508:
their task to place him in the tomb. Within months after his reported death, rumors began circulating that Radama was alive, residing on the west coast of the island and was amassing supporters for a political comeback. The rumors persisted to the point of causing political turmoil in
Antananarivo. These claims may have had some substance judging by the actions of others. Prominent Christian missionaries outside the capital made extensive efforts to visit and support Radama but seemingly never succeeded. Traditionalist factions within the government were concerned enough by the rumors to have put to death sixteen of his supporters, as well as fining hundreds of others. According to evidence in Delval's study, Radama may indeed have survived and, failing to regain the throne, lived to old age as an ordinary citizen in the north of the island.
420:
308:, was favorably impressed by European culture, knowledge and its state of economic, political and technological development, and was troubled by some of the socially repressive policies pursued by Ranavalona I. According to a British account, the French played on this sympathy in 1855 by pressuring Prince Rakoto into signing a request for French aid that would have enabled France to establish control over Madagascar had the true nature of the letter and its signing not been uncovered by Rakoto and his British contacts. An alternate explanation was offered by Lambert, who maintained that the prince had knowingly supported the attempt to put an end to his mother's harsh policies, and was a willing collaborator in a
380:"It is most remarkable that Radama II should have formed views of policy so large and liberal, so enlightened, humane and patriotic as those which form the foundation of his throne; that the son of such a mother, trained up under a despotism so dark, and restrictive and cruel, should have adopted such principles of religious freedom and political economy, as equal civil liberty and universal free trade principles, which our own nation has been so slow to learn, and which are still repudiated in many lands where civilization is far advanced."
469:"For the future the word of the sovereign alone was not to be law, but that the sovereign, the nobles and the heads of the people were to unite in making the laws; that the friendship with foreigners was to be maintained; that no one was to be put to death on the word of the sovereign alone, but that the nobles and the heads of the people must concur in the sentence before it could be inflicted; that religion and worship were to be equally free to all – to natives and foreigners, to Christians and non-Christians – excepting in
411:(French Madagascar Company). The citizens' concern stemmed primarily from clauses in the agreement that would have permitted Lambert's company to become permanent owners of Malagasy lands. Until this point, land in Madagascar, which was viewed by the populace as the sacred ground of the ancestors, could only ever be temporarily possessed by foreigners until their death, at which point the land would revert to the crown. The threat of permanently losing any part of sacred Malagasy soil to foreigners was deeply troubling.
227:, which controlled virtually the entire island. Radama's rule, although brief, was a pivotal period in the history of the Kingdom of Madagascar. Under the unyielding and often harsh 33-year rule of his mother, Queen Ranavalona I, Madagascar had successfully preserved its cultural and political independence from European colonial designs. Rejecting the queen's policy of isolationism and persecution of Christians, Radama II permitted religious freedom and re-opened Madagascar to European influence. Under the terms of the
31:
327:, brothers and progressives, supported Radama II. The latter successfully obtained key strategic allies within the court that enabled Radama to seize the throne without violence following his mother's death. Ramboasalama was obliged to swear a public oath of allegiance to Radama, and was later sent into exile in the highland village of Ambohimirimo where he died in April 1862.
495:. To cement the new power-sharing agreement between the ruler, the nobles and the heads of the people, a political marriage was contracted between the queen and Prime Minister Rainivoninahitriniony, who had been instrumental in her first husband's death. Radama's name was struck from the list of kings and it was declared illegal to mourn his death.
