26 Facts About Mmanthatisi

Mmanthatisi was the leader of the Tlokwa people during her son's minority from 1813 until 1824.

Mmanthatisi came to power as the regent for her son, Sekonyela, following the death of her husband Kgosi Mokotjo.

Mmanthatisi was known as a strong, brave and capable leader, both in times of peace and war.

Mmanthatisi was referred to by her followers as Mosesanyane because of her slender body.

Mmanthatisi was the daughter of Mothaha, a chief of the Basia tribe, and was born in what is South Africa's Free State province, in the area of the present-day town of Harrismith.

Mmanthatisi grew up near Ntswanatsatsi, the legendary home of humankind.

Mokotjo died in 1813, at the age of 27 and Mmanthatisi became regent for Sekonyela, who was too young to rule.

Mmanthatisi contracted a disease, died, and his body was sent back to Nkwe for burial.

Mmanthatisi continued relations with the Basia, conferring with Basia advisors and sending her son to be raised in her brother's, Basia home.

Sehalahala who's Mokotjo's half brother opposed Mmanthatisi's leadership and felt that she was a foreigner and the people wanted to be ruled by a "pure" Motlokwa.

When Sekonyela was old enough for circumcision, Mmanthatisi sent him to her own Basia people, removing him at the last minute from the BaTlokwa ceremony that she had forbidden him to attend in the first place.

Mmanthatisi's brother invited her to stay but she refused as some of her followers had planned to take the cattle of their hosts.

Mmanthatisi was afraid of losing the independence of her tribe, especially since the Mokgalong branch were the senior kingdom to her Batlokwa ba Mokotleng.

Mmanthatisi had reason to believe that Nkgahle had been involved in some treachery aimed at deposing her, and so she did not trust him.

Mmanthatisi was worried that Mpangazitha might follow their trails and come to finish them off and invade the people of her birth.

Mmanthatisi instead chose to lead her followers westwards and do what her people were known for, which was fight.

Mmanthatisi became so powerful that she had her name used by victims to describe their assailants.

Famous for her intelligence, one time when her soldiers were away, Mmanthatisi prevented an attack by gathering all the women together and forming them in ranks in front of the camp.

Since leaving Nkwe, Mmanthatisi had managed to defeat all opposition in the territories she had come across.

Mmanthatisi's victory run would end in the Battle of Dithakong when, on 23 June 1823, she suffered a massive defeat which was recorded by Robert Moffat in his diary near present-day Kuruman.

Mmanthatisi then decided to disengage her army and retreated with her hordes to the east.

Mmanthatisi was stopped from entering the Cape Colony by British Forces near Aliwal North.

In 1824 when Mmanthatisi felt that Sekonyela had reached maturity, she retired and Sekonyela effectively took over as the sole ruler of the Batlokwa social structures and military.

Mmanthatisi settled at the mountain strongholds of Marabeng, while her son and heir settled at another stronghold close by, at Jwala-Boholo.

Chieftainess Mmanthatisi was laid to rest on Jwala-Boholo in 1836.

Mmanthatisi was one of the best known, and most feared, women military and political leaders of the early 19th century.