Ratsimilaho
Encyclopedia
Ratsimilaho was a ruler of an east coastal region of Madagascar
. He is said to be the son of an English pirate and a Malagasy
queen
, Antavaratra Rahena. The region, known as the Betsimisaraka confederation
covered 400 hundred miles of coast and this legacy was created by Ratsimilaho. The Betsimisaraka
make up approximately fifteen percent of the Malagasy people
and are the second largest group in Madagascar
after the Merina
.
queen, Antavaratra Rahena, to an English pirate when he arrived to show his accreditation as a privateer. The pirate is said to have adopted the resulting child and taken the boy briefly to England where he had some education. Now "according to most chroniclers", whilst Ratsimilaho had been away there had been a redistribution of power. The tribes to the south under their leader Ramano had captured the territory to the north of Tamatave as they were jealous of the riches arising from the trade with the Europeans.
Ratsimilaho's initial approach was to negotiate with Ramano and the Tsikoa clans, but this proved impossible. He therefore called a meeting, a kabary, of the leaders and after much debate he persuaded them to give him the power to lead them in a battle. Ratsimilaho was given the title of filoha be and he used this power to create a new state. Driving out the Southern clans and resisting their later attempts at reinvasion he was victorious. The southern tribes were then called those who wear red mud.
In 1712 Ratsimilato obtained a new treaty
and it was at this time that his people took on the title of Betsimisaraka meaning the many who will not be sundered, whilst his descendants were known as the Zana-Malatas, the "children of the mulattos". He is said to have requested a wife from the people known as Zafimbolamena (Grandchildren of Gold) who were part of the Sakalava people. The resulting child, a son, was named Zanahary - a name now used in Madagascar to mean a God.
Ramaromanompo was the new name taken by Ratsimilaho meaning he who is served by many. This important Betsimisaraka federation lasted principally until 1750/51, ending either because of the death of the filoha be or because of internal squabbles.
The confederation continued after his death but there was pressure from outside and disagreement within. However his legacy, the Betsimisaraka territory included the important port Toamasina
, Fenerive, Maroansetra commanding Antongil Bay
, the largest bay in Madagascar.
After his death his daughter, Bity, became queen. She had married a French
corporal
and it said that this is what gave France its first claim. She reigned with her husband, until Ratsimilaho's son, Zanahary, became leader.
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
. He is said to be the son of an English pirate and a Malagasy
Malagasy people
The Malagasy ethnic group forms nearly the entire population of Madagascar. They are divided into two subgroups: the "Highlander" Merina, Sihanaka and Betsileo of the central plateau around Antananarivo, Alaotra and Fianarantsoa, and the côtiers elsewhere in the country. This division has its...
queen
Queen regnant
A queen regnant is a female monarch who reigns in her own right, in contrast to a queen consort, who is the wife of a reigning king. An empress regnant is a female monarch who reigns in her own right over an empire....
, Antavaratra Rahena. The region, known as the Betsimisaraka confederation
Betsimisaraka
The Betsimisaraka make up approximately fifteen percent of the Malagasy people and are the second largest ethnic group in Madagascar after the Merina....
covered 400 hundred miles of coast and this legacy was created by Ratsimilaho. The Betsimisaraka
Betsimisaraka
The Betsimisaraka make up approximately fifteen percent of the Malagasy people and are the second largest ethnic group in Madagascar after the Merina....
make up approximately fifteen percent of the Malagasy people
Malagasy people
The Malagasy ethnic group forms nearly the entire population of Madagascar. They are divided into two subgroups: the "Highlander" Merina, Sihanaka and Betsileo of the central plateau around Antananarivo, Alaotra and Fianarantsoa, and the côtiers elsewhere in the country. This division has its...
and are the second largest group in Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
after the Merina
Merina
The Merina are an ethnic group from Madagascar. The Merina are concentrated in the Highlands and speak the official dialect of the Malagasy language, which is a branch of the Malayo-Polynesian language group derived from the Barito languages, spoken in southern Borneo. Their ancestors, the...
.
Biography
Ratsimilaho was reputedly born as a result of the hospitality shown by a MalagasyMalagasy people
The Malagasy ethnic group forms nearly the entire population of Madagascar. They are divided into two subgroups: the "Highlander" Merina, Sihanaka and Betsileo of the central plateau around Antananarivo, Alaotra and Fianarantsoa, and the côtiers elsewhere in the country. This division has its...
queen, Antavaratra Rahena, to an English pirate when he arrived to show his accreditation as a privateer. The pirate is said to have adopted the resulting child and taken the boy briefly to England where he had some education. Now "according to most chroniclers", whilst Ratsimilaho had been away there had been a redistribution of power. The tribes to the south under their leader Ramano had captured the territory to the north of Tamatave as they were jealous of the riches arising from the trade with the Europeans.
Ratsimilaho's initial approach was to negotiate with Ramano and the Tsikoa clans, but this proved impossible. He therefore called a meeting, a kabary, of the leaders and after much debate he persuaded them to give him the power to lead them in a battle. Ratsimilaho was given the title of filoha be and he used this power to create a new state. Driving out the Southern clans and resisting their later attempts at reinvasion he was victorious. The southern tribes were then called those who wear red mud.
In 1712 Ratsimilato obtained a new treaty
Treaty
A treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an agreement, protocol, covenant, convention or exchange of letters, among other terms...
and it was at this time that his people took on the title of Betsimisaraka meaning the many who will not be sundered, whilst his descendants were known as the Zana-Malatas, the "children of the mulattos". He is said to have requested a wife from the people known as Zafimbolamena (Grandchildren of Gold) who were part of the Sakalava people. The resulting child, a son, was named Zanahary - a name now used in Madagascar to mean a God.
Ramaromanompo was the new name taken by Ratsimilaho meaning he who is served by many. This important Betsimisaraka federation lasted principally until 1750/51, ending either because of the death of the filoha be or because of internal squabbles.
The confederation continued after his death but there was pressure from outside and disagreement within. However his legacy, the Betsimisaraka territory included the important port Toamasina
Toamasina
Toamasina , meaning "like salt" or "salty", unofficially and in French also Tamatave, is a city on the east coast of Madagascar on the Indian Ocean. The city is the chief seaport of the country, situated northeast of its capital and biggest city Antananarivo, near the centre of the eastern coast...
, Fenerive, Maroansetra commanding Antongil Bay
Antongil Bay
Helodranon' Antongila , more commonly called Antongil Bay in English, is the largest bay in Madagascar. It is at the northern end of the east coast of the island and for administrative purposes it is within Analanjirofo Region. The bay is about 60 km long and 30 km wide, and is formed by...
, the largest bay in Madagascar.
After his death his daughter, Bity, became queen. She had married a French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
and it said that this is what gave France its first claim. She reigned with her husband, until Ratsimilaho's son, Zanahary, became leader.