375:
and other early monarchs. Significantly, Radama freed numerous political prisoners captured under
Ranavalona I during provincial wars of subjugation and offered repatriation of confiscated property. This pardon was reciprocated by many of the beneficiary ethnic groups around the island, and good will
335:
Prince Rakoto acceded to the throne on August 16, 1861, upon the natural death of his mother, Queen
Ranavalona I, assuming the throne name Radama II. His coronation ceremony was held the following year on September 23, 1862. Once upon the throne, he immediately initiated a rapid and dramatic reversal
243:
The dramatic contrast between
Ranavalona's isolationism and her son's pro-European stance represented an abrupt reversal of policy that threatened the traditional sociopolitical order. Radama's absolutism in pursuing dramatic reforms in disregard of the advice of his ministers ultimately turned them
507:
for interment in his designated tomb. French historian Delval presents evidence that supports a scenario wherein the group tasked with carrying Radama's body to Ilafy became frightened as the king began to revive, prompting them to abandon the body and then falsely maintain that they had completed
432:
or "red-eyes") and representatives of the opposition led by Radama's prime minister
Rainivoninahitriniony. On May 7, 1863, Radama II announced his intention to allow disputes to be settled by a duel, much to the disapproval of many of his advisers at court who feared the practice would lead to
511:
With the apparent murder of Radama II, the power of the Merina monarchs was broken. Subsequent monarchs were controlled by influential Hova, particularly
Rainilaiarivony, who became prime minister after his brother and successively married all three remaining queens of the monarchy:
303:
After his mother succeeded Radama I on the throne, she instituted an increasingly regressive regime that attempted to restore traditional values and contain or eliminate westernization. The prince, however, who had been highly influenced by the French adviser to the queen,
456:
The drama ended on
Tuesday morning, May 12, 1863, when a group of officers and soldiers forced their way into the Rova and seized the king. His wife, Queen Rabodo, pleaded for his life to be spared and attempted to stop them but was forcibly removed. The soldiers threw a
406:
and his partners under the
Lambert Charter, including the exclusive implementation of public works projects (felling trees, making roads, building canals etc.), control over minting coinage, lucrative mining rights and more as part of the purview of Lambert's proposed
340:
opened up business possibilities for French investors. Freedom of religion was declared, persecution of
Christians ceased, missionaries returned to the island and their schools were reopened. Radama abolished the traditional trial by ordeal of
268:– that Radama lived and was making plans to reclaim the throne. A strong case has since been made on the basis of significant evidence that Radama may indeed have revived after the strangling and lived to old age in anonymity near
235:
while
Ranavalona still ruled, the French were awarded exclusive rights to the exploitation of large tracts of valuable land and other lucrative resources and projects. This agreement, which was later revoked by Prime Minister
464:
The nobles informed Rabodo that she would have their support as queen on the condition that she would accept to abide by certain articles that would form a new contract between rulers and ruled in Madagascar:
437:(Friday) market the following day. Friday afternoon, the prime minister's younger brother, Rainilaiarivony, who was head of the army, called several thousand troops into the city to besiege a number of the
427:
The legalization of dueling was ultimately the issue that brought to a head the tension between King Radama II's entourage (mostly friends and some established political figures, known collectively as the
256:(the class of free citizens) as represented by the position of prime minister. The public was informed that Radama had committed suicide and that his body had been unceremoniously interred in a tomb in
487:
Rabodo agreed to these conditions. The next morning, it was publicly announced in the marketplace that Radama had taken his own life due to grief over the deaths of his compatriots the
453:
he was sheltering in the palace, which he refused to do until the prime minister agreed to spare their lives; they were handed over but by Monday morning had all been speared to death.
376:
between the coasts and central administration at Antananarivo improved significantly. These changes, and the king himself, were unequivocally praised by Madagascar's European partners:
461:
over Radama's head and strangled him with a silk sash until he was believed to be dead, thereby avoiding the shedding of royal blood as was the custom for royal executions in Imerina.
503:
Following Radama II's apparent death, rumors spread that he had only been rendered unconscious by the attempt on his life and had revived as his body was being transported to
319:
to secure a successor favorable to their own political agenda. The conservative faction favored Ramboasalama, the son of the Queen's sister, while the Queen's prime minister,
394:
was less one-sided. The abrupt and dramatic policy changes pursued by the progressive king both alienated and disfranchised the established conservative factions among the
693:
252:, was allowed by the ministers to succeed her husband on the condition that she and future sovereigns would no longer rule unilaterally, but rather in concert with the
336:
of many of his mother's traditionalist policies. He reopened the country to foreign powers and concluded treaties of friendship with Britain and France. The
449:
and other key political figures who had counseled Radama to legalize dueling. On Sunday, May 10, Rainivoninahitriniony demanded that Radama hand over the
992:
937:
858:
1093:
1073:
280:
Radama II was born Prince Rakoto (Rakotosehenondradama) on September 23, 1829, in the Imasoandro building on the compound of the
1088:
292:, although the king had died more than nine months before the prince's birth. He was likely fathered by a lover of his mother,
1083:
504:
347:, in which the guilt or innocence of an accused person was determined based on the outcome of consuming the poison of the
982:
265:
337:
228:
977:
756:
1103:
1098:
423:
King Radama II walks with his wife Rabodo, who would become Queen Rasoherina after the coup against her husband.
