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Moshoeshoe II (2 May 1938 – 15 January 1996), previously known as Constantine Bereng Seeiso, was the Paramount Chief of Basutoland, succeeding paramount chief Seeiso from 1960 until the country gained full independence from Britain in 1966. He was King of Lesotho from 1966 until his exile in 1990, and from 1995 until his death in 1996.
Moshoeshoe was born with the name Constantine Bereng Seeiso and was the descendant of the founder of the nation, Moshoeshoe, which is where he got his royal name.[3] The young Seeiso was educated at the Roma College in Lesotho, then (apparently fleeing rumours that his stepfather planned to poison him) was sent to England, first to Ampleforth College and later to Corpus Christi College, Oxford.[4] While there, he took to the life of an English country gentleman, including hunting, shooting, and fishing.[4]
Reignedit
Moshoeshoe's political power was always limited, and his reign was interrupted twice. Early in his reign, Chief Leabua Jonathan became Prime Minister of Lesotho and gained control of the government. Jonathan suspended Moshoeshoe in 1970 to reestablish his control in the country after his party lost the election. Moshoeshoe went into temporary exile in the Netherlands. A few months later, when he gained control, Jonathan allowed Moshoeshoe to reassume the title of King. Jonathan was himself overthrown in 1986 and the King gained some power, but he was deposed in 1990, while his son Letsie III was forced to take his place as King. Moshoeshoe went to exile in the United Kingdom, but was restored to the throne in 1995. In 1996, he was killed in a car accident, and Letsie became King again a month later.
During the political turmoil of 1970 and 1990, and for a month after his death in 1996, his wife and Letsie's mother, 'Mamohato, acted as regent.
Summary of reign
1960–1966: Paramount Chief Constantine Bereng Seeiso of Basutoland.[4]
1966: crowned as King Moshoeshoe II of Lesotho.[4]
King Moshoeshoe II died at the age of 57 in a road accident, when his car plunged off a mountain road during the early hours of 15 January 1996. The accident also killed the car's driver.[5] According to a government statement, Moshoeshoe had set out at 1 am to visit his cattle at Matsieng, and was returning to Maseru through the Maloti Mountains when his car left the road.[5]
Familyedit
Moshoeshoe married Princess Tabitha 'Masentle Lerotholi Mojela (later known as Queen 'Mamohato of Lesotho) in 1962, and with her had two sons and one daughter:[4]
Prince David Mohato Bereng Seeiso, subsequently King Letsie III of Lesotho (born 17 July 1963).
^"Geoff's Peerless Travels". Geoff's Peerless Travels. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
^Soszynski, Henry. . members.iinet.net.au. Archived from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
^Nduta Waweru. "The complicated life of Lesotho’s Moshoeshoe II who was dethroned and exiled twice by his people", (January 15, 2019).
^ abcdefghijkObituary: King Moshoeshoe II of Lesotho by Benjamin Pogrund in The Independent, 16 January 1996 (accessed 3 November 2007)
^ abKing of Tiny Land Circled by South Africa Dies in Car Plunge, by Donald G. McNeil Jr. in The New York Times, 16 January 1996 (accessed 3 November 2007)
^ abcd"Kingdom of Lesotho". Retrieved 8 March 2018.
^South African Government Information 4 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine
^. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
January 01, 1970
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This article relies largely or entirely on a single source Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources Find sources Moshoeshoe II of Lesotho news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2016 Moshoeshoe II 2 May 1938 15 January 1996 previously known as Constantine Bereng Seeiso was the Paramount Chief of Basutoland succeeding paramount chief Seeiso from 1960 until the country gained full independence from Britain in 1966 He was King of Lesotho from 1966 until his exile in 1990 and from 1995 until his death in 1996 Moshoeshoe IIKing Moshoeshoe II in 1970King of LesothoFirst reign4 October 1966 12 November 1990PredecessorHimself as Paramount Chief of BasutolandSuccessorLetsie IIISecond reign25 January 1995 15 January 1996PredecessorLetsie IIISuccessorLetsie IIIBorn 1938 05 02 2 May 1938Morija Basotholand now Lesotho Died15 January 1996 1996 01 15 aged 57 Maloti Mountains LesothoBurialThaba Bosiu 1 SpouseTabitha Masentle Lerotholi MojelaIssueDetailLetsie IIIPrince Seeiso Bereng SeeisoPrincess Constance Christina MaseeisoNamesConstantine Bereng SeeisoHouseMoshoeshoeFatherSimon Seeiso GriffithMother Mabereng 2 ReligionChristian Contents 1 Early life 2 Reign 3 Death 4 Family 5 Honours 5 1 Grand Master of the following orders 5 2 Foreign