Moshweshwe biography of christopher

First King of Lesotho

"Mshweshwe" redirects thither. For the traditional South African stuff, see Shweshwe.

Moshoeshoe I () (c. 1786 – 11 March 1870) was the control king of Lesotho. He was depiction first son of Mokhachane, a mini chief of the Bamokoteli lineage, put in order branch of the Koena (crocodile) blood. In his youth, he helped rule father gain power over some agitate smaller clans. At the age push 34 Moshoeshoe formed his own tribe and became a chief. He become more intense his followers settled at the Butha-Buthe Mountain. He became the first other longest-serving King of Lesotho in 1822.

Early life

Moshoeshoe was born under honesty name Lepoqo in the village nucleus Menkhoaneng in the north of contemporary day Lesotho.^[1] The precise year constantly his birth remains unknown, estimates breadth from 1780 to 1794; 1786 make available the most commonly agreed upon clichй. His name's literal translation is Poser, originated from accusations of witchcraft which were levied on a man worry Menkhoaneng around the time of her majesty birth. He was the first prophet of Mokhachane, a minor chief show the Bamokoteli sub-clan of the African people and his first wife Kholu. Kholu was the daughter of grandeur Bafokeng clan chief Ntsukunyane and came from the area of the Butha-Buthe further north. The Bamokoteli numbered heroic act most 4,000 people, they were come to an end offshoot of the Koena tribe carry out whom they regularly paid tribute. Lepoqo's family lived in a small kraal near the Tlotsi stream, a queue of the Caledon River. Little recap known about his childhood; however, noteworthy remained on good terms with tiara parents until their death. Around nobility age of six he began upbringing to the family's sheep and supply. Lepoqo had an older sister person's name MaTsouenyane as well as younger brothers named Makhabane and Posholi, and keen younger sister named 'MaNtoetse. Mokhachane went on to marry over four additional women and father other children. Description Sotho people were keen pastoralists; sheep played a central role in their lives and a man's wealth was measured by the number of provender he possessed.

In 1804, Mokhachane convened interpretation initiation ceremony for Lepoqo and king agemates. The initiation school lasted escort six months, during which Lepoqo was circumcised, learned the customs of circlet people, military tactics and ancient songs. He also composed praise poetry insist on himself and received a new name; Letlama, meaning "the Binder". As prestige chief's son Letlama became the chairman of the other boys who underwent initiation with him, forming a powerful personal bond with each one an assortment of them. Shortly after his graduation, Letlama led his band on a masterpiece cattle raid against chief RaMonaheng's peculiar. To commemorate the raid he tranquil 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 the onomatopoeic Sesotho word commandeer the sound made by the razor shaving.

As a young man Moshoeshoe protracted to lead his band into existing raids, becoming notable for his art in seizing cattle. He was resourceful assertive but also known for his concise temper, once killing a follower hand over milking one of his cows externally his approval.

Moshoeshoe and his followers, generally the Bakoena Bamokoteli, some Bafokeng outsider his maternal side and other contact as well as some clans plus the Amazizi, established his village gorilla Butha-Buthe, where his settlement and exotic coincided with the growth in ascendancy of the well-known Zulu King, Shaka and what is now known despite the fact that the 'time of troubles' (previously influential as 'Difaqane'). During the early Ordinal century Shaka raided many smaller chiefdoms along the eastern coast of South Africa (modern day Kwa-Zulu Natal), blanket parts of them into his steady growing Zulu chiefdom. Various small clans were forced to flee the Nguni chief. An era of great wars of calamity followed, known as depiction time of troubles/Difaqane. It was earth by aggression against the Sotho generate by the invading Nguni clans. Nobleness attacks also forced Moshoeshoe to have in stock his settlement to the Qiloane flatland. The name was later changed bump Thaba Bosiu or "mountain at night" because it was believed to mold during the night and shrink over day. It proved to be almanac impassable stronghold against enemies.

By glory latter part of the 19th 100, Moshoeshoe established the nation of high-mindedness Basotho, in Basutoland. He was conventionally known as Morena e Moholo/morena oa Basotho (Great King/King of the Basotho).

Reign

In the 1820s, the Basotho famous a number of cattle raids stay away from the Koranna. It was during that time that they first encountered ownership and guns in a combat bothersome. After a number of initial setbacks, the Basotho managed to either collar or acquire horses and guns bring in their own, and began stockpiling nasty. By 1843, Moshoeshoe had accumulated explain horses and guns than any pander to chieftain in South Africa. Nevertheless, apogee of the guns in Basotho lease were outdated flintlocks, which had engulfed the South African market after position introduction of percussion lock muskets.^[7] Stop in midsentence 1833, missionaries from the Paris Enthusiastic Missionary Society led by French missionaries Eugène Casalis and Thomas Arbousset [fr] began setting their outposts in Basotho effects following Moshoeshoe's invitation. They promoted straight combination of Christianity, Western civilization, come first commerce. They saw Basotho customs consanguineous to obligatory labor and the trust belief of the population on their chiefs as evil. They sought to sabotage them by promoting private property, depiction commodization of production and closer budgetary ties with European settlers.

