S4E23: Radama II

Radama II's coronation by a Catholic Priest

Radama II had a short reign over Madagascar, and his legacy is heavily debated. Charitable accounts of his reign paint him as a forward-thinking and humanitarian reformer, the "Renaissance Prince of Madagascar." However, more critical accounts highlight his capitulation to foreign interests and unwillingness to adhere to Merina norms of power sharing, leading to a dysfunctional government.

Radama II and his wife, Radobo

As a man essentially raised by a European father figure, Radama II was destined to hold some degree of sympathy towards the cause of foreigners in his kingdom. He was also culturally influenced by foreign elements, having converted to Christianity and enjoying western dress. Upon his mother's passing and his inheritance of the throne, he implemented numerous policies in alignment with European interests, including the legalization of Christianity, the reopening of trade with European countries, and the plan to implement the Lambert Charter. Furthermore, he ended Ranavalona's plans for self-sufficiency and industrialization, sought to relax fanampoana labor, and aimed to reduce the country's reliance on slavery.

In addition to these policies, Radama II sought to establish himself in the image of an "Enlightened Monarch", like his historical object of admiration, Napoleon Bonaparte. As part of this model, he began to ignore Merina constitutional norms, such as the consultation of nobility and bureaucrats prior to the implementation of policy. Instead, Radama favored ignoring his ministers and noble subjects in favor of associating with his close friends the Menamaso.

Ultimately, this unwillingness to include his ministers in decision-making as well as cuts to military pay resulted in a bureaucratic coup after only a couple years of rule. Radama was executed (or perhaps exiled in secret) and his wife was put in his place as a puppet ruler to the prime minister. From now until the end of the Merina kingdom, the monarchy remained a strictly regulated and constitutional position, a puppet to the state bureaucracy.

S4E22: The Lambert Coup

Joseph Lambert, labelled here with his nickname "Duke of Imerina", which he earned due to his control over 

Following the French invasion of Madagascar, the relationship between Ranavalona and the nations of Europe were at an all-time low. However, at the urging of her son, Prince Rakoto, and new moderate prime minister Rainivoninahitriniony, Ranavalona decided to reopen her country to European immigrants. One of the earliest immigrants to take advantage of this system was Joseph Lambert, a man who made a small fortune utilizing legal loopholes to trade slaves despite the near-global outlawing of the practice.

Prince Rakoto, the future king Radama II

Prime Minister Rainivoninahitriniony

While Lambert initially acted as a loyal agent of the Merina crown, he quickly revealed that he had more ambitious plans. He concocted a conspiracy with multiple high-level Merina officials, including the prime minister and prince, as well as Europeans living on the island, like the industrialist Jean Laborde. They planned together to overthrow Ranavalona in a military coup and place Rakoto on the throne. Meanwhile, he had Rainivoninahitriniony and Rakoto sign a charter for a new "Madagascar Company", a private firm under Laborde's ownership. This company would possess a monopoly on Malagasy imports and exports, as well as a right to exploit all uncultivated Malagasy land, and unlimited mining and logging rights on the island.

However, it turned out that Laborde had underestimated Ranavalona. She had known about the plan since its conception, and allowed it to continue in an effort to reveal disloyalty in the government ranks. When the day came for the coup to begin, all members were arrested. The prime minister and prince were spared punishment, indicating that they were the likely sources of Ranavalona's knowledge of the plan. All other Malagasy supporters were executed, while all foreign supporters of the coup were deported.

The Laborde Coup represented the final severing of relations between Ranavalona's government and the nations of Europe. The fact that a European businessman had attempted to overthrow her almost immediately following the relaxation of immigration restrictions confirmed her suspicions of foreigners. The brief thaw of the 1850s was reversed, and the rest of her reign saw a return to diplomatic isolation.