S4E25: Ranavalona II - Madagascar's Christian Queen

 

The Palace of Rainilaiarivony

Following their survival of the failed coup of 1868, Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony and Queen Ranavalona II set about implementing a new reformist agenda. Among these reforms included the creation of the country's first fully independent school, which educated Malagasy army officers on governmental administration. The school enabled the creation of a new bureaucratic class of officers, who replaced the old system of provincial government.

The Royal Chapel at the Rova of Antananarivo

Meanwhile, queen Ranavalona II radically transformed the country's religious system by converting to Christianity and burning the country's sacred sampy. To reduce Christianity's potential to act as a disruptive force, Ranavalona sought to create an independent Christian church under the control of the Malagasy government rather than the influence of foreign clergy.

To relieve his country from the currency crisis of 1879, Rainilaiarivony attempted to import large quantities of Indian rupees

Among these changes, Madagascar experienced a decade of non-stop economic growth and relative social stability. However, a disruptive smallpox epidemic on the east coast of Madagascar caused ripple effects in the Malagasy economy, ultimately leading to a severe currency shortage and economic recession.

S4E24: The Brother's Coup and First Malagasy Constitution

Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony

In the aftermath of the controversial coup against Radama II, the new head of state, prime minister Rainivoninahitriniony, was in a tumultuous position. He and the fellow orchestrators of the coup had committed the unprecedented act of overthrowing the mpanjaka Imerina. He attempted to legitimize the bureaucratic takeover by marrying one of Radama's wives, Rasoherina, as well as drafting a new constitution for Imerina. While the constitution would last, Rainivoninahitriniony did not, and he was himself overthrown by his brother in 1864. This brother was Rainilaiarivony, one of the top ranking generals in the Malagasy army, who proceeded to implement a de facto military dictatorship, overthrowing his brother and declaring himself prime minister. While Rasoherina remained the official head of state, Rainilaiarivony was the true power behind the throne.

Empress Rasoherina

Rainilaiarivony inherited a Malagasy economy in turmoil. The removal of the pro-European Radama II from power had dramatically hurt Madagascar's relationship with its most important trade partners. The new prime minister attempted to undo this damage through the negotiations of treaties with these powers. Throughout the 1860s, 70s, and 80s, Rainilaiarivony negotiated treaties of friendship and commerce with France and the UK, and additionally negotiated treaties with other countries in an attempt to diversify Malagasy trade. These included treaties with the USA, Italy, and Germany. 

1881 Treaty of Friendship between the United States and Madagascar

Ultimately, Rainilaiarivony's efforts has a mixed result. Trade revived at first, but the opening of the Suez canal allowed European ships to cut through the Mediterranean and bypass Madagascar when trading in Asia.

Rainilaiarivony and Rasoherina also had to fight off a final attempt by Rainivoninahitriniony to retake power as Rasoherina reached the end of her life. In the end, this coup was crushed, and Rainilaiarivony appointed a new puppet monarch in the form of Ranavalona II.

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.

S4E21: How Mad was the "Mad Queen" of Madagascar

 

Sea mangos (Tangena) the poisonous fruit used in the notorious trial by ordeal

Ranavalona holds a unique place in Malagasy history as one of the island's longest reigning monarchs and arguably the most impactful ruler in its history. Ranavalona's rule saw radical shifts in every major contentious political matter in 19th century Madagascar. The queen is also one of the most notorious leaders not only from Madagascar, but one of the most infamous political leaders of any polity on earth. However, recent historical scholarship has shifted towards a more nuanced perspective of the "Mad Queen of Madagascar." 

Much of Ranavalona's negative reputation can be traced back to her falling out with the London Missionary Society. While Ranavalona maintained positive relations with the organization during the early segment of her reign, her perception shifted. She became increasingly concerned that the rising popularity of heavily syncretized Christianity in her kingdom would lead to a decline in veneration of the Merina ancestors, and subsequently a loss of faith in the ideological system which supported her royal legitimacy. Ranavalona banned Christian baptisms and ordered existing concerts to return to their original faith. While most Malagasy christians obeyed the coercive order, the few who refused to de-convert were treated to harsh punishments, often escalating to the death penalty.

