Ranavalona - the peasant queen who killed half of her subjects
History knows many cruel queens who dealt without hesitation with enemies and simply with those who were undesirable. But even among them there are individuals who can be called real monsters. Queen Ranavalona of the Malagasy Kingdom was merciless both to the enemies of her state and to her subjects. During her reign, the country's population dropped from 5 to 2.5 million, because the ruler knew no mercy for anyone.
Madagascar is a large island that, like a boat to a ship, "moored" to the African continent. This place has a unique nature, and in its depths are hidden untold riches. Of course, for colonizers it has always been a tasty morsel. But here's the problem - the climate of the island is not very favorable, and its population - numerous and brave Malagasy people, did not like strangers.
After Portuguese explorer Diego Dias discovered Madagascar in 1500, attempts to colonize it began immediately. The British and French tried to make a thriving colony out of the island. But the warlike Malagasy and malaria did not contribute to success. So by the 18th century, the island was left alone. The only Europeans who felt safe there were pirates.
At the end of the 18th century, the Malagasy organized their own state, headed by a king with the terrible name of Andrianampuanimerin. It is even strange that such a great man had a son whose name was only Radama. The king really wanted to live in a European way and also raised an heir to the throne. But the policy of the monarch, who flirted with the colonizers, was not to the liking of many. Therefore, one day, a relative of the ruler decided to overthrow him.
A simple peasant accidentally learned about the plot. He hurried to the palace and warned Andrianampoanimerina. The rebellion was suppressed in time, and in gratitude the king took the peasant's daughter into the palace. She was a real beauty and, as in a fairy tale, married Prince Radama. The heir's wife, whose name was traditionally unpronounceable, was renamed Ranavalona.
When Radam became king, he continued his father's pro-European reforms. In 1857, a secret agreement was concluded with France, which would later lead to a French protectorate over Madagascar. Schools and Christian churches soon appeared in Madagascar. The king was delighted with the innovations he was introducing, which could not be said about the queen. Ranavalona turned out to be a supporter of traditionalists who did not want to see white people on the island.
In the shadow of her royal husband, the clever woman acquired serious connections and numerous supporters. But she was unable to give her husband an heir, and the next contender for the throne was the king's nephew. When Radam unexpectedly died of a fever, everything went wrong - Ranavalona, relying on supporters, proclaimed herself ruler of the Malagasy Kingdom.
The queen barricaded herself and her henchmen in the palace. She declared that she was ready to fight the colonizers uncompromisingly and build an independent state. The people supported the woman, and she officially headed the country. The first thing Ranavalona did was to get rid of her enemies and simply people who could hinder her. On her orders, everyone who could lay claim to the throne was killed, and their relatives were imprisoned.
Having dealt with her immediate circle, the queen took on the colonizers. She broke all agreements with the Europeans and closed schools and churches. The soldiers of Ranavalona beheaded the strangers who did not manage to escape. Their heads were strung on pikes and placed on the ocean shore, as a threat to others.
The most terrible fate awaited Christian missionaries. They were boiled and buried alive, burned at the stake, and skinned. Having exterminated the preachers of foreign faiths, Ranavalona took on her compatriots. She began to execute thousands of subjects suspected of loyalty to the Europeans. At the same time, the queen did not skimp and, together with the opposition, put to death their families.
Every year, Queen Ranavalona ordered the execution of approximately 25,000 islanders. Over time, the woman began sending people to their deaths for completely insane reasons. It is known that one unfortunate man was tortured to death for appearing in the ruler's dreams.
The courts that Father Radama had introduced ceased to function. Instead, they began to practice "testing by poison." To find out whether a person was guilty or not, he was offered to eat one of three pieces of chicken skin. Among them was a poisoned one, perhaps even more than one. If the person remained alive, he won the case. Of course, there were few people willing to go to court in this way, and justice was gradually forgotten.
The queen loved grand hunts, but they also ended badly for her subjects. Once, Ranavalona organized a raid on wild buffalo, in which thousands of hunters took part. The result of the event disappointed the tyrant. She ordered those who did not find prey to leave their villages for the forests and mountains with their families. Thus, 50 thousand Malagasy were expelled from their homes, many of whom died from hardships.
Ranavalona's behavior seemed insane. Despite her hatred of everything European, she adored good French soap. On a holiday that the queen called Purification Day, she would immerse herself in a bathtub placed in front of the palace. The woman would splash around in the soapy water and sprinkle it on her subjects. They would swoon with delight, bringing joy to the ruler.
Surprisingly, despite the cruelty and inadequate graying, the Malagasy loved their queen. She united them against a common enemy - the European colonizers. We must give Ranavalona her due - she very successfully resisted foreign expansion and promoted Malagasy culture. But the fact remains - during the 33 years of the queen's reign, the population of Madagascar decreased from 5 to 2.5 million people.
Ranavalona lived to be 79 years old and died of old age in her sleep. The death of the queen in 1861 was perceived by her people as a real disaster. A huge crowd gathered for her funeral - people sobbed and sprinkled dust on their heads, expressing their grief. But even the farewell ceremony with the bloody queen turned into a tragedy. On the street, right in the crowd, a barrel of gunpowder exploded, no one knows how it got there. As a result of this terrorist act, dozens of people died and hundreds were seriously injured.
Despite everything, the mourning for Ranavalona lasted 10 months. Funeral songs were sung, cries were made, and animals were sacrificed in her honor throughout the country. Today, it is difficult to imagine that Madagascar, which many perceive as a nature reserve island with unique nature, has such a bloody history.