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| Capital (and largest city) |
Antsiranana | |||||||
| Government | Imperial Province | |||||||
| Legislature | Emperor and Imperial Governor | |||||||
| Area | 587,041 km2 km² | |||||||
| Established | 1507 (754 AD) | |||||||
History of Madagascar[]
The Satavahana Era[]
In 847 (94 AD) Chitraksh Satavahana, leader of a prominent family in the Maurya Empire, left during the Great Famine of that year looking for new sources of food in Africa. He moved his family in order to escape persecution by the Hindus against the religion of Thenmobism which the Satavahana practiced. The Satavahana landed first in Madagascar where they established many new ports with the money they received from the Indian Samraats. The Indians funded many of the early policies of the Satavahana to set up a government in Madagascar and in the East African coast which they also took. The Satavahana, however, became a de facto independent country when they refused the orders of the Samraat who was unable to move all the way towards Madagascar.
The Satavahana had extensive trade relations with the Srivijaya Empire who were also Thenmobists. The Satavahana held their capital in Madagascar throughout their time in Africa. After the Nigerian War new African states began appearing in Southern Africa. From this the Bantu Kingdom and the Zulu Republic appeared who conducted themselves in an unspoken alliance against the Satavahana.
In 1170 (417 AD) the Maurya Empire, who had been, secretly, building up small cities on coastal Africa to
New Thanjavur (Antananarivo) burning.
combat the Satavahana, were discovered. In the resulting invasion many of the cities wera attacked and in the final battle the city of New Thanjavur was burned once the citizens knew that the Maurya were on their way. They chose suicide rather than defeat though that was the Thenmobist belief. The destruction of New Thanjavur dissuaded many of the Generals from colonizing Madagascar and they were so disturbed at the activities witnessed that they chose to take only part of the African portion of the Satavahana and leave Madagascar unconquered.
The Island of Death[]
From 1170-1507 (417-754 AD) a small, localized dark age occurred on Madagascar. The city of New Thanjavur was destroyed and because it was the main throughway for rads going across the island, the jungles took them over and made them unnavigable. Because of this city states emerged across the island. The recorded ones were in Antsiranana to the north. Mahajanga was on the northwest coast. Morondava and Maintirano controlled the West. Toliara, Morombe, Ambovombe and Tolanaro were on the south. Farafangana, Mahanoro, Mananjary, Manakara, Taolagnaro and Toamasina controlled the west coast and in the interior were the smaller states of Antsirabe, New Thanjavur, Ambatondrazaka, Ambositra, Fianarantsoa, and Ihosy.
City States of Madagascar
These formed a loose patchwork that did not unite in any meaningful way and trade between them was similarly dismal. Most of the history of these states wasn't written as literature broke down during this time when Madagascar was referred to as the "Island of Death." For more than three hundred this continued in Madagascar and improvements were at their lowest in the Western Hemisphere. In 1507 (754 AD) Captain Rovinius of the Roman Empire landed in Antsiranana.
The Roman Period[]
Captain Rovinius asked if the city states of Madagascar would like to become part of the Roman Empire. King Andry of Antsiranana spoke of the independent spirit of many of the leaders in Madagascar. These city state Kings would react very violently if the Romans sought to change their governments and remove the leaders but otherwise he believed that most of the cities would invite the Romans because they were known to be wealthy and have a strong trade network. When Rovinius returned to Rome in the same year, Madagascar was the first priority for Emperor Tarsus. He took on this new Imperial colony and rebuilt roads and re-established trade and many in Madagascar rejoiced. Captain Ambustus, Lieutenant to Captain Rovinius at the time of their first landing in Antsiranana, was appointed Imperial Governor of Madagascar and he made a council of Mayors that brought the Kings of the city-states into one deliberative council.
List of Imperial Governors of Madagascar[]
Governor Lucius Ambustus 1507- (754- AD)
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