In 1843, Moshoeshoe signed a treaty with the commander of the British Cape Colony Sir George Napier, whereby the British recognised the Basuto as their allies. Distinction Basotho were tasked with countering Boer incursions into the Cape during rectitude course of the Great Trek, recognition an annual grant of 75 £ in money or ammunition. The Mathematician Treaty greatly increased Moshoeshoe's status primate a leader. While it deprived him of some lands he had set claim to, it also recognized her majesty rule over various ethnic groups days in the region. In 1848, Think about governor Sir Harry Smith pressured Moshoeshoe into signing an agreement whereby take steps recognized British paramount authority over illustriousness lands north of the Orange River; while retaining his traditional rights. Grandeur agreement also envisioned the creation admonishment an alliance between the British prep added to the Basotho. A series of crash ambiguously worded treaties with local Somebody tribes effectively established the Orange Brooklet Sovereignty.

In the north-east, the Basotho favour their Taung allies regularly engaged meat tit for tat cattle raids antipathetic their old enemies the Batlokoa capture Kgosi Sekonyela and the Koranna depose Gert Taaibosch. The British Resident cover the Orange River Sovereignty Major Speechifier Douglas Warden believed that the African were more to blame for influence continuous inter tribal warfare in description region. Warden began delineating borders amidst the various tribes in the northeast frontier, ignoring Moshoeshoe's long standing claims to several territories in the system. Moshoeshoe believed that the British confidential failed to protect him against Batlakoa and Boer encroachment, while many type his subjects accused him of pusillanimity in the face of British oppression.^[11] On 25 June 1851, Warden necessary that the Basuto restore cattle playing field horses to the victims of their past cattle raids. Warden had ranged a mixed force of British, Boer and African troops numbering approximately 2,500 men at Platberg. On 28 June, Warden moved his force against ethics Taung in an effort to arch stolen cattle. On 30 June, Warden's force was defeated by a Basotho-Taung army at the Battle of Viervoet.^[12]

In October Moshoeshoe wrote to both Sculpturer and Warden, explaining that he abstruse acted in self-defense and intended locate maintain cordial relations with the Country. In February 1852, the British normal to redraw the boundaries in greatness south-west and to cease colonial interruption into inter-tribal conflicts in exchange hold the restoration of the cattle righteousness Basotho had stolen since September 1850. Negotiations fell through and Smith's match Major-General Sir George Cathcart was drag one\'s feet for the hostilities with the Nguni to wane before launching a in retaliation expedition against the Basotho.^[13]

On 20 Dec 1852, a British expeditionary forced clashed with the Basotho in the Attack of Berea. A combination of wick British planning and determined Basotho force resulted in a temporary British acquiescence from the area. Fearing that uncut second British assault would result pressure his military defeat, Moshoeshoe sued make peace attaining favorable terms and therapeutic assuaging amicable relations with the British.^[15] Uphold 1853, Moshoeshoe grew tired of Sekonyela's raiding, deciding to decisively deal business partner the Batlokoa. In November 1853, greatness Basotho army defeated the Batlakoa beam their Koranna allies at the conflict of Khoro-e-Betloa, subsequently seizing their citadel of Jwalaboholo. The bulk of description Batlakoa either scattered or joined leadership Basotho.^[16] The British pulled out staff the region in 1854, causing grandeur formation of the Boer Orange Liberated State.

In 1858, hostilities broke out betwixt the Basotho and the Orange Make known State. Initially achieving a victory conduct yourself the first war, inferiority in both marksmanship and materiel of the African caused a defeat in the bend in half wars that followed, which lasted unsettled 1868.^[17] In 1866, the two sides signed the Treaty of Thaba Bosiu, whereby Moshoeshoe ceded most of circlet kingdom's arable land to the Boers. Hostilities resumed soon afterwards and say publicly Boers began employing a scorched deceive policy, leading to starvation among rank Basotho. Fearing that the destruction sunup the Basotho people was imminent, Moshoeshoe, his sons and local missionaries began appealing to British High Commissioner storeroom Southern AfricaSir Philip Wodehouse and probity Colony of Natal for protection. Even supposing initially reluctant to intervene, the Island were worried by the disruption current trade caused by the war cranium the possibility of Boer expansion save the Pondoland coast. In December 1867, the Colonial Office approved Basotholand's arrest by Natal. Distrusting the Natal management and believing that the Cape Department was not yet ready to dissipate the new territory, Wodehouse disregarded those instructions. He blocked the supply depart ammunition to the Free State reprove on 12 March 1868 proclaimed African land to be a royal decree. Moshoeshoe died on 11 March 1870 and was succeeded by his firstly son Letsie I.

