Radama II of Madagascar

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Radama II
Radama II, by the grace of God and the will of the people, King of Madgascar, and Defender of the laws of the country
Radama II with crown
Reign	16 August 1861 – 12 May 1863
Coronation	23 September 1862
Born	23 September, 1829
Birthplace	Imasoandro Palace, Antananarivo
Died	12 May, 1863
Place of death	Tranokambana, Rovan' Antananarivo
Buried	Tomb of the Kings, Rovan' Antananarivo
Predecessor	Ranavalona I
Successor	Rasoherina
Consort	Queen Rasoherina Rabodozanakandriana
Wife	Queen Ramoma
Dynasty	Merina
Father	Andriamihaja
Mother	Ranavalona I

Radama II (23 September 1829 – 12 May 1863) was king of Madagascar from 1861 until his assassination in 1863.

Contents 1 Upbringing 2 Brief rule 3 Assassination 4 Notes

[edit] Upbringing

He was born as Prince Rakoto, actually Rakotosehenondradama, and officially the son of King Radama I, although the king had died more than nine months before his birth. His mother, Ranavalona I likely fathered him by her lover at that time, Andrianmihaja, a young officer of the Merina army. After his mother succeeded Radama on the throne, she instituted a regressive regime of restoration trying to bring back traditional values and contain or eliminate westernization. The prince, however, was open to modern ideas and was looked at as a hope for reform. A coup attempt instigated by Joseph-François Lambert in 1857 tried to bring him to the throne but failed. He finally ascended to the throne after the natural death of his mother in 1861.

[edit] Brief rule

As King Radama II he opened up the country again to foreign powers and concluded treaties of friendship with Britain and France. The Lambert Charter opened up business possibilities for French investors. Persecution of Christians ceased and missionaries returned to the country. His accelerated embracement of westernization alienated and disfranchised established powers of the Merina society leading to his termination after a two-year rule.

[edit] Assassination

Due to the Merina custom of never spilling royal blood, Radama was strangled with a silk cloth after being subdued. Following his apparent death, rumors spread that he was only rendered unconscious by the attempt on his life, recovering after his murderers unceremoniously dumped his body. It was believed that he was residing on the west coast of the island, and had gained supporters.

The rumors persisted to the point of causing some political turmoil in the Merina capital. While these claims have never been substantiated by concrete evidence, the claim has some substance judging by the actions of others. Prominent Christian missionaries based on the other side of Madagascar made extensive efforts to visit and support Radama but were never able to. Also, the traditionalist forces in the government were concerned enough by the rumors as to have put to death sixteen of his supporters, as well as fining hundreds of others.^[1]

With the murder of Radama the power of the Merina monarchs was broken. Subsequent monarchs were controlled by nobles, specifically Rainilaiarivony who got married to all three remaining queens of the monarchy. Radama was succeeded by his wife Rasoherina, who was later succeeded by another of Radama's wives, Ranavalona II.

[edit] Notes

The Merina monarchy

King Andrianampoinimerina | King Radama I | Queen Ranavalona I | King Radama II | Queen Rasoherina | Queen Ranavalona II Queen Ranavalona III