Yes In 1818 Moshoeshoe I consolidated various Basotho groupings and became their King During Moshoeshoe s reign 1823 1870 a series of wars with South Africa 1856 68 resulted in the loss of extensive Basotho land now known as the Lost Territory In order to protect his people Moshoeshoe appealed to Queen Victoria for assistance and in 1868 the land that is present day Lesotho was placed under British protection