930:
545:
368:
419:
315:
Prior to Queen Ranavalona's death, the conservative and progressive factions within the Merina court waged a
87:
540:
Similarly, the November 2008 agreement to lease large tracts of Malagasy land to the South Korean company
864:
1078:
316:
403:
305:
240:, was key to establishing France's claim over Madagascar as a protectorate and, in 1896, as a colony.
232:
923:
822:
Madagascar: An Historical and Descriptive Account of the Island and its Former Dependencies, Volume 1
972:
946:
897:
300:
army who the queen may have been tricked into putting to death by conservative ministers at court.
41:
1068:
445:, and by Saturday morning the decision had been made and carried out to execute eleven of the
320:
245:
224:
93:
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149:
125:
110:
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were permitted to raise swine within the city walls, a practice previously forbidden by a
343:
8:
309:
987:
997:
752:
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402:(freemen) at court. Especially controversial were the special privileges accorded to
399:
253:
248:, Radama II was strangled on May 12, 1863. His wife Rabodo, who took the throne name
433:
anarchy. The prime minister prevented the law from being publicly declared at the
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820:
792:
746:
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324:
237:
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357:
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69:
1002:
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260:. However, there soon emerged rumors – believed by prominent foreigners
219:(September 23, 1829 – May 12, 1863 ) was the son and heir of Queen
1027:
907:
513:
492:
249:
165:
79:
56:
30:
841:
The last travels of Ida Pfeiffer: inclusive of a visit to Madagascar
794:
Histoire de Madagascar: ses habitants et ses missionnaires, Volume 1
477:
was not to be used, but death should be inflicted for great crimes."
231:, which Radama secretly contracted in 1855 with French entrepreneur
1012:
915:
395:
285:
197:
361:(taboo) forbidding them from being kept near the royal talismans (
962:
391:
372:
180:
541:
297:
694:"Madagascar: sortir du cycle de crises. Rapport Afrique N°156"
482:
Ebenezer Prout, Madagascar: Its Mission and Its Martyrs (1863)
385:
Ebenezer Prout, Madagascar: Its Mission and Its Martyrs (1863)
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710:
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145:
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where they had originated under 16th-century Merina king
590:
812:
Radama II, prince de la renaissance malgache: 1861–1863
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where there should be no public worship. The ordeal of
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863:. London: London Missionary Society. Archived from
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284:. He was officially recognized as the son of King
244:against him. In a coup led by his prime minister,
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602:
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748:Africa in the Nineteenth Century until the 1880s
666:
790:
716:
931:
781:
596:
275:
491:and that Rabodo would succeed him as Queen
938:
924:
29:
786:(in French). Paris: Editions Diloutremer.
784:Un homme d'etat malgache: Rainilaiarivony
744:
692:International Crisis Group (2010-03-18).
648:
837:
814:(in French). Paris: Éditions de l'École.
660:
418:
272:in the northwestern part of the island.
860:Madagascar: Its Mission and Its Martyrs
441:and members of the royal family at the
1051:
818:
809:
629:
584:
919:
856:
777:. New York: Markus Wiener Publishers.
772:
728:
679:
498:
414:
296:, a progressive young officer of the
223:and ruled from 1861 to 1863 over the
945:
797:(in French). Paris: Victor Lecoffre
367:). The sampy were dispersed to the
13:
993:Andriantsimitoviaminandriandrazaka
782:Chapus, G.S.; Mondain, G. (1953).
544:was a major factor leading to the
14:
1115:
978:Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe
791:De La Vaissière, Camille (1884).
745:Ade Ajayi, Jacob Festus (1989).
1094:19th-century monarchs in Africa
902:August 16, 1861 – May 12, 1863
738:
312:to remove her from the throne.
1074:19th-century murdered monarchs
685:
534:
51:August 16, 1861 – May 12, 1863
1:
1089:People murdered in Madagascar
562:
1084:Assassinated Malagasy people
983:Andrianjakatsitakatrandriana
825:. New York: Macmillan and Co
7:
10:
1120:
276:Upbringing and early years
35:Radama II with crown, 1861
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904:
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597:Chapus & Mondain 1953
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189:
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120:May 12, 1863 (aged 33) –
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65:
55:
47:
40:
28:
23:
973:Andriantsitakatrandriana
857:Prout, Ebenezer (1863).
