List of monarchs of Lesotho

King of Lesotho
Marena a Lesotho
Coat of arms of Lesotho
Incumbent
Letsie III since 7 February 1996
Details
Style	His Majesty
Heir apparent	Lerotholi Seeiso
First monarch	Moshoeshoe I (as paramount chief)
Formation	1822
Residence	Royal Palace, Maseru

Lesotho
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Lesotho
Constitution Human rights LGBT rights
Monarchy King Letsie III
Government Prime Minister Tom Thabane
Parliament Senate National Assembly
Administrative divisions Districts Community councils
Elections Recent elections General: 2012 2015 2017 Political parties
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs Diplomatic missions of Lesotho to Lesotho Passport Visa requirements
Other countries Atlas

This article list the monarchs of Lesotho (also known as Basutoland until 1966).

Succession

The Succession to the throne of Lesotho is laid down in Chapter V of the African kingdom's constitution. The current King is Letsie III.

Chapter V Article 45 of Lesotho's constitution 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.

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 – July 1939
• Simon Seeiso Griffith: 3 August 1939 – 26 December 1940
  • Gabasheane Masupha (regent): 26 December 1940 – 28 January 1941
  • Mantsebo Amelia 'Matsaba (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)	(1938-05-02)2 May 1938 – 15 January 1996(1996-01-15) (aged 57)	4 October 1966	12 November 1990 (deposed)	Son of Simon Seeiso Griffith	House of Moshoeshoe
Letsie III (1st reign)	(1963-07-17) 17 July 1963	12 November 1990	25 January 1995 (abdicated)	Son of Moshoeshoe II	House of Moshoeshoe
Moshoeshoe II (2nd reign)	(1938-05-02)2 May 1938 – 15 January 1996(1996-01-15) (aged 57)	25 January 1995	15 January 1996	Son of Simon Seeiso Griffith	House of Moshoeshoe
Letsie III (2nd reign)	(1963-07-17) 17 July 1963	7 February 1996	Incumbent	Son of Moshoeshoe II	House of Moshoeshoe

Royal Standards

• 
  Royal Standard of Lesotho 1966–1987.
• 
  Royal Standard of Lesotho 1987–2006.
• 
  Royal Standard of Lesotho from October 4, 2006.

See also

• List of Prime Ministers of Lesotho
• Lists of office-holders