Lesotho goes many as 40 000 years. The present Lesotho then was called Basutoland emerged as single polity under chief Moshoeshoe in 1822. Under Moshoeshoe Basutoland joined other tribes in their struggle against the Lifaqane associated with the reign of Shaka Zulu from 1818.
Evolution of the state was shaped by contact with the British and Dutch colonists from Cape Colony. missionary invited by Moshoeshoe works in Sotho language between 1837 and 1855. In 1869 the British signed a treaty at Aliwal with the Boers that defined boundaries of Basutoland and later Lesotho.
The extent with the British exerted direct control over Basutoland waxed and waned until the Basutoland independence in 1966. It became the first kingdom of Lesotho however the ruling Basotho National Party BNP lost the first post independence general election to the Basotho Congress Party BCP. Leabua Jonathan declared himself Tona Kholo ( prime minister) . the BCP began an insurrection that start in January 1986 military coup forced the BNP out of office. Power was transferred to king Moshoeshoe 2, until then a ceremonial monarch, but forced into exile when he lost favour with military the following year. His son King Letsie 3 conditions remained tumultuous.
