Polity Basotho Kingdom

This article is about the specific polity Basotho Kingdom and therefore only includes events related to its territory and not to its possessions or colonies. If you are interested in the possession, this is the link to the article about the nation which includes all possessions as well as all the different incarnations of the nation.

If you are looking for the page with the statistics about this polity you can find it here: All Statistics

Moshoeshoe, a minor Basotho chief, welded together a number of scattered and broken clans and formed the Basotho nation which acknowledged him as king. It was the first form of modern-day Lesotho.

Establishment

  • January 1837: Meanwhile, a new power had arisen along the upper Orange and in the valley of the Caledon. Moshoeshoe, a minor Basotho chief, had welded together a number of scattered and broken clans which had sought refuge in that mountainous region after fleeing from Mzilikazi, and had formed the Basotho nation which acknowledged him as king.

Chronology

Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation

Disestablishment

  • January 1844: As Boer immigrants began to settle in Basotholand, king Moshoeshoe decided to seek support from the British at the Cape. A treaty was concluded in 1843 with Moshoeshoe, placing him under British protection.