Mohatu

## History

**Mohatu** was a male lion. He was the first king ever of Pride Rock. He was the grandfather of Mufasa and Scar, and the great-grandfather of Simba.

During a severe drought, Mohatu journeyed to a jungle oasis, where he found a water source for his parched subjects. However, when he brought news of the water source to the Pride Landers, they raced across the desert to reach it, during which Zebra kicked and injured Cheetah. Mohatu carried Cheetah to the jungle on his back, while Mohatu's friend Crocodile saved Zebra from quicksand. After the rescue, the Pride Landers peacefully drank their fill from the jungle's waters.

## Biography

### Early life

Mohatu was born into a pride of lions who lived in the Pride Lands. At some point in his life, he became the kingdom's reigning monarch.

### Drought

When Mohatu was king, there was a terrible drought. In order to spread rations fairly, Mohatu made a law about how much water each animal could drink. He also proclaimed that lions should be the last to get their share, as they could go days without water. The law was put into effect, and the animals survived. However, one day, a selfish and lazy lion came to the water hole and drank more than his fill. Many animals stood at a distance, waiting for him to finish. Eventually, one approached him and asked if she could get a drink, but the lion lunged at her and scared off the remaining animals.

When Mohatu heard the news, he was outraged. He asked himself how they could survive if one of his own kind could not cooperate. As the drought worsened and the remaining water grew smaller, Mohatu called the animals to Pride Rock and told them that he would be going on a long journey to find a solution to their problems.

The king set out on the journey and walked long and far. Finally, he reached a lush jungle. After getting a drink from the river, Mohatu laid down in the shade for a brief rest. As he was napping, he heard the sound of someone crying. Curious, he went in for a better look. Upon reaching the river, he saw a massive crocodile sitting in the water, crying. Mohatu asked him what was wrong, and the crocodile swam to the bank. Mohatu saw just how enormous and powerful the creature really was, and if he had not been so brave, he would have been terrified.

The crocodile commented that Mohatu was kind to ask. He then explained that he was lonely, for he scared everyone away from the water hole. Mohatu asked if he had ever given the animals a reason to fear him, and the crocodile admitted that he had once snapped at Hippo's tail. Mohatu told him that it was no wonder they were afraid and that he needed to earn their trust again. The crocodile asked how he could do that if no one came to the river. Mohatu told him that he would take care of it. He then introduced himself as the king of the Pride Lands.

After leaving the river, Mohatu ran into Hippo. He asked Hippo why he was not in the river, and the hippopotamus admitted that she was scared of Crocodile. Mohatu then bumped into a wildebeest and asked him the same question. The wildebeest told him that in order to get to the river, he must pass by Hippo, who he was afraid of. Mohatu then spoke to a zebra, who told him that he hid among the wildebeests, as he was in constant fear of lions. He explained that if the wildebeests would not go to the river, then neither would the zebras.

After hearing many similar accounts, Mohatu thought to himself that these animals had the same problem as his own animals: they did not trust each other. Figuring out a solution to the problem, he journeyed home. Upon reaching the Pride Lands, he gathered a crowd of animals, who asked him what he had found out. The king told them that he had found a river from which they could drink. The animals cheered and asked where it was. Mohatu told them that it was a long way away from their home and that in order to survive, they needed to cooperate with one another. He then warned that no animal was to harm another during the journey.

A zebra spoke up, reminding the king that the last law had not prevailed and that it had been one of Mohatu's own kind who had broken it. He proclaimed that he did not trust the selfish lion and would not go without the protection of the wildebeests. The wildebeests refused to go out of fear of the hippopotamuses who lived in the river. A hippopotamus stormed up to them and proclaimed that it was the crocodiles who should be feared. As Mohatu tried to explain about Crocodile, the animals made a huge uproar, and Mohatu was forced to roar for silence. Zebra spoke again, telling Mohatu that it was every animal for himself. Without another word, he galloped away. The animals immediately took off after Zebra, and it was such a sight that Mohatu would never forget it. The battle to the water hole was fierce, but Zebra finally won the competition. After reaching the water hole, he began to drink from the water. However, he soon realized that he was sinking into quicksand. The other animals tried to help him but to no avail.

