigned to the houses of more senior wives where they acted as servants. Unlike more senior wives they did not cohabit with their husband and their condition bordered on slavery. Foreign visitors and Moshoeshoe's subjects were allowed to have sexual relationships with his third ranking wives, yet
2295-465: The third war between the Orange Free State and the Basotho began. The Boer forces overran Moshoeshoe's land and conquered all the land except the impregnable fortress of Thaba Bosiu. The Orange Free State forces had achieved great military success, and Moshoeshoe was compelled to ask for British assistance. Basutoland was then annexed on 12 March 1868, after Wodehouse, by now Governor of the Cape Colony , received instructions to negotiate with Moshoeshoe for
2346-421: Was apparently master of the situation, he was wise enough to see that if he pushed his advantages too far he would bring a new enemy into the field. On 1 June an armistice was agreed upon and signed, under which all military operations on both sides were to be suspended. After this war an uneasy peace followed. Johannes Brand , who replaced Boshoff, took initiative and negotiated with Moshoeshoe, who objected that
2397-483: Was born under the name Lepoqo in the village of Menkhoaneng in the north of modern day Lesotho . The precise year of his birth remains unknown, estimates range from 1780 to 1794; 1786 being the most commonly agreed upon date. His name's literal translation is Dispute, originated from accusations of witchcraft which were levied on a man in Menkhoaneng around the time of his birth. He was the first son of Mokhachane,
2448-627: Was called by his Basotho Nation, owned larger areas of Free State and accommodated the different ethnic groups of the Nguni tribes that escaped Shaka's attacks during the Mfecane. He extended and strengthened his Basotho Nation by integrating these ethnic groups and named them a single Basotho Nation. He offered land, food, and protection to the Boers and Nguni tribes which led to the formation of Phuthaditjhaba ("meeting place of tribes" in Sesotho) in
2499-634: Was imminent, Moshoeshoe, his sons and local missionaries began appealing to British High Commissioner for Southern Africa Sir Philip Wodehouse and the Colony of Natal for protection. Although initially reluctant to intervene, the British were worried by the disruption in trade caused by the war and the possibility of Boer expansion to the Pondoland coast. In December 1867, the Colonial Office approved Basotholand's annexation by Natal. Distrusting
2550-569: Was the first king of Lesotho . He was the first son of Mokhachane , a minor chief of the Bamokoteli lineage, a branch of the Koena (crocodile) clan. In his youth, he helped his father gain power over some other smaller clans. At the age of 34 Moshoeshoe formed his own clan and became a chief. He and his followers settled at the Butha-Buthe Mountain. He became the first and longest-serving King of Lesotho in 1822. Moshoeshoe
2601-405: Was then compelled to accept the peace of Thaba Bosiu on 11 April 1866, due to the exhaustion of Basotho food supplies. Moshoeshoe's son Molapo had also allegedly concluded a separate peace treaty. Moshoeshoe then renewed entreaties for British protection after a short armistice. This was due to the fact that the Orange Free State government was late in allocating land, the Basotho slowly advanced over
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