honours 6 ReferencesEarly life editThis section relies largely or entirely upon a single source Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources at this section January 2016 Learn how and when to remove this message Moshoeshoe was born with the name Constantine Bereng Seeiso and was the descendant of the founder of the nation Moshoeshoe which is where he got his royal name 3 The young Seeiso was educated at the Roma College in Lesotho then apparently fleeing rumours that his stepfather planned to poison him was sent to England first to Ampleforth College and later to Corpus Christi College Oxford 4 While there he took to the life of an English country gentleman including hunting shooting and fishing 4 Reign edit nbsp Silver coin 50 Licente of Lesotho portrait of King Moshoeshoe II cast in 1966 Moshoeshoe s political power was always limited and his reign was interrupted twice Early in his reign Chief Leabua Jonathan became Prime Minister of Lesotho and gained control of the government Jonathan suspended Moshoeshoe in 1970 to reestablish his control in the country after his party lost the election Moshoeshoe went into temporary exile in the Netherlands A few months later when he gained control Jonathan allowed Moshoeshoe to reassume the title of King Jonathan was himself overthrown in 1986 and the King gained some power but he was deposed in 1990 while his son Letsie III was forced to take his place as King Moshoeshoe went to exile in the United Kingdom but was restored to the throne in 1995 In 1996 he was killed in a car accident and Letsie became King again a month later During the political turmoil of 1970 and 1990 and for a month after his death in 1996 his wife and Letsie s mother Mamohato acted as regent Summary of reign 1960 1966 Paramount Chief Constantine Bereng Seeiso of Basutoland 4 1966 crowned as King Moshoeshoe II of Lesotho 4 1970 exiled from Lesotho 4 February 1990 stripped of constitutional powers 4 November 1990 deposed his son Letsie III becomes king 4 1990 1992 in exile in the UK 4 January 1995 reinstated as King 4 January 1996 died succeeded by Letsie III 4 Death edit nbsp Moshoeshoe II in 1988 King Moshoeshoe II died at the age of 57 in a road accident when his car plunged off a mountain road during the early hours of 15 January 1996 The accident also killed the car s driver 5 According to a government statement Moshoeshoe had set out at 1 am to visit his cattle at Matsieng and was returning to Maseru through the Maloti Mountains when his car left the road 5 Family editMoshoeshoe married Princess Tabitha Masentle Lerotholi Mojela later known as Queen Mamohato of Lesotho in 1962 and with her had two sons and one daughter 4 Prince David Mohato Bereng Seeiso subsequently King Letsie III of Lesotho born 17 July 1963 Prince Seeiso Bereng Seeiso of Lesotho born 16 April 1966 Princess Constance Christina Maseeiso 24 December 1969 7 September 1994 Honours editGrand Master of the following orders edit nbsp Lesotho Grand Master of the Most Dignified Order of Moshoeshoe 6 nbsp Lesotho Grand Master of the Most Courteous Order of Lesotho 6 nbsp Lesotho Grand Master of the Most Meritorious Order of Mohlomi 6 nbsp Lesotho Grand Master of the Most Loyal Order of Ramatseatsane 6 Foreign honours edit nbsp South Africa Supreme Companion of the Order of the Companions of O R Tambo posthumous 20 April 2006 7 nbsp Iran Commemorative Medal of the 2500th Anniversary of the founding of the Persian Empire 14 October 1971 8 9 Moshoeshoe II of LesothoHouse of MoshoeshoeBorn May 2 1938 Died January 15 1996 Regnal titles Preceded byHimselfas Paramount Chief of Basutoland King of Lesotho1966 1970 Succeeded byNone Preceded byNone King of Lesotho1970 1990 Succeeded byLetsie III Preceded byLetsie III King of Lesotho1995 1996References edit Geoff s Peerless Travels Geoff s Peerless Travels Retrieved 8 March 2018 Soszynski Henry LESOTHO members iinet net au Archived from the original on 30 June 2017 Retrieved 8 March 2018 Nduta Waweru The complicated life of Lesotho s Moshoeshoe II who was dethroned and exiled twice by his people January 15 2019 a b c d e f g h i j k Obituary King Moshoeshoe II of Lesotho by Benjamin Pogrund in The Independent 16 January 1996 accessed 3 November 2007 a b King of Tiny Land Circled by South Africa Dies in Car Plunge by Donald G McNeil Jr in The New York Times 16 January 1996 accessed 3 November 2007 a b c d Kingdom of Lesotho Retrieved 8 March 2018 South African Government Information Archived 4 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine Badraie Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Badraie Archived from the original on 6 March 2016 Retrieved 22 February 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Moshoeshoe II of Lesotho amp oldid 1219511415, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,