810:Delval, Raymond (1972).
527:
351:nut, and inhabitants of
330:
819:Oliver, Samuel (1886).
775:A History of Madagascar
409:Compagnie de Madagascar
404:Joseph-François Lambert
317:tactical power struggle
306:Joseph-François Lambert
233:Joseph-François Lambert
1104:Sons of queens regnant
1099:1863 murders in Africa
838:Pfeiffer, Ida (1861).
773:Brown, Mervyn (2002).
551:that brought down the
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424:
388:
323:and head of the army,
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422:
378:
321:Rainivoninahitriniony
246:Rainivoninahitriniony
225:Kingdom of Madagascar
94:Rainivoninahitriniony
1008:Andrianampoinimerina
717:De La Vaissière 1884
443:Rova palace compound
390:The reaction within
288:and his widow Queen
282:Rova of Antananarivo
148:/Tomb of the Kings,
126:Rova of Antananarivo
111:Rova of Antananarivo
988:Andriamasinavalona
898:King of Madagascar
499:Rumors of survival
425:
415:Assassination plot
150:Rovan'Antananarivo
107:September 23, 1829
61:September 23, 1862
42:King of Madagascar
18:King of Madagascar
1079:Malagasy monarchs
1046:
1045:
998:Andriambelomasina
914:
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905:Succeeded by
751:. Paris: UNESCO.
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947:Imerina monarchs
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888:Preceded by
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867:on June 28, 2011
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175:Marie Rasoamieja
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338:Lambert Charter
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325:Rainilaiarivony
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229:Lambert Charter
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1038:Ranavalona III
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1022:
1018:Ranavalona I
958:Andriamanelo
896:
891:Ranavalona I
871:February 12,
869:. Retrieved
865:the original
859:
846:. Retrieved
840:
827:. Retrieved
821:
811:
799:. Retrieved
793:
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762:. Retrieved
747:
739:Bibliography
724:
698:. Retrieved
687:
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553:Ravalomanana
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353:Antananarivo
348:
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334:
314:
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294:Andriamihaja
290:Ranavalona I
279:
270:Lake Kinkony
262:Jean Laborde
242:
221:Ranavalona I
216:
215:
209:Ranavalona I
200:(officially)
194:Andriamihaja
153:
140:
139:1863/1897 –
129:
121:
109:Imasoandro,
70:Ranavalona I
15:
1064:1863 deaths
1059:1829 births
1003:Andrianjafy
968:Andrianjaka
848:February 6,
829:February 3,
801:February 3,
764:February 3,
696:(in French)
630:Oliver 1886
585:Delval 1972
548:coup d'etat
471:Ambohimanga
173:(as Ramoma)
168:(as Rabodo)
66:Predecessor
1053:Categories
1028:Rasoherina
908:Rasoherina
729:Brown 2002
700:2010-11-30
680:Prout 1863
563:References
514:Rasoherina
493:Rasoherina
250:Rasoherina
166:Rasoherina
80:Rasoherina
57:Coronation
1023:Radama II
217:Radama II
154:contested
141:contested
130:contested
122:contested
76:Successor
24:Radama II
1013:Radama I
489:menamaso
480:—
451:menamaso
447:menamaso
439:menamaso
430:menamaso
396:andriana
383:—
286:Radama I
198:Radama I
963:Ralambo
475:tangena
392:Imerina
373:Ralambo
349:tangena
344:tangena
181:Dynasty
755:
542:Daewoo
298:Merina
205:Mother
190:Father
162:Spouse
136:Burial
546:2009
528:Notes
505:Ilafy
459:lamba
364:sampy
331:Reign
258:Ilafy
146:Ilafy
48:Reign
873:2011
850:2011
831:2011
803:2011
766:2011
753:ISBN
520:and
435:Zoma
400:Hova
358:fady
264:and
254:Hova
185:Hova
117:Died
104:Born
1055::
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668:^
637:^
604:^
571:^
524:.
516:,
152:–
128:–
939:e
932:t
925:v
875:.
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833:.
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731:.
719:.
703:.
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663:.
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