List of Imerina monarchs

Summary

This article lists the Imerina monarchs, from the earliest origins of the Merina monarchy until the French conquest of the Merina Kingdom during the Second Madagascar expedition.

Monarchy of Madagascar
Coat of Arms (1896–97)
Last to reign
Ranavalona III
30 July 1883 – 28 February 1897
Details
First monarchRadama I
Last monarchRanavalona III
Formation6 July 1810
Abolition28 February 1897
ResidenceAmbohimanga (spiritual)
Rova of Antananarivo (political)

Early monarchs in the Merina line edit

Below is a list of the line of Merina monarchs that ruled in the Central Highlands of Madagascar and from whom were issued the first true monarchs of a united Madagascar in the 19th century. Before the uniting of Madagascar, succession was based on the current monarch's designation of an heir, typically from among his or her own children. As such, the list below represents a direct genealogical line from the last 19th-century queen of Madagascar to some of the earliest known rulers identified in the 15th century or before. Prior to the 16th century, detailed information about the names and dates of Merina rulers becomes less consistent. Genealogy in this early period are derived primarily from oral history, while later names and dates are verifiable from primary sources. These combined sources provide the following list of Merina rulers preceding Andrianampoinimerina's unification of Imerina in the Central Highlands and his son Radama I's successful conquest of the majority of Madagascar, bringing the island under his rule.

Asterisks denote names drawn from oral history without substantive evidence to verify the ruler's life or reign, viz., legendary or semi-legendary monarchs.

Monarchs of the Kingdom of Madagascar (1810–1897) edit

NameLifespanReign startReign endNotesFamilyImage
Radama I
  • the Great
1793 – 27 July 1828
(aged 35)
6 July 181027 July 1828Son of AndrianampoinimerinaMerina 
Ranavalona I1778 – 16 August 1861
(aged 83)
1 August 182816 August 1861Wife of Radama IMerina 
Radama II(1829-09-23)23 September 1829 – 12 May 1863(1863-05-12) (aged 33)16 August 186112 May 1863
(murdered)
Son of Ranavalona IMerina 
Rasoherina1814 – 1 April 1868
(aged 54)
12 May 18631 April 1868Wife of Radama IIMerina 
Ranavalona II1829 – 13 July 1883
(aged 54)
1 April 186813 July 1883Wife of Radama IIMerina 
Ranavalona III(1861-11-22)22 November 1861 – 23 May 1917(1917-05-23) (aged 55)30 July 188328 February 1897
(deposed)
Niece of Ranavalona II
Granddaughter of Radama I
Merina 

Timeline edit

Ranavalona IIIRanavalona IIRasoherinaRadama IIRanavalona IRadama I

Monarchs family tree edit

Andrianampoinimerina
1745–c. 1787–1810
Radama I
King of Madagascar
1793–1810–1828
Ranavalona I
Queen of Madagascar
1778–1828–1861
AndriamihajaRainiharo
d. 1852
Rainijohary
Radama II
King of Madagascar
1829–1861–1863
Ranavalona II
Queen of Madagascar
1829–1868–1883
Rainilaiarivony
Prime Minister of Madagascar
1828–1864–
1895
–1896
Ranavalona III
Queen of Madagascar
1861–1883–
1897
–1917
Raharo
Prime Minister of Madagascar
1824–1852–
1865
–1868
Rasoherina
Queen of Madagascar
1814–1863–1868

After the fall edit

 
Niece and heir apparent of the Queen Ranavalona III, Marie-Louise, in 1900

After the fall of the Royal House, and the death of the last ruling Sovereign, Queen Ranavalona III's heir apparent, Princess Marie-Louise of Madagascar, remained. She died childless in 1948.[2]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Stewart, John (2006). African States and Rulers (Third ed.). Jefferson: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 148. ISBN 0-7864-2562-8.
  2. ^ Barrier, Marie-France (1996). Ranavalona, dernière reine de Madagascar (in French). Paris: Balland. p. 358. ISBN 978-2-7158-1094-5.

Sources edit