Thaba Bosiu

Thaba Bosiu or Thaba Bosigo is a sandstone plateau with an area of approximately 2 km² and a height of 1,804 meters above sea level. It is located between the Orange and Caledon Rivers in the Maseru District of Lesotho, 24 km east of the country's capital Maseru. "Thaba Bosiu"; Encyclopædia Britannica 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Library Edition. 7 Apr. 2008 [http://library.eb.co.uk/eb/article-9071894] . ]

In the early 19th century, the Basotho chief Moshoeshoe I established a stronghold on the plateau to act as a refuge for his people during a war with the Ndebele people. [cite book| title=The History of South Africa| author=Roger B. Beck| publisher=Greenwood Press| year=2000| pages=p. 63| isbn=0-313-30730-X] At an elevation of nearly 120 metres above the surrounding area, the plateau formed a natural fortress to gather the Basotho people in times of danger. The plateau's large area meant it could hold enough livestock and provisions to support the people during a lengthy siege. [cite book| title=African Cities and Towns before the European Conquest| author=Richard W. Hull| publisher=Norton| year=1976| pages=p. 23| isbn=039309166X] The word "Thaba" means mountain in the Sesotho language and "Bosiu" means 'at night'. The name "mountain of the night" echoed the local belief that the mountain grew during the night and shrunk during day, leaving enemies who tried scaling it during the night still stranded on the cliffs and vulnerable for attack next morning.cite journal| title=Lesotho: Africa's Best Kept Secret| author=Baffour Ankomah, Khalid Bazid| journal=New African| issue=May 2003]

Thaba Bosiu also acted as Moshoeshoe's headquarters during the various Basuto Wars. During the first Free State-Basotho War against the Orange Free State in 1858, the Free State's commandoes tried assaulting the stronghold, but met with little success. [Beck 2000, p. 74] During the third war against the Free State in 1868, Thaba Bosiu was the only stronghold in Basutoland that wasn't stormed by the Free State forces. [cite book| title=Touring in South Africa: The Great SA Road Trip Guide| author=Willie Olivier, Sandra Olivier| year=2005| publisher=Struik| pages=p. 116| isbn=1770071423] In the time the stronghold remained manned, it was never taken by the enemy. When Moshoeshoe died in 1870, he was buried on Thaba Bosiu. [Beck 2000, p. 74]

The settlement on Thaba Bosiu has since been abandoned, and only ruins and the graves of various Basotho chiefs remain. The plateau is currently a national monument and often visited by tourists.

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