French victory
36-732: French victory The First Madagascar expedition was the beginning of the Franco-Hova War and consisted of a French military expedition against the Merina Kingdom on the island of Madagascar in 1883. It was followed by the Second Madagascar expedition in 1895. Following their capture of Mauritius from the French in 1810 during the Napoleonic Wars , with ownership confirmed by the 1814 Treaty of Paris ,
72-627: A Protectorate was not formally declared. The terms and impositions of the treaty were not fully agreed by Rainilaiarivony. The situation quickly changed when the British recognized a French Protectorate of Madagascar in September 1890, in return for eventual British control over Zanzibar and as part of an overall definition of spheres of influence in Africa . With the opening of the Suez Canal ,
108-536: A bonfire in September 1869 and replaced their authority with that of the Bible. Under her rule the problem of deforestation was considered. The queen authorized construction using brick and other durable materials within the walls of Antananarivo (previously forbidden by King Andrianampoinimerina ). She also banned the traditional practice of tavy (swidden, slash-and-burn agriculture), charcoal making and construction of houses within forests. A European visitor to
144-453: A cadre of skilled craftsmen. She successfully repelled French attacks on Foulepointe and other coastal cities. During several periods, Ranavalona's restrictions on the practice of Christianity minimized European presence on the island. Upon Ranavalona's death, her son succeeded her as King Radama II in 1861. As prince, he had already made concessions to Joseph-François Lambert , a Frenchman who had resided at Ranavalona's court and assisted in
180-484: A civil governor was incapable of ensuring order and submission of the Malagasy people, and so deposed the queen in 1897, dissolved the 103-year-old Merina monarchy, and installed a military government headed by Gallieni. Queen Ranavalona III was exiled to Réunion and later to Algeria , where she died in 1917 without ever being allowed to return to Madagascar. Ranavalona II Ranavalona II (1829 – 13 July 1883)
216-401: A political marriage with her prime minister, Rainilaiarivony , in a public ceremony at Andohalo wherein the court officially underwent conversion to Christianity . This conversion was effected to bring the increasingly powerful Protestant faction under the influence of the royal court. Declaring Madagascar a Christian nation, Ranavalona had the traditional royal talismans ( sampy ) burned in
252-487: The Merina Kingdom of Madagascar had steadfastly managed to maintain its independence during the 19th century. Defense of the island was aided by its size and diversity of terrain, the nation's organized military and government structures, and the prevalence of tropical diseases, which often proved deadly to Europeans. The first significant European influence in Imerina was the arrival of a handful of British missionaries in
288-501: The British alleged that it was crafted by Jean Laborde (particularly since it was written in French, a language Radama did not know how to write in) to support French military intervention on the island. After a brief reign, Radama was strangled in an 1863 coup d'etat termed the Aristocratic Revolution. Radama's widow Rasoherina was placed on the throne by Prime Minister Rainivoninahitriniony and his cabinet on
324-489: The British saw Madagascar as a natural expansion of their influence in the Indian Ocean. The Merina King , Radama I , managed to unite Madagascar under one rule, benefiting from British weapons and military instructors. He signed treaties with the British, allowing Protestant missionaries and outlawing the slave trade. When Queen Ranavalona I took power in 1828, relationships with foreign powers gradually soured. By
360-518: The English missionary Shaw. Meanwhile, Queen Ranavalona II died, as did Admiral Pierre, who succumbed to the fatigue of the campaign. Admiral Pierre was replaced by Admiral Galiber, and then Counter-Admiral Miot. A Treaty was signed in December 1885, the French interpreting it as a Protectorate Treaty, while Queen Ranavalona III and Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony denied it. The Treaty included
396-457: The French marines took possession of Tamatave . General Duchesne and his flying column landed in Mahajanga (Majunga) and marched to the capital, Antananarivo , hampered by the jungle, shallow river, disease, and lack of roads. They finally reached the city and began the assault in the last week of September 1895. The defenders were stationed on the main road to the capital, to the south of
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#1732772103105432-465: The Queen and replace her by her son was also planned, in which Laborde and Lambert were involved. Upon the death of the queen, her son took over as King Radama II in 1861, but he only ruled two years before ending by an assassination attempt. This assassination was treated as successful at the time, although later evidence suggests Radama survived the attack and lived to old age as a regular citizen outside
