Rasoherina of Madagascar

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Carte de visite photograph of Queen Rasoherina of Madagascar made in about 1865.
Enlarge
Carte de visite photograph of Queen Rasoherina of Madagascar made in about 1865.

Rasoherina was Queen of Madagascar from 1863 to 1868, succeeding her assassinated husband Radama II.

The real power of the kingdom at this time was the prime minister Rainilaiarivony who married Rasoherina.

Rasoherina was succeeded by Ranavalona II, another of Radama II's wives.

She was born as Rabodozanakandriana in 1814, the daughter of Andriantsalama and Rafaramanjaka, and was a niece of Queen Ranavalona I. She was married to Ranavalona's son and heir and when he succeeded his mother in 1861 as King Radama II, she was crowned with him as queen consort. Radama II was assassinated in 1863 and Rabodo was placed on the throne and took the name Rasoherina ("chrysalis"). Shortly after she was married to the prime minister despite the fact that she was considerably older than he. She died after a 5 year reign and was succeeded by another maternal cousin, Ramamo, who took the name Ranavalona II.

In other languages