Moshoeshoe II previously known as Constantine Bereng Seeiso, was the paramount chief of Lesotho, 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.
Background
He was born on May 2, 1938, as Constantine Bcreng Seeiso eldest son of Paramount Chief Simeon Seeiso Griffith, head of the Basotho people, at Thabang a village in the Mokhotlong district of western Lesotho, 20 miles from the Natal border.
Education
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. While there, he took to the life of an English country gentleman, including hunting, shooting, and fishing.
Career
Chief Jonathan announced on March 31, 1970 that the King was leaving the country “indefinitely” and Queen Mamohato was appointed regent. On April 4, 1970, King Moshoeshoe II arrived in Holland, installed himself in a first-floor suite at the five-star Wittebrug Hotel at Scheveningen near The Hague, and went to mass. Watching over him was Patrick Mota, Minister of Justice, who took all incoming telephone calls.
After talks with Chief Jonathan at The Hague on November 5, 1970, the King agreed to end his exile and returned to Maseru in a South African Air Force Dakota on December 4, 1970. The price was his signature to an “Office of the King” instrument, banning him from taking part in politics.
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. Moshoeshoe was restored to the throne in 1995. The following year 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.
Politics
Moshoeshoe's political power was always limited, and his reign was interrupted twice. Early in his reign, Leabua Jonathan became Prime Minister of Lesotho and gained control of the government. Jonathan suspended Moshoeshoe in 1970 in order 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.