Madagascar: Royal Hill of Ambohimanga

First occupied in the fifteenth century, the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga has long been one of the most important spiritual and historic sites for the Malagasy people. Perched high atop one of the twelve sacred hills of Imerina, it emerged as a fortified political capital in the mid-18th century. Defensive walls with seven gates were constructed, and the primary gate was closed by rolling a 12-ton stone disk to seal the opening and protect the Malagasy royalty in times of danger. The site includes a complex of royal buildings and places of ritual, a royal burial ground, fortification systems, a sacred forest with many endemic species, and the former seat of justice, which is located on an enormous granite rock and shaded by a royal fig tree. In the nineteenth century, the French colonial authorities made several attempts to undermine the significance and national symbolism of Ambohimanga, all of which proved unsuccessful.

The later history of the Royal family of Madagascar included some interesting characters.

Originally Madagascar was divided into small kingdoms. Later, empires arose. In the early 19th century, with the help of the British, King Radama I of the royal Merina dynasty conquered most of the island and recognized him as the ruler of all of Madagascar. He did much to modernize Madagascar. After his death, the throne passed to his ruthless wife Ranavalona I, who was herself of royal birth. During her bloody reign she persecuted Christians and drove many foreigners out of the country, but her son and successor, Radama II, welcomed them back.

King Radama II’s openness to outsiders angered members of his own government, and in 1862 he was strangled to death. His widow, Queen Rasoherina, succeeded him as monarch, but the power behind the throne was a man named Rainilaiarivony, who had helped plot the murder of Radama II. He became the queen’s prime minister and her husband. When Rasoherina died in 1868 and was succeeded by a royal relative, Queen Ranavalona II.

Rainilaiarivony married her, too, and continued to rule Madagascar in the queen’s name. To strengthen his power, he and the queen converted to Christianity.

After the death of Ranavalona II in 1883, another royal woman ascended the throne as Queen Ranavalona III. Rainilaiarivony married her too. In 1890 Madagascar became a French protectorate. Rainilaiarivony, who opposed the French, was sent into exile in Algeria. The queen accepted the protectorate and was allowed to remain on the throne, but in 1897 she too was exiled. She was Madagascar’s last monarch. Today Madagascar is an independent republic.