Queen Ranavalona remains one of the famous figures in Madagascar history for the role she played as a monarch. Many names are used to refer to her with some seeing the good side of her and others the worse. Many call her the mad queen of Madagascar.
Worldwide, history is full of such examples. In death, a monarch’s power is able to go across generations. Ranavalona rose to power at the height of the European scramble for Africa and was a fierce loyalist of her country.
What makes her an important historical figure over a century after her death? These and other interesting details about her will be uncovered in this article.
Biography Of Queen Ranavalona
Queen Ranavalona was one of the most powerful monarchs that ever ruled Madagascar. Her birth name was Rabodoandrianampoinimerina and was born in 1778. Her parents, Andriantsalamanjaka, and his wife Rabodonandriantompo became popular after their daughter was betrothed to the king’s son.
She became Queen at a young age and ruled with courage throughout her reign. She was coronated following the death of her husband, Radama I in 1828. Her coronation was done on August 12, 1829.
See Also: Queen Nandi – 10 Fascinating Facts About Mother Of Shaka, King Of The Zulus
Her Life And Marriage To Radama I
As one of the strongest rulers, Queen Ranavalon gained many supporters and enemies due to her policy. She used terror to preserve the cultures and traditions of her kingdom.
Her marriage to Radama I was a loveless one. The only advantage she had was being the first of his twelve wives. Their union did not produce any children.
Her ideas of ruling and her husband’s clashed. Radama I was following the progressive policy of his father by allowing Europeans into the Island kingdom while Ranavalona was a strong supporter of traditions.
When her husband died, the news was hidden from the public till she finished plans of snatching the throne. She was an astute politician and left no room for modernity.
She sat on the throne for over three decades and became deadlier with age. Her son, Rakoto from a later union and Laborde, her confidant turned against her. They started planning how to drive her away from power. Their failed attempt send many men to their graves. But her soon and Laborde survived.
Queen Ranavalona Death
Her son was a progressive and a threat to many conservatives who wanted to make her nephew the king.
She died in her sleep on August 16, 1861, at the Rova of Antananarivo. She was 83 years old at the time of her death.
The kingdom mourned her death for 9 months and 12 thousand Zebu were killed and shared to the people. More people lost their lives at her funeral after a spark caused a fire.
Queen Ranavalon’a body was put in a silver casket and placed at a tomb in Ambohimanga. The French later moved her remains to the tomb of queen Rasoherina.
5 Other Interesting Facts About Her
1. Her Bethrotal To Radama Was Her Fathers Prize For Saving The King
Long before the idea of ascending the throne was conceived, her father saved the king’s life. He revealed a plan to assassinate the king by his uncle.
As payment for the act, King Andrianampoinimerina the Great brought Ranavalona to court and betrothed her to his heir, Prince Radama.
The king also promised the throne to a child from the union of his son and Ranavalona.
2. She Is Called The Mad Queen of Madagascar
Ranavalona ruled for 33 years and during this time, many people lost their lives. The population of Madagascar was at about 5 million but it went down to 2.5 million people at the end of her reign.
Even before sitting on the throne, she killed many rivals including Rakotobe and his mother. Rakotobe was the son of the king’s older sister who was in line to take the throne.
His uncle, Radama I had no child with Queen Ranavalona. The issue of the throne was an unfinished one at the dead of Radam I. In order to avoid the taboo of shedding royal blood, Rakotobe’s mother starved to death.
3. Queen Ranavalona Pushed The Colonial Powers Away
Queen Ranavalona I had an anti-colonial position. She practiced isolationism to grow the economy of Madagascar.
The idea of allowing foreigners into her kingdom stood against the traditional religion of the people. Christianity was a great threat to the worship of Malagasy gods.
4. Queen Ranavalona Had One Son
She gave birth to a son, Prince Rakoto in the early part of her reign. The identity of his real father is not very clear. Officially he was the son of her first husband, Radama I but Rakoto was born 11 months after Radama’s death.
Many sources point to Andriamihaja, her chief adviser as the father of her son. Andriamihija was a close adviser who lost his life in the queen’s service through palace intrigues.
She signed his death warrant after getting drunk. This gave way to her marriage to Raihiharo. He later became the Prime minister.
5. Her Great-Niece Was The Last Monarch Of Madagascar
Ranavalona III was the last monarch of Madagascar before the final takeover by the French. Ranavalona III was not as strong-willed as her great-aunt by marriage who fought the colonial powers to the end.
She accepted a French protectorate in Madagascar so she could keep her throne but in the end, she was also exiled. In 1896, the Kingdom came under French protection as the Malagasy Protectorate. This marked the end of monarchies in Madagascar.
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