Ombalahivelo Rasanjy
Rasanjy (malag. Rasanjy; 3 December 1851, Antananarivo -1918) was a Malagasy politician, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Imerina from September 1896 to February 1897 diplomat. From 1866 he was engaged in public activities, in 1881 he became a member of the cabinet (government guard). In 1886 he was appointed ambassador to France. In 1896 he became Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Imerina, one of the predecessor states of the African island state of Madagascar. From September 1896 he held the title of Governor of the Kingdom of Imerina. After the abolition of the post in February 1897, Rasanji was forced to resign.
The Malagasy forces: The rise of centralized kingdoms among the Sakalava, Merina and other ethnic groups produced the island's first standing armies, first equipped with spears, but later with muskets, cannons and other firearms. King Ralambo (1575–1612) raised the first standing army in the highland Kingdom of Imerina with a handful of guns, although for at least two centuries the armies of the Sakalava were much larger and better equipped, possessing thousands of muskets obtained principally through trade with European partners. By the early 19th century, however, the army of the Kingdom of Imerina was able to bring much of the island under Merina control. Military ranks of the Kingdom of Imerina military in the 19th century. Hierarchy from lower to upper class soldiers. Merina Queen Ranavalona, like her predecessors, utilized the tradition of fanampoana (service due to the sovereign in lieu of taxes) to conscript a large portion of the population of Imerina into military service, enabling the queen to raise a standing army that was estimated at 20,000 to 30,000 soldiers. By the late 19th century French plans to colonize Madagascar were gaining momentum, leading British mercenaries to provide training to the queen's army in an unsuccessful bid to repel the French troops. The Malagasy forces number 30,000 soldiers plus 40,000 reservists. Some of them
were dressed and armed in European style. Elements of the Malagasy army during the war can be seen at the Musée de l'Armée, in the gallery dedicated to the period from the end of the Second Empire to the Cold War. The Malagasy army was commanded by Ramasombazaha, commander-in-chief of the north-western armies, under the supervision of the prime minister and viceroy Rainilaiarivony. The Queen had only honorary military status. The weapons were European, obsolete and modified; the rifles were muzzle-loading and flintlock, whereas the French had breech-loading Lebel rifles, or chassepots, model 1866. The uniforms were not the same for everyone: the officers had beautiful white or red uniforms, some units had English-style uniforms, but most had civilian clothes. Nevertheless, the Malagasy had breech-loading cannons.
The Kingdom of Madagascar, also known as the Merina (or Imerina) Kingdom, was a sovereign political entity established in central Madagascar from 27 October 1817 until 1 March 1897, when it was abolished by decision of General Gallieni, Madagascar having recently become a French colony. During these eighty tumultuous years, the Merina sovereigns claimed the title of ‘Mpanjakan'i Madagasikara (’Sovereign of Madagascar"), under the influence of the United Kingdom. However, this title was not accepted throughout the island: although the princes of each ethnic group recognised a link of suzerainty with the Merina sovereigns, some regions, such as the Tanala country of Ikongo in the south-east, the semi-deserted extreme south and Ambongo, a sparsely inhabited area in the north-west of the island, remained insubordinate. The history of Madagascar's central region dates back to the time when it was inhabited by an indigenous community known as the ‘Vazimba’. Territorial conflicts between the Vazimbas and the Hova, who arrived on the island later, led to the relative domination of the territories by the Hova, who were
characterised by their ingenuity and organisation. The Merina Kingdom, also known as the Kingdom of Émyrne or the Kingdom of Ancove, was established in the north-eastern region of present-day Merina or Imerina country. The earliest rulers of this region, dating back to tradition, included figures such as Andrianerinerina, Rafohy and Rangita, who ruled around the 12th century and into the 16th century. At the same time, the western part of Merina territory, known as Imamo, also formed a separate kingdom. It was not until the early 19th century that Andrianampoinimerina succeeded in definitively unifying the Merina kingdom, organising its territories into socio-political units known as fokonolona, and extending his authority over Imamo and the southern territories. On 27 October 1817, the Merina kingdom was officially proclaimed the Kingdom of Madagascar. However, this sovereignty came to an end in 1897 following the colonial invasion of the island by France, under the authority of Governor Joseph Gallieni, marking the beginning of the French colonisation of Madagascar. The list of kings and queens who ruled the Kingdom of Madagascar includes figures such as Rafohy, Rangita, Ralambo, Andrianjaka, Andriamasinavalona, Ramboasalama (Andrianampoinimerina), Radama I, Ranavalona I, Radama II, Rasoherina, Ranavalona II and Ranavalona III. The monarchy came to an end with the abolition of slavery, the castes and the monarchy itself, and the last queen, Ranavalona III, lived in exile until her death in 1917.
Awards: Sash, insignia and star of the Order of Radama II, Stars of the Order of the Royal Hawk (Voromahery Laharana) and of the Royal Order of Madagascar.