468-688: The acceptance of a French resident in Antananarivo and the payment of an indemnity of 10 million. The Treaty however remained without effect, and led to the Second Madagascar expedition in 1895, which resulted in the French colonization of Madagascar . Franco-Hova War The Franco-Hova Wars , also known as the Franco-Malagasy Wars , were two French military interventions in Madagascar between 1883 and 1896 that overthrew
504-594: The capital of Antananarivo in 1820 during the reign of Radama I , who invited them to establish schools and teach the Merina free populace how to read. Several years into the reign of Queen Ranavalona I , which began in 1828, the monarchy became increasingly disapproving of the growing popularity of the Christianity that the missionaries had introduced, and encouraged them to cease teaching religion while continuing to provide technical and vocational training to create
540-501: The capital. He was succeeded to the throne by his apparent widow Rasoherina . The Prime Minister Rainivoninahitriniony revoked the Lambert Treaty in 1863. From 1864, Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony endeavored to modernize the state by putting an end to slavery in 1877, modernizing the legal system in 1878 and setting up a new constitution in 1881. Under the anglophile Rainilaiarivony , British influence grew considerably in
576-467: The city. The French commander circled Antananarivo and executed a feint attack on the north of the city. His main force attacked the east of the city, commanding a hillock from which he could shell the main government buildings , including the Queen's palace. Three shells were fired against the city, and the Hova army was routed. General Duchesne entered the city on October 1, and Queen Ranavalona III signed
612-447: The claim with the government of France, providing a pretext for invasion on the basis of enforcing the legal rights of a French citizen. The Merina monarchy vigorously attempted to resolve the issue through negotiation and diplomacy, relying heavily on the support of their British and American trading partners. They sent ambassadors to England and France to resolve the claims, but the French government refused to accept anything less than
648-528: The condition that the absolute power of the monarch was ended and the majority of power over day-to-day governance and foreign affairs rested with the Prime Minister. The despotism of the prime minister led him to be replaced by his younger brother, Rainilaiarivony , who would govern Madagascar for 30 years until the capture of Antananarivo by the French military . Rainilaiarivony and successive queens Ranavalona II and Ranavalona III sought to maintain
684-407: The court of Ranavalona II in 1873 described the queen in the following terms: "I should think the queen was about 45 years of age, with a dark olive complexion , and a face full of kindness and benevolence. She was very queenly, and dressed in a gray shot-silk dress, and a silk lamba fell negligently from her shoulders. Her hair was black, and beautifully arranged; 'crown she did not wear', but from
720-402: The development of numerous resources. The Lambert Charter Radama had approved conceded significant tracts of land to Lambert in neglect of the island-wide significance attached to ancestral land. In addition, the French government received a letter purportedly written by the prince, requesting French military aid to depose his mother. The origins and authenticity of the letter are disputed, and
756-481: The economic and religious fields. In the early 1880s however, the French colonial faction, the right-wing Catholic lobby and Réunion parliamentarians all advocated an invasion of Madagascar in order to suppress British influence there. The non-respect of the Lambert Charter and the letter to Napoleon III were used by the French as the pretext to invade Madagascar in 1883. Various disputes also helped trigger
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#1732772103105792-532: The full terms of the treaty. This provided the necessary pretext for a French military invasion of the island, which took place in two waves between 1883 and 1895. France invaded Madagascar in 1883, in what became known as the first Franco-Hova War, seeking to restore the cancelled concessions. With the signing of the Treaty of Tamatave in January 1886, the war ceased. Madagascar ceded Antsiranana (Diego-Suarez) on
828-522: The hair at the top of her head there depended the long fine gold chain ending in a gold tassel, which only the queen can wear." Ranavalona II died in 1883 and was buried in Ambohimanga . In a bid to desacralize the holy city, in 1897 the French colonial authority disinterred her remains along with those of other monarchs buried in Ambohimanga and transferred them to the tombs on the compound of
864-621: The intervention: the minority Sakalavas remained faithful to a French protectorate in the north of the island, a French national was killed in Antananarivo , and the Merina placed an order for the French flag to be replaced by the Madagascar flag in French concessions. This triggered the first phase of the Franco-Hova War . The decision was taken to send the naval division of Admiral Le Timbre . The French under Admiral Pierre bombarded