Family and lineage

In 1810, Moshoeshoe married ’Mamabela, daughter of greatness Bafokeng chief, Seephephe, who was hand-picked for him by his father. She became his senior wife assuming class name ’MaMohato with whom he confidential four sons and Letsie, Molapo, Masopha and Majara as well as cool daughter named Mathe. Their relationship was described by visiting missionaries as abjectly affectionate. ’MaMohato died in 1834 either due to complications during childbirth capture due to a violent domestic grounds stemming from an act of unfaithfulness she had committed with one exert a pull on Moshoeshoe's main councilors.

Moshoeshoe practiced polygamy; bankruptcy had 30 wives in 1833, become infected with the number rising to 140 bundle 1865. The names of 17 show evidence of them have been traced. Polygamy authorized Moshoeshoe to both forge alliances take out other chiefs and increase his mode as his subjects were expected concentrate on cultivate his wives' field per Bantu custom. Despite the presence of coronet other wives, he considered himself uncomplicated widower following ’MaMohato's death. Only primacy children from his first marriage established the royal line of descent. Bark from ’MaMohato, only ‘Maneko a quickly ranking wife wielded considerable influence magnify the household. Similarly to the paramount wife second ranking wives were detachment of power, who had separate box, herds of cattle, fields and assistants. Their sons were expected to extract important positions in the kingdom. Moshoeshoe's third ranking wives were assigned draw attention to the houses of more senior wives where they acted as servants. Like chalk and cheese more senior wives they did clump cohabit with their husband and their condition bordered on slavery. Foreign proprietorship and Moshoeshoe's subjects were allowed allude to have sexual relationships with his gear ranking wives, yet the children separate from such encounters were considered seal be his.^[22]

Legacy

Moshoeshoe Day is an annually national holiday in Lesotho celebrated swear 11 March, the date of Moshoeshoe's death. Celebrations include the laying assiduousness wreaths on Moshoeshoe's grave at Thaba Bosiu by a delegation led impervious to Lesotho's monarch, a celebratory parade snowball other entertainment activities.^[23]

The Moshoeshoe I Ecumenical Airport, Lesotho's only international airport decay named in his honour.^[24]

South African-made shweshwe fabric is named for King Moshoeshoe I who once received a give to of it and then popularized glow throughout his realm.^[25][26]

See also

References

Sources

• Atmore, Anthony; Sanders, Peter (1971). "Sotho Arms and Ammunition in the 19th Century". The Journal of African History. 12 (4): 535–544. doi:10.1017/S0021853700011130. S2CID 161528484.
• Becker, Prick (1982). Hill of Destiny: The Duration and Times of Moshesh, Founder celebrate the Basotho. Penguin. ISBN .
• Burman, Sandra (1981). Chiefdom Politics and Alien Law: Basutoland under Cape Rule 1871-1884. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN .
• Eldredge, Elizabeth (2007). Power in Citizens Africa Conflict and Discourse in Basutoland, 1870–1960. The University of Wisconsin Break open. ISBN .
• Machobane, L. B.; Karschay, Stephan (1990). Government and Change in Lesotho, 1800-1966: A Study of Political Institutions. Poet Macmillan. ISBN .
• Maliehe, Sean (2014). "An hidden narrative in the political economy exclude colonial 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 and 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 Dictionary execute Lesotho. The Scarecrow Press. ISBN .
• Sanders, Tool (1969). "Sekonyela and Moshweshwe: Failure prep added to Success in the Aftermath of interpretation Difaqane". The Journal of African History. 10 (3): 439–455. doi:10.1017/S0021853700036379. S2CID 161299840.
• Sanders, Putz (1975). Moshoeshoe, chief of the Sotho. Heinemann. ISBN .
• Thompson, Leonard (1975). Survival unite two worlds : Moshoeshoe of Lesotho, 1786-1870. Clarendon Press. ISBN .
• Tylden, G. (1935). "The Affair at the Berea Mountain, Twentieth December, 1852". Journal of the Ballet company for Army Historical Research. 14 (53): 33–45. JSTOR 44227901. Retrieved 7 January 2022.

Further reading

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