Moshoeshoe I (or Moshesh I) (1785–1870)

Basuto chief and founder of Basutoland (modern Lesotho) in 1827. He created a nation-state possessing established frontiers, a single language, a unified army, and a central institution of government with its court, chieftancy, and pitso system (a general meeting of tribespeople). Basutoland became a British protectorate at his request in 1868.

He defeated the Zulu and other invaders and twice inflicted defeats on European commandos from the Orange Free State, in 1851 and 1852. In 1858 the Free State was again repulsed by Moshoeshoe; peace was eventually made but in 1866 war again broke out between Moshoeshoe and the Free State; Moshoeshoe was at length defeated, with the loss of the coveted land south of the Caledon River.