S4E18: The Rise of the "Mad Queen" of Madagascar

1905 portrait of Ranavalona I

Ranavalona I have may be the most famous (or infamous) figure yet to be covered on this podcast. She is, for example, the first figure from this podcast to feature in her own pop history biography. The title of that book adequately summarizes Ranavalona's incredibly negative reputation in Western popular conception: "Female Caligula." Until relatively recently, the view of Ranavalona as a bloodthirsty and sadistic tyrant remained unchallenged, and the image of the "Mad Queen of Madagascar" became the definitive description of Ranavalona.

But what if it's wrong? What if the reality of Ranavalona's reign was far more complex than her depiction as a one-dimensional villain? Throughout the next several episodes, we'll examine the long reign of Ranavalona, observe how she achieved this infamous reputation, and assess the fairness of her inclusion among history's most infamous figures.

Enslaved workers packing rice - 1856

Ranavalona rose to power on the back of a military coup following her husband's death in 1828. Upon assuming the throne, Ranavalona was immediately beset by numerous problems which she would have to address throughout her reign. The early industrial firms supported by Radama were failing, the growing number of enslaved workers was challenging the traditional labor hierarchy, sampy guardians were becoming increasingly resentful of Christian missionaries, and a French invasion in 1829. These early challenges would shape Ranavalona's future administration in multiple ways. The British, Merina allies, refused to help defeat the French invasion, sewing a deep mistrust of European powers within Ranavalona. Additionally, while she remained relatively friendly to Christians at first, the conflicts between Sampy guardians and Christian missionaries would eventually send Ranavalona down a path of persecution that will define her historical legacy.

S4E17: The Forges of Amoronkay

 

Malagasy workers running an iron forge.

Following the Merina abolition of the exportation of enslaved workers to European colonies in 1817, Radama had hoped that a stipend obtained from the British Empire would be enough to offset economic losses. On the one hand, this hope made sense. The slave trade between Madagascar and the primary British colony in the region, Mauritius, had been on the decline since the legal abolition of the practice in 1807. While local plantation owners continued smuggling enslaved workers, the colonial government began clamping down harder on the underground trade. Initially, the colonial government instead began importing Chinese indentured servants in the early 1810s, further weakening Mauritian demand for enslaved workers (our latest premium episode focuses on the history of the Chinese diaspora population in Mauritius, so if that sounds cool to you, please support the show and check it out!)

Chinatown, Port Louis Mauritius, ~1860s

However, Radama's hope that the stipend would cover the costs of abolition proved untrue. A combination of expensive wars of conquest throughout Madagascar as well as the unforeseen indirect costs of ending the trade ensured that the stipend was insufficient. While Imerina continued exporting small numbers of enslaved workers to other countries, the declining sales of enslaved workers in Merina-owned ports like Toamasina and Mahajanga ensured that non-Merina-owned Malagasy ports enjoyed a competitive advantage with Swahili, Arab, and Indian merchants.

Bezanozano porters carrying cattle skins to Toamasina

Instead, Radama had to reform his economy to produce competing products outside of the slave trade. This namely took the form of a concerted industrialization campaign. Through a combination of the invitation of foreign craftsmen and the training of domestic managers, Radama's reign saw the creation of major industrial centers at the hands of British, Mauritian Creole, and even Bengali craftsmen, as well as the training of hundreds of Malagasy to serve as shop managers and industrial directors.

S4E16: The Conquest of Toamasina

By 1817, Toamasina (Tamatave) was the busiest port on the east coast of Madagascar 

Radama's last promise to his father, that he would extend Imerina to the sea, was finally met in 1817, when Radama conquered the city of Toamasina. The city had long been under the protection of European powers, who leveraged their maritime power to protect the government of Jean Rene, a Malagasy merchant who governed the city. But in 1817, Radama made his own agreement with the British. In a treaty signed between the two states, Radama abolished Merina involvement in the slave trade in exchange for a large sum of cash, military equipment, and the opportunity to send Malagasy youth abroad. With a new ally on the island, the British abandoned Jean Rene and gave Radama the go ahead to conquer the coastal city.

Workers unload cargo from an outrigger canoe in Toamasina, circa 1880.

Toamasina gave Imerina its first major port in its history, as well as a direct line of communication with the outside world.

Radama (on the upper left horse) inspects an army 

Using resources acquired from his deal with the British, Radama assembled a modern army equipped with the latest firearms, artillery, and even horses, an otherwise unknown sight on Madagascar. The new Merina army proved unstoppable, with only the former hegemons of Madagascar, the Sakalava kingdoms, putting up successful long term resistance during Radama's reign.

Map of Radama's Conquests of Madagascar

The king's palace: Tranovola or the Silver House

In addition to using new military technologies acquired from foreign trade, Radama also sought to promote literacy in foreign writing systems, inviting British missionaries into Madagascar to teach the Latin script. He additionally mixed Malagasy and western architecture when commissioning a new palace. The Tranovola, Radama's new palace, features western elements like the double floor veranda, as well as Malagasy elements like house horns and an interior andry, or singular central pillar holding up a sloped roof.

Radama's rule was a critical period of Malagasy history. His conquests represented the first steps in producing a united kingdom of Madagascar, while his importation of new educational institutions rapidly grew literacy. However, his reign also brought new economic problems. Namely, the abolition of the slave trade had a far more profound impact on his kingdom's economy than he anticipated. To make up for lost revenue, Radama sought to transform Madagascar into Africa's first industrial power. That saga will be the focus of our next episode.