History of Madagascar
2. The Merina dynasty
In the central Highlands of Madagascar, a kingdom was formed by alliances and conquests in the 16th century. The capital of the kingdom was situated in Alasora, 10 km south-east of Antananarivo.
King Ralambo (1575 -1610) extended the territory of the kingdom to the whole Imerina country (i.e. the central plateau). He established its capital in Antananarivo, which means fortress defended by thousand warriors.
Later on however, succession quarrels between his descendants caused instability, divisions, and even civil war.
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At the end of the 18th century, one of the descendants of Ralambo, Andrianampoinimerina, who was the sovereign of the small kingdom of Ambohimanga (located about 20 km north of Antananarivo), put an end to the divisions and reconstituted the Imerina Kingdom.
The immense ricefields in the fertile plain of Betsimitatatra surrounding the hill of Antananarivo became the granary of the kingdom.
King Andrianampoinimerina proved to be a brilliant speaker, a skilful politician and a brave warrior.
His motto was “The seaside will be the border of my ricefields”. He undertook to conquer the whole island, subjected the other kingdoms, the ones in a peaceful way, the others by force. Its reign (1785 - 1810) is sublimated by the oral tradition.
His son Radama I, who reigned from 1810 to 1828, opened the country to European influences and called for military and cultural cooperation with the British.
On the left: Andrianampoinimerina |
According to two treaties concluded in 1817 and 1820 that recognized Radama I as King de Madagascar, the British modernized his army in exchange of the obligation to remove the slave trade in the conquered areas. Slavery had already been abolished in the British territories including the nearby Mauritius island while slaves were still exploited in the French possessions.
The army of Radama I, trained by European instructors and equipped with rifles and guns, maintained an overwhelming military superiority over its would-be rivals.
Then, Radama I conquered Tamatoasina, Mahajanga and Tolagnaro (Fort- Dauphin) and achieved the unification of the country: for the first time of its history, Madagascar was completely unified and the Merina sovereign became indeed King of Madagascar.
In the reign of Radama I, Protestant missionaries were admitted into Madagascar, opened schools and introduced printing.
When Radama I died, his wife ascended to the throne under the name of Ranavalona I and ruled the country from 1828 to 1861. Convinced nationalist, she resisted foreign economic and cultural invasion. Ranavalona I repudiated the treaties her late husband had negotiated with the British Empire, prohibited the practice of Christianity, and expelled Protestant missionaries from Madagascar in 1835.
Ranavalona I was however anxious to continue the modernization of the country and the army. She was helped by some independent foreign technicians, such as the French adventurer Jean Laborde.
This autodidact set up industries in Madagascar (production of rifles and guns, manufacture of porcelain, sugar refinery,…), introduced technical innovations, imported foreign plants (including vanilla) and animals and built the Palace of the Queen, roads, and various buildings. An outstanding work!
However, in 1857, Jean Laborde, some other Europeans and the son of the Queen got involved in intrigues against the Queen, so that all Europeans were expelled from Madagascar.
In 1862, Ranavalona I died and was succeeded by her son under the name of Radama II. The latter opened again the country to foreigners and restored freedom of religious worship.
Jean Laborde returned from exile. Under the influence of his French friend, the young King attempted to abolish the traditional habits and institutions and replace them with the European one’s. The French presence on the island increased and France recognized Radama II as King of Madagascar in 1862.
Moreover, in spite of the opposition of the Malagasy Prime Minister who was anxious to preserve the independence of the country, the King granted a charter allowing a French adventurer, Joseph Lambert, to exploit the resources of northern Madagascar.
This caused much dissatisfaction among the Malagasy aristocrats and led to Antananarivo Revolution that resulted in the King's death by strangling in 1863.
Then his widow was placed on the throne under the name of Rasoherina, but married Prime Minister Rainivoninahitriniony, which ensured a balance of power between the noblemen (andriana) and the other people (hova). Such an alliance served as model for the following reigns.
In 1864, the above-mentioned Prime Minister had to let his half brother, Rainilaiarivony, (whose father was Prime Minister under the reign of Ranavalona I) take his place.
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Rainilaiarivony ruled the country from 1864 to 1895 (not less than 31 years!) and married successively the three Queens of Madagascar: Rasoherina (1863 - 1868), Ranavalona II (1868 - 1883) and Ranavalona III (1883 - 1897).
He made important reforms. Polygamy was abolished and unilateral repudiation by the husband was prohibited but the marriage between people of different castes remained prohibited.
Queen Ranavalona II and her husband were converted to Protestantism and made the Anglican faith the official religion of the kingdom in 1869, which represented a dramatic cultural change.
This period was also characterized by a fast occidentalization of the country and an increased cooperation with the British missionaries. On the other hand, the French showed a growing interest in the resources of the country.
Around 1865, the French naturalist Alfred Grandidier (1836 -1921) visited Madagascar several times and wrote articles and books about the island.
Ranavalona II |
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For several decades, Madagascar had been able to preserve its independence, usually by taking advantage of rivalry between France and the United Kingdom. Queen Rasoherina had signed several treaties with the United Kingdom, France and the United States.
The international political situation had changed. Jean Laborde was named as French consul to the Merina court. He fell sick and died in 1878. It was buried in Mantasoa. Disputes about his inheritance provided France with an opportunity to interfere again in Madagascar’s domestic affairs, by disinheriting the Malagasy descendants of Laborde.
Since Madagascar denounced the Lambert charter, the French troops invaded Madagascar in 1883. At the end of the first Franco-Hova War, Madagascar had to accept the occupation of Antsiranana (Diego Suarez) by French troops and compensated the Lamberts.
In 1885, the Berlin Conference regulated European colonization and trade in Africa, allotted Madagascar to the French while the British preserved their presence in Zanzibar. The opening of the Suez Canal had reduced the strategic interest of the British in Madagascar.
In spite of the resistance of the Malagasy leaders and their attempt to obtain the support of the United States, France imposed protectorate over Madagascar and controlled its foreign politics and, to a large extent, its finances.
Since the Malagasy attempted to resist French orders, the French troops conquered Antananarivo in 1895 (the second Franco-Hova War) and the Malagasy Prime Minister was sent into exile.
Less than one year later, due to persistent nationalist resistance, France declared Madagascar French colony. The queen Ranavalona III was sent into exile in Algeria. So ended the Merina dynasty that unified Madagascar and had ruled it for about hundred years.
See also:
1. The origins
3. The colonial period and the return to independence