The Berlin Conference and the Madagascar Protectorate

Episode 79 of The Berlin Conference series turns to Madagascar, an island kingdom that European powers had largely bypassed during the early scramble. Lucas and Luna explore how the Merina monarchy under Ranavalona III and Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony attempted to modernise and resist French encroachment. They examine the Treaty of Tamatave in 1885, which ceded Diego-Suarez to France and forced a crippling indemnity, and the subsequent Franco-Hova Wars. Lucas explains the role of the Merina army's British-trained officers and the strategic calculation behind French colonisation—how Madagascar became a protectorate in 1895 after the fall of Antananarivo. The conversation highlights the hypocrisy of the Berlin Conference's 'effective occupation' principle, as France claimed sovereignty over an island with a functioning state. Along the way, they touch on the impact of the slave trade on Malagasy society, the island's unique language and culture, and the fate of Queen Ranavalona. A little-known chapter of the scramble that challenges the narrative of empty land waiting to be claimed. #Madagascar #BerlinConference #RanavalonaIII #Rainilaiarivony #FrancoHovaWars #MerinaKingdom #Antananarivo #DiegoSuarez #TamataveTreaty #ScrambleForAfrica #FrenchEmpire #EffectiveOccupation #Malagasy #Indemnity #Protectorate #ColonialHistory #AfricanHistory #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo