homehomepolitics & governance
A-Z Biographies
Politics and Labour

Politics & Labour

Expanding the Narrative of South African art
Visual Arts

Visual Arts

Architects, fine-artists, photographers, sculptors etc.

Science & Medicine

Notable theorists, scientists & doctors
Community & Religious Leaders

Community & Religious Leaders

                    
Writers & Thinkers

Writers & Thinkers

South Africa's great literary & philosophical minds
Popular Culture

Popular Culture

celebrities, sports stars, musicians, etc
Related

An age of Hope

Landmarks in a century of struggle (1900s)

Turning points

great overview of South Africa's history

Organisations

Political, Civic & International

more

This day in history
What happened on your birthday many years ago?
Latest feature
The three Basotho Wars

The conflict between the Basotho people and White settlers in what is now the Free State/ Lesotho area, consisted of three wars (1858- 68). The purpose of these three wars was the maintenance of territorial rights in the area between the Caledon and Orange Rivers; from present day Wepener to Zastron, and the area north of the Caledon River, which includes present day Harrismith and the area further westwards.

The Basotho wars were preceded by the mass migration of several Nguni groups. This migration occurred during the reign of the Zulu King Shaka, who conquered several Nguni groups, which were absorbed into the Zulu kingdom. Other Nguni tribes fled and settled in other areas during this time- which is known as the Mfecane period.

In 1818, King Moshoeshoe, who was the son of the chief of the Bakotela branch of the Koena/Kwena (Crocodile) clan, helped to gain power over smaller fugitive and displaced clans. In 1820, Moshoeshoe became chief of a larger unit of Southern Sotho groups, who had fallen under his centralized authority due to competition for resources, which was intensified by a drought.

This competition for resources caused these larger groups to seek protection from other marauding groups, and Moshoeshoe and his people retreated to the mountain fortress of Thaba Bosiu in 1824. Moshoeshoe gave assistance to his defeated enemies by giving them land, which led to the establishment of the Basotho nation ... visit feature