Madagascar (Cherry, Plum, and Chrysanthemum)

Malagasy Republic Repoblika Malagasy Timeline: Cherry, Plum, and Chrysanthemum OTL equivalent: Madagascar
Flag Emblem
Motto:  Fitiavana, Tanindrazana, Fandrosoana (Malagasy) ("Love, Fatherland, Progress")
Anthem:  Ry Tanindrazanay malala ô!
Location of Madagascar (Cherry, Plum, and Chrysanthemum) Location of Madagascar
Capital		Antananarivo
Official languages		Malagasy
Ethnic groups		Merina; Sakalava; Betsimisaraka; Tsimihety
Religion		Christianity; Islam; Traditional religions
Demonym		Malagasy
Government		Unitary state; Parliamentary republic
-	President
-	Prime Minister
Legislature		Parliament of Madagascar
Establishment
-	Independence from Scandinavia	August 22, 1960
Currency		Malagasy ariary (MGA)
Time zone		EAT (UTC+3)
Internet TLD		.mg
Calling code		+261

Madagascar (Malagasy: Madagasikara), officially the Malagasy Republic (Malagasy: Repoblika Malagasy), is an island country in Southern Africa. Located in the Indian Ocean, the country lies off the southeastern coast of Continental Africa. It is separated from Malawi, Mozambique and the Portuguese overseas province of Mozambique in southeastern Africa by the Mozambique Channel to the west. The nation comprises the island of Madagascar (the fourth-largest island in the world), as well as numerous smaller peripheral islands. At 592,800 square kilometres (228,900 sq mi) Madagascar is the world's second-largest island country, after Indonesia. Following the prehistoric breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana, Madagascar split from India around 88 million years ago, allowing native plants and animals to evolve in relative isolation.

Human settlement of Madagascar occurred during or before the mid first millennium AD by Austronesian peoples, arriving on outrigger canoes from present-day southern Borneo, Indonesia. The Malagasy language itself originated from the Southeast Barito language, and Ma'anyan language is its closest relative, with numerous Malay and Javanese loanwords. These were joined around the 9th century AD by Bantu migrants crossing the Mozambique Channel from East Africa. Other groups continued to settle on Madagascar over time, each one making lasting contributions to Malagasy cultural life. The Malagasy ethnic group is often divided into 18 or more subgroups, of which the largest are the Merina of the central highlands.

History

Scandinavian Madagascar (1701–1960)

Early Scandinavian settlements (1701–1861)

Plan of French-built Fort Dauphin in Tolanaro from 1650.

In 1701, the Danish East India Company (Danish: Ostindisk Kompagni, OIK) bought the colony of Tolanaro from the French East India Company. Later, in 1745, the Swedish East India Company (Swedish: Svenska Ostindiska Companiet, SOIC) claimed an abandoned English settlement in Toliara and renamed it Frederikkyst, making it an outpost for trade with the Far East. The SOIC monopolized the tea trade from China, while the OIK engaged in the spice trade with India. They also traded with local populace. By the end of 18th century, however, both companies also engaged in the slave trade with the Swahili Arabs from the eastern coast of Africa.

To counter the Merina hegemony from the central mountainous region, the Sakalava chiefs in western Madagascar entered alliance with the SOIC in 1749. In 1803, the slave trade was banned by Denmark, followed by Sweden ten years later. After the ban, the OIK was declared bankrupt in 1805 and the SOIC in 1813; the colonies were then transferred to the governments of Denmark and Sweden. The treaty signed between the Muslim Sakalava chief, Tsimalomo, and Governor of Frederikkyst, Johan Samuel Rosensvärd, in 1816 granted the Swedes a concession of major ports in the western coast of Madagascar for fifty years in exchange for protection against the Merina intruders.

Merina's ruler, Radama I, signed treaties with the Danes, outlawing the slave trade and accepting Protestant missionaries in 1817. When Radama I died in 1828, his widow Ranavalona I repudiated the treaties that Radama I had signed with Denmark and prohibited the practice of Christianity. By 1828, the island was divided between the hegemonic rules of Sakalava in the west and of Merina in the east. In 1857, the Queen discovered his son had signed a concession with the French and immediately expelled all foreigners from Merina. As retaliation, the Danes launched a military expedition to Merina in 1858.

Colonial consolidation (1861–1918)

Queen Ranavalona II (1829–1883; r.1868–1883).