An illustration of the persecution of Christians in Madagascar

Ranavalona's reign also saw the widespread reimplementation of Tangena, a trial by ordeal in which the accused was made to consume a toxic fruit, and the toxin's effect on their body was used to gauge their guilt. The Tangena Ordeal had an estimated fatality rate of between 30 to 70 percent, with the danger varyingly immensely by the ripeness and dilution of the fruit.

An artist's render of a Tangena trial: 1873

Ranavalona's reign had an interesting character that defined easy classification. While the brutality of Ranavalona's reign was undoubtedly exaggerated, it was brutal nonetheless. It was also a period of rapid, if unsustainable, economic and technological progress.

To her credit, Ranavalona is often praised for her defense of Madagascar's sovereignty against foreign incursions. In addition to defeating a French invasion in 1829, Ranavalona's army also defeated a joint Anglo-French intervention force in 1845. When British and French soldiers attempted an amphibious landing at Toamasina, they were rebuked and routed by the garrison of the city's fort.

The Fortress at Toamasina: 1845

However, Ranavalona would soon find out that the greatest threat to her sovereignty did not manifest in the form of foreign armies, but rather in a group of scheming advisors. We will focus on the Lambert plot and the final severing of the relationship between Ranavalona and the Europeans in our next episode.

S4E20: Progress for the Few, Misery for Many

Large auction of enslaved workers in Antananarivo, 1860s.

The economic progress made under Ranavalona's early reign was seemingly awe-inspiring. The country had rapidly transformed from a feudal state pumping endless sums of cash into perpetually failing companies, into a more coherent system of state-run capitalism. However, this economic progress came at an enormous human price, and was propped up by a system of horrifically brutal exploitation.

Enslaved worker carrying cattle hides, 1880s.

This episode will focus on unfree labor within the Merina economy, with a focus on how the Merina system justified and explained the use of enslaved and corvee labor, the effect that reliance on unfree labor had on the Merina economy, and how unfree laborers responded to their oppression.

S4E19: Western Technology, Malagasy Spirit

 

The remnants of one of the blast furnaces at Mantasoa

Malagasy political priorities were massively altered by the failed French invasion of Madagascar in 1829. While the attackers had ultimately been expunged, the refusal of the Malagasy's British allies to support them in the war effort resulted in a new premium being placed on developing a military capable of independently defending Imerina from foreign attacks.

James Cameron, LMS missionary and artisan, pictured here several decades after his arrival in Madagascar.

Ranavalona also sought to improve the fortunes of the failing foreign run firms throughout madagascar. Due to high transportation costs and constant material shortages, foreign run industrial firms based in Madagascar struggled to compete on the international market. By 1830, most of them were loss makers and only still in existence due to heavy government subsidies.

Ranavalona sought to transform these loss makers into a useful government expenditure by retooling them to focus on developing supplies for the army. James Cameron, a missionary, chemist, and  carpenter, was tasked with developing a recipe for gunpowder which only relied on locally available materials, and then building a gunpowder mill. John Canham, a missionary and leather tanner, made fewer products for the consumer market and started producing more military uniforms.

Jean Laborde, the French blacksmith turned industrialist, had a close relationship with the Malagasy royal family

The most influential foreign industrialist was Jean Laborde. Arriving in Madagascar from a shipwreck in 1831, Laborde got into contact with Ranavalona and became the head of a project to develop a cannon factory. Eventually, he would run the largest industrial project in Malagasy history: the creation of a multi-purpose industrial park at Mantasoa. In addition to cannon factories, Mantasoa featured silkworm farms, hydraulic powered blast furnaces, housing for workers, and a private residence for the queen.

The Mantasoa Industrial Complex

Ranavalona used her growing military industrial complex to double the size of her standing army, and resumed her late husband's campaigns of expansion. Under Ranavalona, Imerina reconquered countless rebellious territories, destroyed its longtime Sakalava rivals in Boeny, nearly did the same to the other Sakalava kingdom of Menabe, and extended its influence across southern Madagascar.

However, while Ranavalona's rule can selectively appear like a Malagasy golden age, a horrific system of oppression fueled her kingdom's economic and territorial growth, as well as its political stability. The atrocities committed by her government and that fueled the economic growth of Imerina will feature as the main topic of the next episode.