Moletsane le Moshoeshoe

 previously: Early years of Moletsane.

In 1837 Molestane was at Thaba Bosiu to offer himself to Moshoeshoe as a vassal. Moshoeshoe had other ideas for Moletsane instead of a vassal, it was a partnership. An alliance with Moletsane could help in weakening attacks from other parties. Moshoeshoe sent Moletsane to settle at Mekuatleng  which was in the midst of his enemies : Moroka at Thaba Nchu; Peter Davids at Dishuane; Carolus Baatje at New Platberg and Gert Taaibosch at Merumetsu. As soon as it was known that he was settled at Mekuatleng many of the scattered and surviving Bataung returned to rejoin him.  Moletsane was again strong enough to stand against any attack.  Moshoeshoe also helped by encouraging other Bataung pockets to join Moletsane at Mekuatleng. In the long run Moletsane appeared to be the only chief of the Bataung communities.

In June 1851 what was then becoming the Orange Free State, went for Moletsane. The battle of Viervoet were Moletsane, Letsie, Molapo, Mopedi crushed Warden and Donovan's forces. On several occasions Bataung had to suffer for being an ally of Moshoeshoe, Baatje attacked Moletsane, captured many cattle and horses. To help restore the stock of Bataung Moshoeshoe sent his son Masupha to sack Moroka of Barolong, the stolen cattle was given to Moletsane as compensation for what Baatje did to him. Moseme and Moletsane were in further conflicts with Moroka.

In December 1852, the battle of Berea Cathcart entered Moshoeshoe's Kingdom joined by Batlokwa of Sekonyela. About six hundred armed men on horseback intercepted Cathcart's forces, Moletsane and Moorosi of Baphuthi joined with Moshoeshoe warriors. The British were beaten by the confederation of  clans allied to Moshoeshoe.  Moletsane and Moshoeshoe became more and more close to each other and continued to assist each other in various ways including exchanging of gifts for the general improvement of their subjects.

Both Moshoeshoe and Moletsane suffered a great deal by the events of the 1867-68 war.  On the 12th February 1869 the long awaited Second Treaty of Aliwal North was held. Moshoeshoe regained no piece of land that he had lost during the war. Moletsane failed to retain Mekuatleng. Moletsane had to leave Mekuatleng as he could not bear to be under the Orange Free State government, so Thabana Morena became the new home of the Bataung.

Moletsane was baptized in 1871 earning him the name Abraham, Moletsane was a polygamist and had about thirty three wives. Moletsane lived until 2nd October 1885 when he died being about a hundred years old and was buried at Thabana Morena.

KgosiKgolo ya Bataung Moletsane also participated in the Basotho Gun Wars of 1880-1881.

Video: Moletsane