Madagascar's 1895 French Invasion: A Bitter Defeat

In 1895, a French expeditionary force of 15,000 men landed at Majunga on Madagascar's northwest coast, aiming to conquer the Merina kingdom and end its independence. But the campaign quickly became a nightmare of disease, climate, and guerrilla resistance. Lucas and Luna explore the strategic miscalculations, the devastating impact of malaria and typhoid, the role of porters forced into service under the fanompoana labor system, and the French capture of Antananarivo after only one major battle. They also examine the aftermath: the imposition of a protectorate, the exile of Queen Ranavalona III, and the rise of the Menalamba revolt. Join them for a vivid account of a colonial war that cost the French over 5,000 dead — mostly from disease — and left Madagascar scarred for generations. #Madagascar #FrenchInvasion #1895 #MerinaKingdom #RanavalonaIII #Majunga #Antananarivo #Menalamba #Fanompoana #ColonialWar #Malaria #JacquesDuchesne #Tananarive #History #FexingoHistory #EastAfrica #Imperialism #Resistance Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo