The monarchy of Lesotho is the form of government used by Lesotho (formerly known as Basutoland until 1966) by which a hereditary monarch reigns as the head of state, with their powers regulated by the Constitution. The monarch is styled as Marena; in Sotho language, Marena is the plural of the common noun Kings, where Morena is the singular for King.
The monarch since 7 February 1996 is King Letsie III, who ascended the throne on the death of King Moshoeshoe II, his father. It is the second reign of Letsie III; his first reign lasted from 12 November 1990 to 25 January 1995.
Succession
The succession to the throne of Lesotho is laid down in Chapter V of the Constitution, which reads that:
- (1) The College of Chiefs may at any time designate, in accordance with the customary law of Lesotho, the person (or the persons, in order of prior right) who are entitled to succeed to the office of King upon the death of the holder of, or the occurrence of any vacancy in, that office and if on such death or vacancy, there is a person who has previously been designated in pursuance of this section and who is capable under the customary law of Lesotho of succeeding to that office, that person (or, if there is more than one such person, that one of them who has been designated as having the first right to succeed to the office) shall become King.
- (2) If, on the death of the holder of, or the occurrence of any vacancy in, the office of King, there is no person who becomes King under subsection (1), the College of Chiefs shall, with all practical speed and in accordance with the customary law of Lesotho, proceed to designate a person to succeed to the office of King and the person so designated shall thereupon become King.
Compensation
The king is granted a privy purse amounting to 52,778 USD annually.
List of kings
Kings / Paramount Chiefs of Lesotho / Basutoland (1822–1966)
- Moshoeshoe I: 1822 – 18 January 1870
- Letsie I: 18 January 1870 – 20 November 1891
- Lerotholi Letsie: 20 November 1891 – 19 August 1905
- Letsie II: 21 August 1905 – 28 January 1913
- Nathaniel Griffith Lerotholi: 11 April 1913 – 23 June 1939
- Simon Seeiso Griffith: 3 August 1939 – 26 December 1940
- Gabasheane Masupha (regent): 26 December 1940 – 28 January 1941
- 'Mantšebo Amelia 'Matšaba (regent): 28 January 1941 – 12 March 1960
- Moshoeshoe II: 12 March 1960 – 4 October 1966
Kings of Lesotho (1966–present)
| Name | Lifespan | Reign start | Reign end | Notes | Family | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moshoeshoe II (1st reign) | 2 May 1938 – 15 January 1996 (aged 57) | 4 October 1966 | 12 November 1990 (24 years, 39 days) | Son of Simon Seeiso Griffith | House of Moshoeshoe | |
| Letsie III (1st reign) | 17 July 1963 | 12 November 1990 | 25 January 1995 (4 years, 74 days) | Son of Moshoeshoe II | House of Moshoeshoe | |
| Moshoeshoe II (2nd reign) | 2 May 1938 – 15 January 1996 (aged 57) | 25 January 1995 | 15 January 1996† (355 days) | Son of Simon Seeiso Griffith | House of Moshoeshoe | |
| Letsie III (2nd reign) | 17 July 1963 | 7 February 1996 | Incumbent (30 years, 237 days) | Son of Moshoeshoe II | House of Moshoeshoe |
- Regent Head of State
- Queen 'Mamohato: 5 June 1970 – 5 December 1970, 10 March 1990 – 12 November 1990 and 15 January 1996 – 7 February 1996
Timeline
Royal Standards
