Ranavalona I (1792-1861) was a queen known for her ruthless 33 year reign in Madagascar, often portrayed as both a bloodthirsty dictator and an anti-imperialist leader. For those of you tuning in for the first time, welcome! Here’s the deal: Every weekday, we highlight the stories of iconic women in history you may not know about, but definitely should. We’re talking about women from around the world and throughout history. Each month is themed. This month we’re talking about troublemakers–from women who made “good trouble” to women who thrived in illicit industries to villains in the truest sense of the word.
This month, we're talking about troublemakers–from women who made “good trouble” to women who thrived in illicit industries to villains in the truest sense of the word.
History classes can get a bad wrap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical curriculum? Enter, Encyclopedia Womannica. On this Wonder Media Network podcast we explore the lives of inspiring women in history you may not know about, but definitely should.
Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know -- but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Educators, Villains, Indigenous Storytellers, Activists, and many more. Encyclopedia Womannica is hosted by WMN co-founder and award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan. The bite-sized episodes pack painstakingly researched content into fun, entertaining, and addictive daily adventures.
Encyclopedia Womannica was created by Liz Kaplan and Jenny Kaplan, executive produced by Jenny Kaplan, and produced by Liz Smith, Grace Lynch, Maddy Foley, Brittany Martinez, Edie Allard, Lindsey Kratochwill, Sundus Hassan, Adesuwa Agbonile, Carmen Borca-Carrillo, Taylor Williamson, and Ale Tejada. Special thanks to Shira Atkins.
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Hello, from Wonder Media Network I’m Jenny Kaplan and this is Womanica.
If you’re tuning in for the first time, here’s the deal. Every weekday, we’re telling the stories of women from around the world and throughout history who you may not know about, but should. Each month is themed.
This month, we’re talking about Troublemakers and villains. We’re covering stories from across a spectrum, from women who made “good trouble” to women who thrived in illicit industries, to villains in the truest sense of the word. All of the women we’re covering had a major impact on the societies in which they lived.
Women, like men, have played good and bad roles in human history. To gloss over women who we find less than inspiring is to accept a diminished and inaccurate place in the historical record.
This episode is about one of the most murderous women in history, so if you’re listening with young children you may want to sit this one out.
Today, we’re talking about a queen known for her ruthless 33 year reign in Madagascar. She’s often portrayed as both a bloodthirsty dictator and an anti-imperialist leader. Let's talk about Ranavalona I.
Our subject was born with the name Ramavo in 1792. For the first three-and-a-half decades of her life, that’s how she was known. Then, when she was 36, Ramavo’s husband, King Radama I, took his own life in a fit of delirium. The cause of this delirium remains a mystery — it could have been caused by malaria, blackwater fever, and/or excessive alcohol consumption. Regardless, six days after her husband’s death, Ramavo ordered all of his relatives either strangled or starved to death, and declared herself queen.
Ramavo then took on the royal name, Ranavalona, and began her long reign on the Malagasy people.
Becoming queen presented early challenges. Before European influence, the Malagasy people had been a matrilineal society. But prior to Ranavalona’s ascension to the throne, the royal family adopted a rule of patrilineal succession. Ranavalona declared herself to be a man in order to safeguard her rule. This prevented her from remarrying. Still, she was allowed lovers and any children she bore were considered descendents of her dead husband.
Ranavalona’s rule was profoundly different from her late husband’s. Unlike Ramada I, she did not have a friendly attitude towards Europeans. She threw out the Anglo-Malagasy treaty of friendship signed by her husband. She also forbade building roads, so that no invading European army could have a straight shot to her kingdom. Royal policies were often dictated by divination boards known as sikidy.
Ranavalona reinstated slavery as a social and economic instititution after it had previously been abolished.
At the age of 37, Ranavalona gave birth to her only child, Rakoto. The child’s father was one of Ranavalona’s generals. The father was assassinated a year later by the queen’s newest lover, Rainiharo.
Two years later, by chance, a Frenchman named Jean Laborde washed up on the beach. He was treasure diving on the coast of Mozambique when his ship got caught in a storm. When he landed in Madagascar, he automatically became property of the crown. He was taken to the queen and ended up signing a contract to manufacture rifles and cannons for Ranavalona.
This began an industrial revolution on the island. Jean and the queen employed 10,000 Malagasy people to manufacture everything from soap to guns.
At the age of 43, Ranavalona became very ill. Fearing she may die, the queen prayed dutifully to her ancestors to help her heal.
When Ranavalona recovered, she attributed her health to Malagasy spirituality. This inspired her to safeguard her cultural beliefs by making all missionaries stop baptisms.
Then in 1835, all missionaries were expelled from Madagascar and all missionary schools were closed. A year later, the queen ordered the capture and execution of every Christian on the island. Whether you were Malagasy, European, or the highest ranking court member, everyone was subject to the queen’s trials. Her punishments were torturous, spanning from poison to enslavement to dismemberment.
A decade after missionaries were expelled, Ranavalona banned all Europeans from trading in Madagascar. Anyone who disagreed with the decree had to leave within two weeks of the order.
As the queen got older, she grew more outrageous with her power. She was responsible for 50% of deaths on the island. Those who survived were burdened by the fact that she also mismanaged the economy.
By the early 1850s, Ranavalona’s son,Prince Rakoto, had become a young man. Because of his relationship with Jean Laborde, he was sympathetic to Europeans.
In January 1854, the prince dispatched a secret letter to Napoleon III asking him to bring the French army to Madagascar to replace his mother’s advisors. The French emperor never responded. Three years later, Ranavalona found out about her son’s plot.
In response, she expelled all remaining Europeans from Madagascar and confiscated their possessions.
During Ranavalona’s reign, the island was gripped with paranoia and terror. She ruled with an iron fist.
In 1861, she died at the age of 69. She had earned the nickname “Ranavalona the Cruel.”
All month, we’re talking about troublemakers and villains.
Special thanks to Liz Kaplan, my favorite sister and co-creator.
As always, we’ll be taking a break for the weekend. Talk to you on Monday!