Moshoeshoe i biography of michael

Napier, which included the annexation of a small Boer-occupied territory known as the Orange River Colony. The Boers opposed this move, but were defeated in The settlers bore resentment towards both the British administration and the Basotho. War broke out in The Basotho inflicted a humiliating defeat on the British army at Kononyana and repelled an attack the following year.

Moshoeshoe i biography of michael: Michael Mosoeu Moerane (20 September –

Moshoeshoe promptly sent envoys to the British commander and negotiated a peace treaty. After a victory over the Tlokwa inMoshoeshoe secured peace on his borders. Inthe British withdrew their troops from the region, effectively establishing two independent states: the Boer Orange Free State and the Sotho kingdom. Moshoeshoe defeated the Orange Free State in but lost much of his western plains in The final war in ended only after the British colonial administration and Moshoeshoe appealed to Queen Victoria, who agreed to make Basutoland a British protectorate.

In Moshoeshoe succeeded his father, Mokhacane, as the chief of the Bamokoteli. In he encouraged missionaries from the Paris Evangelical Missionary Society to come to his kingdom, and so brought the Basotho in contact with Christianity. Moshoeshoe himself is said to have converted to the faith at the end of his life. From he came into contact with the Voortrekkers who settled in what is today known as the Free State, and then reached several territorial agreements with the British, who had taken over possession of the Free State territory in Border disputes nevertheless led to battles between the Basotho and British forces in andboth of which were won by the Basotho.

In the Orange Free State declared itself an independent Boer republic and further conflict broke out. After a baSotho defeat inMoshoeshoe I sought outside intervention, agreeing to place himself under the protection of the British Queen. This secured the remnants of his country's long-term survival. BaSotholand became a British protectorate, but Moshoeshoe I still managed to preserve his kingdom.

Moshoeshoe I, warrior and statesman extraordinaire, died in and was buried at his stronghold Thaba Bosiu. In Februarythe 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 the Basotho had stolen since September 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.

Moshoeshoe i biography of michael: Ambassador Timothy Michael Carney

A combination of poor British planning and determined Basotho resistance resulted in 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 Novemberthe Basotho army defeated the Batlakoa and their Koranna allies at the battle of Khoro-e-Betloa, subsequently seizing their stronghold of Jwalaboholo.

The bulk of the Batlakoa either scattered or joined the Basotho. Inhostilities broke out between the Basotho and the Orange Free State.

Moshoeshoe i biography of michael: King Moshoeshoe I, founder of the

Initially achieving a victory in the first war, inferiority in both marksmanship and materiel of the Basotho caused a defeat in the two wars that followed, which lasted until 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 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. Distrusting 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 proclaimed Basotho land to be a royal dominion.

Their relationship was described by visiting missionaries as deeply affectionate. Moshoeshoe practiced polygamy ; he had 30 wives inwith the number rising to in 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.

Only the children from his first marriage constituted the royal line of descent. 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. 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.

Moshoeshoe i biography of michael: DM 36 (paperback). Michael Twaddle £

The Moshoeshoe I International AirportLesotho's only international airport is named in his honour. South African-made shweshwe fabric is named for King Moshoeshoe I who once received a gift of it and then popularized it throughout his realm. Contents move to sidebar hide.