The Malagasy Merina Army and the 1895 French Invasion

In this episode of The Story of Madagascar, Lucas and Luna explore the military resistance of the Merina Kingdom during the French invasion of 1895. They delve into the structure of the Merina army, the roles of the Hova and Andriana classes, the strategic use of the fanompoana labor system for defense, and the devastating impact of the French scorched-earth campaign. The conversation highlights key figures like General Jacques Duchesne and Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony, and examines how disease, tropical terrain, and the burning of Antananarivo contributed to Madagascar's fall. The episode also touches on the longer legacy of that defeat—the Menalamba uprising and the eventual exile of Queen Ranavalona III. Drawing on earlier discussions of Merina statecraft and the sampy, this episode offers a focused look at a critical turning point that shaped colonial rule. #Merina #FrenchInvasion #RanavalonaIII #Rainilaiarivony #Antananarivo #JacquesDuchesne #Fanompoana #Hova #Andriana #Menalamba #ColonialMadagascar #History #MadagascarHistory #FexingoHistory #MilitaryHistory #ScorchedEarth #SiegeOfAntananarivo #1895 #Madagascar #MerinaKingdom Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo