S4E15: Radama the Great

 

Radama, as depicted in an illustration by William Fitzwilliam Owen

If his father is the most remembered king in Madagascar, Radama is probably the best-known Malagasy king in the rest of the world. Radama is famous not only for leading the first major push to unify his home island but also for his later efforts to modernize and industrialize the Merina Empire. But how did this fascinating man come to power in the first place? Today, we track the rise of Radama from the heir to the kingdom to the man synonymous with the formation of Malagasy identity.

The beginning of Radama's reign was full of chaos. Even before taking the throne, he had already been the target of multiple assassination attempts by brothers, forced into an unhappy marriage, and served in the army on multiple campaigns. After taking the throne, he had to put down rebellions by his Betsileo and Sihanaka subjects.

Ifanadiana, Madagascar. The hill in the background is the site of the "martyrdom" of the Betsileo soldiers.

Beyond putting down revolts, Radama began his career with a series of successful campaigns against neighboring Betsileo kingdoms. The most famous of these campaigns was the Siege of Ifanadiana, where a group of Betsileo at the top of a hill chose to commit suicide rather than surrender to the Merina invaders.

A pirate graveyard on Nosy Boraha

Radama's greatest ambition for conquest would have to wait, though. He specifically desired to conquer the eastern coast of Madagascar. The eastern coast had recently undergone a cultural transformation with the arrival of swarms of European and American pirates to the region. One pirate from New York even established a colony on the island of Nosy Boraha. The arrival of pirates began a cultural and political transformation on the east coast, with some Malagasy using pirates as mercenaries, trading with the seafarers, and some even marrying and having children with pirates. Malagasy who adopted elements of European culture from European pirates and merchants were known as Malagasy Creoles, while those who came from a mixed background were called Zana Malata.

A photo of the old French fort at Fort Dauphin (taken hundreds of years after its abandonment.)

Our latest premium episode focuses on one of Madagascar's most interesting mixed-race historical figures: the pirate turned king of Madagascar, Abraham Samuel. Listen here.