Despite a brave resistance from the Queen and her armies, the Danes prevailed. Ranavalona I was then exiled by the Danes and her son, Prince Rakoto, became King Radama II. After the king was murdered by the nobles in 1861, Radama’s widow, Rasoherina, ascended to the throne. Rasoherina signed a treaty with now-united Scandinavia in 1865, giving Scandinavian citizens the right to rent land and property on Merina and to have a resident ambassador. As Denmark and Sweden were united as Scandinavia, their colonies in Madagascar became the Scandinavian possessions. Another treaty with the Sakalava chiefs in 1866 fully cemented the Scandinavian rule in Madagascar.

In 1869, Queen Ranavalona II, previously educated by the Christiania Missionary Society (Christiania Missionsselskab), underwent baptism and made Lutheranism the official state religion of Merina. The relationship between the Malagasy rulers and the Scandinavians were mostly friendly as the local monarchs depended to the Scandinavians for protection. Despite the French and British claims, Scandinavian rule on the island was strengthened by the end of 19th century through diplomacy and military alliance. For the tribes in other parts of island, the Scandinavians used military force to subjugate them, completing the conquest of the island in 1898.

Indian Ocean slave catching in Mahajanga, northern Madagascar, ca. 1869, a practice which was outlawed in 1878 by the Scandinavians

During the colonial era, the Scandinavians imposed the indirect rule in the island through native bureaucrats. Lower ranks of the colonial government were largely staffed by the educated locals, mostly the Merina and the Sakalava. Numerous policies were implemented by the colonial government to modernize the island. Upgrading the infrastructure of ports and roads and improvement of water irrigation became priorities. Plantations were established for the production of a variety of export crops, mostly sugar and rubber. Traditional slavery was formally abolished in 1878 by the Scandinavians.

Western education and Christianity, ironically, brought the ideals of democracy and emancipation to the small educated elite of Malagasy, especially the Merina who had converted to Lutheranism. Most Malagasy referred the period as "The Ninety-Nine-Year Enlightenment" (Det Nioghalvfems-Års Oplysningstid), crediting it for bringing modern civilization to the island. In 1913, several medical students in Antananarivo founded the first native emancipation organization, Mpiady ny Fandrosoana ("Warriors of Progress"). Inspired by the nationalist writings of Lutheran minister Ravelojaona, the Mpiady used the press to call on the populace to sacrifice themselves for the freedom and progress of the tanindrazana (land of their ancestors).

Malagasy national consciousness (1918–39)

Hans Ralaimongo (1885–1944), the father of Malagasy nationalism.

Regardless of an apparently lenient colonial rule, many Malagasy felt threatened by the increasing immigration of Scandinavians, Indians and Chinese. The Malagasy also saw themselves been discriminated with the preferential treatment to the foreign settlers in economic and educational opportunities. In 1918, Icelandic declaration of independence from Scandinavia inspired to the educated Malagasy to demand self-government status. The colonial government ignored these demands and arrested several nationalists. The crackdown thus severed the relations between the colonial government and the Malagasy.

Malagasy Christians felt alienated with the Scandinavians, despite having same religion and soon developed their own national consciousness. Hans Ralaimongo, a Betsileo Christian teacher, was inspired by the workers' movement when he studied in Copenhagen. In 1919, he returned to Madagascar and, together with Paul Dussac, led the General Plantation Workers’ Union (Sendikan'ny Ankapobeny Mpiasa Fambolena; Almen Plantage Arbejderforbund, AMPFO) against the colonial abuses through the passive resistance among plantation workers. A staunch opponent of colonial paternalism, Ralaimongo believed the Malagasy should not be treated inferior to the Europeans.

In 1929, the AMPFO mounted a demonstration in Tolanaro. About 3,000 protesters gathered around the office of Resident-General, which quickly suppressed by the colonial police. Although Ralaimongo denied himself as the initiator, he was placed under house arrest. With the help of socialist Prime Minister Thorvald Stauning, Ralaimongo was pardoned in 1930. In 1931, the Landsråd ("Provincial Council") was established following the colonial reform launched by the Stauning Cabinet. Local notables, such as Ralaimongo, Paul Dussac, Josef Ravoahangy, Josef Raseta, Prince Rachidy Andriamamefiarivo of Sakalava and Prince Ramahatra of Merina, have served in the Landsråd prior to World War II.

Further readings

• Fage, J. D., Crowder, M., & Oliver, R. A. (Eds.). (1984). The Cambridge History of Africa (Vol. 8). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Roberts, A. D., & Oliver, R. A. (Eds.). (1986). The Cambridge History of Africa (Vol. 7). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.