At the last moment, Mohatu caught up to them, carrying Cheetah on his back, who had fallen in the rush to the water hole. The animals begged him to help Zebra, but Mohatu could do nothing, as Zebra was too deep in the quicksand. Mohatu then got an idea and called to the crocodile who lived in the Great River. To everyone's surprise, the big and mean-looking crocodile approached the bank, asking the king what he wanted. Mohatu explained to the crocodile that Zebra was sinking and in need of help. Crocodile swam closer to examine the situation and proclaimed that he knew how to help Zebra. Climbing onto the bank, he got a firm grip on the ground and gave Zebra his tail. Zebra took hold of it, and Crocodile pulled him to shore.

Zebra thanked Crocodile profusely, and Crocodile proudly accepted his thanks. As Zebra was about to walk away, Mohatu reminded him that he owed Cheetah an apology for having kicked him on the way to the water hole. He added that the zebra should also make sure that Cheetah got home safely. Zebra apologized, and Cheetah accepted his apology. The Pride Landers then drank their fill from the river. When they were done, they wished Crocodile a fond farewell. From that day forward, the animals of the Pride Lands journeyed to the jungle oasis to get their share of water. Eventually, a great rain came, and the Pride Lands became lush and green again. Thus, the animals no longer needed to return to the Great River.

### Later life and death

Mohatu never forgot the friends he had made in the jungle. He would occasionally visit Crocodile, where he would see hippopotamuses, zebras, and wildebeests at the river's shores. Mohatu ruled for a very long time, perhaps the longest of any king, and grew very old. But one winter's eve, he died. All his subjects wept for the loss of their king. Many felt lost without him, and fighting arose among them again. One night, a star appeared in the sky, bigger and brighter than the rest. The animals grew peaceful and felt the same way they had when Crocodile had first let them drink from the Great River. They knew the star was the spirit of their king, who was still watching over them from the heavens.

### Legacy

One night, Mohatu's great-grandson, Simba, spotted a particularly big and bright star in the night sky. The cub's father, Mufasa, told him that it was Mohatu, a Great King of the Past and the lion who had ruled before Mufasa's father. Simba asked how his spirit had become a star, and Mufasa told his son the story.

After the story was complete, Simba told his father that he wished Mohatu could still be with them. Mufasa explained to his son that Mohatu still was with them in spirit and that he was there to remind them to love and respect each other, no matter their differences. Mufasa then proclaimed that it was time for them to go to bed. As they were leaving, Simba said goodnight to his great-grandfather's star and told him that he wanted to grow up to be just like him. Mufasa smiled proudly at his son.

## Physical appearance

Mohatu was a large and powerfully built lion. He had reddish-brown fur, with a tan muzzle, paws, and underbelly. He had a full dark brown mane and brown eyes.

## Personality and traits

**Various animals**: *Where is it? Where is it?*
**Mohatu**: *It is many miles away, across the plains, over the mountains, and through the forest. In order for us all to get there safely, we must have cooperation from everybody. As we travel, no one may harm any other animal. That is the only way we'll survive this difficult drought.*

—Mohatu and his subjects[src] | ”

Mohatu was well-known for being a wise king. He harbored deep affection for and loyalty to his subjects, which prompted him to leave his homeland in search of a new water source for them. He was a peacemaker but could also be firm in his decisions and orders. Many animals looked up to him for his bravery and strength. However, they would occasionally take advantage of his peaceful nature, such as when Zebra incited the other Pride Landers into stampeding to the jungle. Mohatu was ultimately selfless and sacrificial, and his enduring legacy inspired the Pride Landers to work with one another in peace and harmony.

## Trivia

* Mohatu is most likely the father of Mufasa and Scar's father, as Simba mentions that his paternal grandfather ruled after Mohatu.

* In *Fight for the Throne*, Simba's great-grandfather is mentioned. No name is stated.