She Poisoned People To Determine If They Were Guilty Or Innocent And Became Known As Madagascar’s Mad Queen

In 1817, King Radama of Madagascar signed a treaty of friendship with Britain. But after his wife, Ranavalona, took power in 1828, she reinstated traditional systems of divination in Madagascar, banned Christianity, kicked out missionaries, and expelled the British resident agent.

During this time, more and more Europeans were occupying the African continent. Queen Ranavalona countered this by doing what she thought was best to retain her country's independence for more than three decades.

She ruled with fear and violence, and some of her own people even thought she went too far in defending their homeland. So, she became known as Madagascar's Mad Queen.

At the time of her coronation, Ranavolona was 33 years old. Madagascar's influence was spreading, and European powers were interested in securing trade opportunities and converting the people to their religion.

Ranavolona launched a plan to rid the island of foreign influence. Christian missionaries weren't welcome, worship was no longer allowed, and anyone who converted would face persecution.

Trade with Britain and France was under strict supervision, and European technologies/customs were limited.

She was focused on preserving their way of life on Madagascar and protecting the island from European colonizers who wanted to claim Madagascar for themselves.

Her extreme strategies made her unpopular with the Europeans, and she was depicted as a barbaric figure in many accounts from the Victorian era.

Although she was trying to protect her country, her actions came at a great cost. Under her rule, executions, mass purges, forced labor, and close surveillance occurred.

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Trials by ordeal also became widespread. They involved forcing an individual accused of a crime to consume an aconite-based poison to determine whether they were guilty or innocent.

If they showed no reactions to the poison the next day, they were considered innocent. It is believed that thousands of people died because of these trials.

In addition, Ranavolona expanded the fanompoana system of state labor. Citizens were forced to work on military campaigns and royal projects as tax payments.

According to some historians, Madagascar's population is estimated to have dropped by 50% under her rule. Anyone accused of disloyalty to the queen or sympathizing with foreign powers risked being enslaved, imprisoned, or executed.

Queen Ranavolona's practices were violent and brutal, causing harm to her own people. However, it could be argued that she was fighting so viciously against European colonization due to what happened to other countries that didn't push back as hard.

Decades after Ranavolona's death, Belgian ruler King Leopold II presided over the Congo. Because of him, up to 10 million people were enslaved, mutilated, or killed over rubber profits.

Madagascar was eventually colonized anyway, despite her efforts. She died at the age of 83, and her son, Rakoto, immediately worked to undo all the damage she had caused.

He abolished the trials by ordeal, ended slavery, established the right of freedom of religion, and opened the borders to foreigners.

Within 30 years, the island became a French colony and remained so until 1958. The island gained independence in 1960.