Radama II of Madagascar

Infobox Monarch
name =Radama II
title =Radama II, by the grace of God and the will of the people, King of Madgascar, and Defender of the laws of the country


caption =Radama II with crown
reign =16 August 1861 – 12 May 1863
coronation =23 September 1862
othertitles =
full name =
predecessor =Ranavalona I
successor =Rasoherina
heir =
queen =Queen Rasoherina Rabodozanakandriana
consort =
spouse 1 = Queen Ramoma
spouse 2 =
spouse 3 =
spouse 4 =
spouse 5 =
spouse 6 =
issue =
royal house =
dynasty =Merina
royal anthem =
father =Andriamihaja
mother =Ranavalona I
date of birth =23 September, 1829
place of birth =Imasoandro Palace, Antananarivo
date of death =12 May, 1863
place of death =Tranokambana, Rovan' Antananarivo
date of burial =1897
place of burial =Tomb of the Kings, Rovan' Antananarivo|

Radama II (23 September 1829 – 12 May 1863) was king of the Merina Kingdom which controlled nearly all the island of Madagascar. He ruled from 1861 until his assassination in 1863.

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.

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.

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. ["A History of Madagascar, by Mervyn Brown"]

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.

Notes