Rainiharo Explained

Honorific Prefix:Field Marshal
Rainiharo
Order:2nd
Office:Prime Minister of Madagascar
Term Start:1833
Term End:10 February 1852
Predecessor:Andriamihaja
Successor:Rainivoninahitriniony
Birth Name:Ravoninahitriniarivo
Birth Place:Madagascar
Death Date:18 October 1852
Resting Place:Fasan-dRainiharo, Isoraka
Spouse:Rabodomiarana
Ranavalona I
Children:Rainivoninahitriniony
Rainilaiarivony

Field Marshal Rainiharo (died on 18 October 1852 in Rabodomiarana) was from 1833 to 1852 prime minister of the Kingdom of Imerina in the central highlands of Madagascar.

Biography

Rainiharo was born as Ravoninahitriniarivo into the Hova (freeman) class of the Merina people in the central highlands of Madagascar. His father, Andriantsilavonandriana, served as an adviser to the king Andrianampoinimerina. After distinguishing himself as a military officer in a series of campaigns of pacification in the southeastern part of the island, he was chosen as a spouse by Queen Ranavalona I following the death of her first husband in 1833,[1] and was thereupon promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the military and Prime Minister of Madagascar.[2] He retained these roles until his death in 1853,[3] when he was interred in a distinctive tomb constructed in central Antananarivo by Frenchman Jean Laborde.[4] This tomb would later hold the bodies of Rainiharo's two sons, Rainivoninahitriniony and Rainilaiarivony, who would each succeed him as Commander-in-Chief, Prime Minister and consort.[2]

He was buried in Fasan-dRainiharo, Isoraka.

Literary

Rainiharo is mentioned in The Fugitives by R. M. Ballantyne.[5]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.uq.net.au/~zzhsoszy/states/africa/madagascar.html Non European Royalty
  2. http://rulers.org/rulm1.html#madagascar Madagascar prime ministers
  3. http://digarc.usc.edu/impa/controller/view/impa-m1621.html University of Southern California archive
  4. http://www.hotel-palissandre.com/plan_en.htm Tourist guide
  5. http://www.athelstane.co.uk/ballanty/fugitive/tyran13.htm The Fugitives