The origins of Lesotho (formerly Basutoland), dates back to the 1800s when Moshoeshoe I (1786-1870) founded the Basotho nation. In 1818, Moshoeshoe I consolidated various Basotho groupings and became their King. He subsequently also welcomed other tribes fleeing the wars in the region, who came to seek refuge, and gave them protection. This great king and statesman will always be remembered for his leadership, diplomacy, conflict resolution and a remarkable visionary commitment to creating a new nation from a fragmented society.

In those early days, the Basotho nation had to contend with incursions by ‘Boers’ (Dutch settlers), with whom there were often disputes over cattle and the ownership of land. Moshoeshoe I decided to forge a closer alliance with the British authorities in the Cape to help control the spread of white settlers. However, war was inevitable and indeed it broke out in 1858 when the Free State declared war on the Basotho and again in the mid-1860s under President Brand. The war was stopped through the intervention of the British, who extended its protective sovereignty over what was left of Basutoland in 1868.

King Moshoeshoe I died in 1870 and was buried on the summit of Thaba-Bosiu, which has since become the burial place of all principal chiefs and kings. His grave, without the slightest hint of grandeur, is marked by a pile of rocks with a simple slab as his tombstone with only his name on it.

In 1871, the year following Moshoeshoe’s death, Basutoland was placed under the rule of the Cape Colony but poor relations with Basotho charges led into war in 1880. In 1884 Basutoland once again came under the direct control of Britain until 1966 when it attained its independence. The then Prince Bereng Seeiso was sworn in as His Majesty King Moshoeshoe II, the first constitutional monarch of the Kingdom of Lesotho. King Moshoeshoe II died in a car accident in 1996 and was succeeded by his son Prince Mohato Seeiso who was sworn in as King Letsie III on 7 February 1996.