Moshoeshoe had united various Sotho speaking chieftainships into the Basuto nation, settling in the Caledon River region.

Masopha spent one year in Cape Town, studying English under reverend Thomas Arbousset [fr] and familiarizing himself with white society.

Throughout his life he maintained good relations with the missionaries,[3] but continued to practice several Basuto customs that they disapproved of.

[8] Since the 1820s, the Basuto frequently engaged in warfare with neighboring tribes and European settlements, which took the form of cattle raids and the occasional burning of villages.

In 1853, Masopha participated in a campaign against Batlakoa chief Kgosi Sekonyela, successfully storming his stronghold Marabeng.

Fearing that the Basuto were facing annihilation, Moshoeshoe, his sons and local missionaries began appealing to British High Commissioner for Southern Africa Sir Philip Wodehouse and the Colony of Natal for protection.

Judging the expansion of the Free State to be contrary to British geopolitical interests, Wodehouse proclaimed Basutoland to be a royal dominion on 12 March 1868.

[17] It is believed that Masopha was planning to establish an independent kingdom upon his father's death but was prevented from doing so due to the British annexation.

[18] In 1879, the Cape Colony prime minister Sir Gordon Sprigg decided to extend the Peace Preservation Act to Basutoland.

During a pitso (formal assembly) convened on 3 July 1879, Masopha and his nephew chief Joel Molapo called for armed resistance against the law's implementation.

[25] Lerotholi and Masopha collaborated closely and managed to create a stalemate, isolating the Cape's army in the Hlotse, Maseru and Mafeteng Districts.

[29] On 29 April 1881, High Commissioner for Southern Africa, Sir Hercules Robinson announced the peaceful settlement of the war known as Award.

Demanding to be granted almost arbitrary power, refusing to pay his share of the hut tax and forbidding the return of the local magistrate.

[33] Major General Charles George Gordon was invited to Basutoland in an effort to negotiate a settlement with the Basuto after the Award was cancelled in April 1882.

On 16 September, Sauer held a private meeting with Letsie I and Lerotholi, consenting to the Basuto chiefs' proposal to assemble a force against Masopha.

[38] Masopha eventually re-invited his district's magistrate and sought arbitration from a colonial court, after clashes broke out between his supporters and those of his erstwhile companion Ramanella.

[39] In the mid 1890s Basutoland was affected by a large scale rindepest epidemic which devastated southern Africa's cattle population.

Lerotholi found himself unable to enforce order in Basutoland's central districts where his uncle Masopha held considerable influence.

Lerotholi feared that Masopha's insubordination could lead the British to abandon Basutoland and allow it to be absorbed by the neighboring Orange Free State, where the native African population held significantly fewer rights.

To that end, Lerotholi attempted to persuade Clarke's successor Godfrey Lagden to authorize a military expedition; which would pacify the chiefs engaged in land disputes by force.

The Free State demanded Moeketsi's extradition, however Masopha refused to comply after facing pressure from his wife.

After the exchange of numerous messages between Lagden and Lerotholi, the former finally issued an official order authorizing an attack on Thaba Bosiu.

Three weeks into the siege, Maama (who had married two of Masopha's daughters) attempted to negotiate a peaceful resolution of the conflict with Lagden, but was rebuked.

[42][43] On 26 January, Lerotholi commenced an assault on Thaba Bosiu, defeating the defenders, a total of 55 people were killed in the fighting.

Masopha was forced to pay a heavy fine and abandon his ancestral village, while also being stripped of the privileges he once enjoyed as district chief.