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The BaSotho

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Little is known about the Southern Sotho prior to late 1700s.  They are believed to have split from their northern cousins sometime in the 15th century, settling just west of the Drakensberg mountains near what is now Bloemfontein.  They lived a modest life in a relatively small area until the early 1800s when the mfecane swept through their lands.  

Moshoeshoe knew he would not be able to hold out forever, and by 1824 moved his people to another mountain stronghold to the southwest.  After staging a number of cattle raids on settlements in what is now the Eastern Cape Moshoeshoe found himself with a modest kingdom.  Secure in his mountain fortress, he could have weathered the mfecane storm and still maintained his kingdom.  Instead, he took great risks and showed uncanny diplomatic skill to earn the loyalty and respect of his followers.

For example, according to Sotho custom, all captured cattle belong to the King.  This includes cattle that was stolen from his subjects, and re-acquired in subsequent raids.  Moshoeshoe stopped this practice, returning stolen cattle to its proper owners and keeping only a nominal number for himself--a significant gesture in an economy where cattle are the main units of wealth.  He also opened his kingdom to the mfecane refugees, a practice unheard of in a time of rationing and sacrifice.  Families were granted land in exchange for loyalty to Moshoeshoe.  Furthermore, any chiefs who came to him were allowed to retain their authority if they pledged loyalty to Moshoeshoe.  He also introduced an innovative loan system to grant people cattle from the national herd.  He even made peace with the cannibal tribes living around him; granting them both land and cattle.

His success gained him enemies in the form of the Ngwane under Chief Matiwane.  A refugee from Shaka's rule, Matiwane unseated several Sotho clans to settle east of Moshoeshoe.  Matiwane expanded westward to the border of Moshoeshoe's kingdom by 1826.  Seeking to avoid war, Moshoeshoe paid tribute to Matiwane.  In 1828, seeking all Sotho land and cattle, Matiwane struck but was soundly defeated by Moshoeshoe's forces.  

The first missionaries came to him in 1833, and Moshoeshoe welcomed them with open arms.  He acutely saw the superiority of European arms and sought to align himself with them.  Through them, he was able to access horses, guns, and first-hand knowledge of European (British, in particular) culture.  The Boers arrived (on their "Great Trek") in 1835, and, again, he sought to avoid conflict.  He allowed them to pass through his land unmolested, and even granted grazing rights to some.

His benevolence could not prevent the inevitable.  After a number of clashes with the Boers, Moshoeshoe sought British protection, signing the Napier Treaty.  Among the provisions of this treaty was the annexation of a tract of land (now called the Orange River Sovereignty) that many Boers had settled.  The outraged Boers were suppressed in a brief skirmish in 1848, but remained bitter at both the British and the Sotho.

Meanwhile, a dispute between the Sotho and the Tlokoa threatened Moshoeshoe's northern border.  Cattle raids between the two groups grew in number and intensity.  In time, the Boers and another African society, the Rolong, would become entangled in the web.  After the Sotho expressed support for the Xhosa in their dispute with the British, the British retaliated by sending refugees from the Xhosa wars into Sotho lands.  

The situation erupted in 1851.  A British force was defeated by the Sotho army at Konoyana, touching off an embarrassing war for the British.  After repulsing another British attack in 1852, Moshoeshoe sent an appeal to the British commander that allowed him to save face.  Once again, diplomacy saved the Sotho empire.  After a final defeat of the Tloka in 1853, Moshoeshoe reigned supreme. 

Although he had ceded much territory, Moshoeshoe retained most of his kingdom and all of his culture.  The fact that he never suffered a major military defeat undoubtedly caused hesitation among the Boers and British, who satisfied themselves with what they had and left the Sotho to themselves.  It would be his last shrewd act.  Moshoeshoe (now in his 80s) knew that rivalries among his sons would threaten his empire and that the British presence would prevent the same.  His death in 1870 marked the end of the traditional era and the beginning of the modern colonial period.  Sotho resolve would be tested one last time in 1880.  The Sotho revolted against British attempts to disarm their army, causing such losses that the British eventually backed down.

Lesotho remained a British Protectorate until 1966 when it gained its independence.  King Moshoeshoe II was the new head of state of the constitutional monarchy of Lesotho.  Although Lesotho was unaffected by South Africa's repressive Apartheid system of government, King Moshoeshoe was very supportive of efforts to resist.  So supportive, in fact, that the South African government blockaded Lesotho for failing to release several dozen African National Congress activists.  A coup occurred soon thereafter (presumably instigated by South Africa) and Major General Lekhanya took control.  He was ousted in 1991, but armed opposition continued through the 1990s.

During this period, King Moshoeshoe II lived in exile and his son, Letsie III served as King.  Letsie stepped down when Moshoeshoe II returned from exile in 1995, only to retake the throne after Moshoeshoe II's death in 1996.  Another political crisis in 1998 required South African intervention, and the political instability continued.  Elections in 2002 brought hope, as the new government begins the task of healing past wounds and improving the quality of life for all Sotho.

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