EPISODE · May 28, 2026 · 8 MIN
Madagascar's Betsimisaraka: Pirate Allies and Merina Expansion
from The Story of Madagascar: Isolation, Kingdoms, and Colonial Rule — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
Episode 61 of The Story of Madagascar turns to the Betsimisaraka, the people of the east coast whose history is entwined with piracy, slavery, and Merina conquest. Lucas and Luna explore how the 17th-century pirate haven Libertalia gave way to the Betsimisaraka confederation under Ratsimilaho, son of an English pirate. They examine the slave trade with the Mascarene Islands, the Betsimisaraka's decentralized political structure, and the brutal Merina campaigns of Radama I and Ranavalona I that shattered their independence. The episode also delves into the Betsimisaraka practice of famadihana, the unique tangena ordeal, and the lasting legacy of European contact on Madagascar's eastern shores. #Betsimisaraka #Madagascar #Pirates #Libertalia #Ratsimilaho #Merina #RadamaI #RanavalonaI #SlaveTrade #Mascarene #Famadihana #Tangena #EastCoast #Toamasina #Foulpointe #IndianOcean #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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Madagascar's Betsimisaraka: Pirate Allies and Merina Expansion
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