Moshoeshoe (c. 1786 – 11 March 1870) was born at
Menkhoaneng in the northern part of present-day
Lesotho. He was the first son of Mokhachane, a minor chief of the Bamokoteli lineage- a branch of the Koena (crocodile) clan. In his early childhood, he helped his father gain power over some other smaller clans. At the age of 34 Moshoeshoe formed his own clan and became a chief. He and his followers settled at the
Butha-Buthe Mountain.