Empire · 1540–1897 · Southern Africa
Merina Kingdom (Madagascar)
Also known as Imerina, Merina Kingdom
The Merina people of Madagascar's central highlands built small rival kingdoms around Antananarivo from the 1500s. Around 1785 Andrianampoinimerina began reuniting Imerina, expanding rice terraces and declaring that the sea would be the border of his rice field.
His son Radama I allied with Britain, which helped him build a modern army, end the export slave trade and write the Malagasy language in the Latin alphabet with the help of missionaries. By the 1820s the Merina controlled about two-thirds of the island. Queen Ranavalona I resisted foreign influence and persecuted Christians, while her successors, guided by Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony, converted to Protestantism and modernised. France invaded in 1895, and in 1897 it abolished the monarchy and exiled Queen Ranavalona III.
- Years
- 1540–1897
- Capital
- Antananarivo
- Greatest extent
- 1880, about 390,000 km²
- Region
- Southern Africa
c.; about two-thirds of Madagascar
Legacy
The Merina kingdom unified much of Madagascar and shaped its written language, and Antananarivo remains the national capital.
Rulers
- Andriamanelo c. 1540–c. 1575
Early king of Imerina
- Andrianampoinimerina c. 1785–1810
Reunited Imerina
- Radama I 1810–1828
Allied with Britain and conquered much of the island
- Ranavalona I 1828–1861
Resisted foreign influence and persecuted Christians
- Rainilaiarivony 1864–1895
Prime minister and husband of three successive queens
- Ranavalona III 1883–1897
Last monarch, exiled by France
Realms on the map
- Merina Kingdom 1792–1897