Queen Ranavalona I of Madagascar

Gary Arndt (0:00)

In the 19th century, one African ruler faced growing pressure from European powers, missionaries and foreign merchants seeking influence over her kingdom. She responded by closing much of her country to outsiders, strengthening royal authority, and using methods that made her one of the most feared and controversial monarchs of her age. Her reign would later be remembered for both its brutality and its fierce independence. Learn more about Queen Ranavalona I of Madagascar on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.

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The woman who had become known to the world as Queen Ranavalona I was born in 1778 as Rabodonandria Anampoi Mimarina, but was informally just known as Princess Ramavo. Her father was Prince Andriat Salamanjaka and her mother was Princess Rabodonandria Antopo. She was born at the royal residence of Mbatu Manoina in the Central Highlands of Madagascar. Her family rose to power when she was a young girl when her father alerted the king at the time, Andrane Anapoi Mimarina of an assassination plot led by the king's uncle. The Mimarina Kingdom located in the Central Highlands of Madagascar developed over several centuries and expanded greatly in the late 18th century. The leaders who later ruled all of Madagascar were descendants of the Mimarina royalty. These strong family ties allowed the king and his son, Prince Radhima, to conquer most of the island and centralize power. In gratitude for her father's role in saving the king's life, the king arranged for Ramavo to marry his son and heir, Prince Radhima. He also declared that any children born to Radhima and Ramavo would take precedence in the royal secession after Radhima. Despite being at an elevated rank compared to the other royal wives, Ramavo was not his favorite wife and nor did she bear any children. Their relationship grew more strained after the king's death and Radhima's ascension to the throne. In the course of consolidating his power, Radhima executed potential political opponents, including some of Ramavo's relatives. Unable to find satisfaction in her marriage, Ramavo spent most of her time socializing and drinking. Among the Europeans at Radhima's court was a Welsh missionary named David Griffiths, a member of the London Missionary Society, who became an important figure in the development of Malagasy schools, writing and Bible translation. He and his wife preached every Sunday and established different schools in the country. He was also well connected to King Radhima and worked to create a Roman letter alphabet for the Malagasy language. During this time, Ramavo and Griffiths became good friends and their relationship lasted for the next three decades. Under King Radhima, Madagascar worked to strengthen its foreign relationships with European powers. They formed a strategic alliance with Great Britain, which ensured the island's independence in exchange for trade. This alliance also allowed Radhima to block French colonial ambitions from reaching Madagascar, helping eliminate competing claims in the eastern side of the island. Both France and Britain wanted to influence Madagascar. The French held several islands off of Madagascar's coast and wanted to control the main island. Britain regarded Madagascar as strategically important because of its location in the Western Indian Ocean, and wanted to prevent the island from falling under French influence.