20 Facts About Moshoeshoe I

Moshoeshoe I was the first son of Mokhachane, a minor chief of the Bamokoteli lineage, a branch of the Koena clan.

In 1820, at the age of 34, Moshoeshoe succeeded his father as the Bamokoteli chief and formed his own clan.

Moshoeshoe I became the first and longest-serving King of Lesotho in 1822.

Moshoeshoe I was born under the name Lepoqo in the village of Menkhoaneng in the north of modern day Lesotho.

Moshoeshoe I was the first son of Mokhachane, a minor chief of the Bamokoteli sub-clan of the Basotho people and his first wife Kholu.

Moshoeshoe I composed praise poetry about himself and received a new name; Letlama, meaning "the Binder".

Thereafter he became known as Moshoeshoe I, meaning "the Shaver", after the onomatopoeic Sesotho word for the sound made by the razor shaving.

Moshoeshoe I was ambitious but known for his short temper, once killing a follower for milking one of his cows without his approval.

The attacks forced Moshoeshoe I to move his settlement to the Qiloane plateau.

In 1843, Moshoeshoe I signed a treaty with the governor of the British Cape Colony Sir George Napier, whereby the British recognized the Basuto as their allies.

Warden began delineating borders between the various tribes in the north-east frontier, ignoring Moshoeshoe I's long standing claims to several territories in the process.

Moshoeshoe I believed that the British had failed to protect him against Batlakoa and Boer encroachment, while many of his subjects accused him of cowardice in the face of British oppression.

In 1853, Moshoeshoe I grew tired of Sekonyela's raiding, deciding to decisively deal with the Batlokoa.

In 1866, the two sides signed the Treaty of Thaba Bosiu, whereby Moshoeshoe I ceded most of his kingdom's arable land to the Boers.

Moshoeshoe I blocked the supply of ammunition to the Free State and on 12 March 1868 proclaimed Basotho land to be a royal dominion.

In 1810, Moshoeshoe I married 'Mamabela, daughter of the Bafokeng chief, Seephephe, who was chosen for him by his father.

Moshoeshoe I became his senior wife assuming the name 'MaMohato with whom he had four sons and Letsie, Molapo, Masopha and Majara as well as a daughter named Mathe.

Moshoeshoe I practiced polygamy; he had 30 wives in 1833, with the number rising to 140 in 1865.

Moshoeshoe I's third ranking wives were assigned to the houses of more senior wives where they acted as servants.

Moshoeshoe I would be brought up in the 1993 Pinky and the Brain Animaniacs episode Win Big.