900-528: The mid-1830s, nearly all foreigners had chosen to leave or were expelled, and British influence was largely suppressed. An exception, the Frenchman Jean Laborde , was able to remain in the island to build foundries and an armament industry. Meanwhile, the Queen's son Prince Rakoto (future King Radama II ) had been under the influence of French nationals at Antananarivo . In 1854, a letter destined for Napoleon III that he dictated and signed
936-491: The next monarch of Madagascar and consequently married her to retain his position. During her years at court, young Ramoma was tutored by Protestant missionaries who greatly influenced her religious and political views. She became increasingly favorable toward the beliefs of the Christian religion. Ranavalona II succeeded to the throne upon the death of Queen Rasoherina on 1 April 1868. On 21 February 1869, she entered into
972-472: The northern coast to France and paid a hefty fine of 10 million francs. The treaty included an 'Instructive Letter' which was to clarify the treaty, but which was never presented in the French Parliament when they voted to ratify the treaty. The treaty essentially gave France control over Malagasy foreign policy, and the French government used this to exert increasing control over the territory, but
1008-505: The northwestern coast and occupied Majunga in May 1885. A column brought an ultimatum to Antananarivo , asking for recognition of French rights in northeastern Madagascar, a French protectorate over the Sakalava , recognition of French property principles and an indemnity of 1,500,000 francs. When the ultimatum was refused, France bombarded the east coast, occupied Toamasina , and arrested
1044-482: The ruling monarchy of the Merina Kingdom , and resulted in Madagascar becoming a French colony . The term " Hova " referred to a social class within the Merina class structure. Beginning with the arrival of European powers to Madagascar, the United Kingdom and France both developed ambitions to control Madagascar, a rich island with strategic importance in regard to the sea passage to India . Despite this,
1080-400: The sovereignty of Madagascar. The Merina monarchy revoked the terms of the Lambert Charter, explaining that the agreement was void because Malagasy territory belonged to the crown and the prince had not had the right to give it away while Ranavalona reigned. The heirs of Laborde, upon being refused right to the land they had been promised and the various properties owned by their father, pressed
1116-482: The strategic significance of Madagascar had declined. Rainilaiarivony prepared to defend the island from French military invasion by sending Colonel Shervinton, his European military adviser, to purchase arms in Europe. The French administration was determined to bring about a full Protectorate on the island, and thus evacuated its nonessential citizens from the region. Active hostilities commenced on December 12, 1894, when
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1152-431: The treaty that made Madagascar a full Protectorate of the French government. The Merina Kingdom was put under French protection in 1896, overseen by the first Resident-General , Laroche. Twenty French soldiers died fighting and 6,000 died of malaria and other diseases before the second Franco-Hova War ended. Ranavalona and her cabinet were initially allowed to remain in government as ceremonial figureheads. French rule
1188-468: Was Queen of Madagascar from 1868 to 1883, succeeding Queen Rasoherina , her first cousin. She is best remembered for Christianizing the royal court during her reign. Ranavalona II was born Princess Ramoma in 1829 at Ambatomanoina, near Antananarivo in the central highlands to Prince Razakaratrimo and his wife Princess Rafarasoa Ramasindrazana. As a young woman she, like her cousin Rasoherina ,
1224-463: Was challenged from the very moment of the capital's capture by a popular uprising termed the Menalamba rebellion . The fighting was led by commoners, principally from Imerina, who rejected not only French rule but Christianity and the influence of Europeans among the Merina rulers. The rebellion was put down with difficulty by General Gallieni over a year later. The French government determined that
1260-447: Was married to King Radama II and was widowed upon his assassination in the nobles' coup of 1863. The prime minister at the time, Rainivoninahitriniony , played a major role in the assassination plot and public condemnation of the action forced him from his post. The position of prime minister was then filled by his younger brother Rainilaiarivony , who married Queen Rasoherina and then, upon her death, helped to designate Ranavalona II
1296-421: Was utilized by the French government as a basis for future invasion of Madagascar. He further signed the Lambert Charter on 28 June 1855, a document that granted Frenchman Joseph-François Lambert numerous lucrative economic privileges on the island, including exclusive right to all mining and forestry activities, and exploitation of unoccupied land, in exchange for a 10% fee to the Merina monarchy. A coup to topple
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