Female Caligula: Ranavalona, the Mad Queen of Madagascar

There is no doubt that this is an entertaining read about one of the key figures in Madagascar's history, and one who deserves to be the subject of a book. However, anyone looking for a serious historical treatment of Ranavalona and her country would be justified in treating this version with a good deal of scepticism.

Firstly, the author's grasp of the geography of Madagascar doesn't exactly inspire confidence. On page 10 we are told that the Bay of Antongil is on the south-west coast - in fact it's in the north-east of the island. Ile Sainte Marie mysteriously migrates from its location off the north-east coast on page 12 to being "just off the Madagascan west coast" on page 61. Modern travellers will find it back in position off the north-east coast.

To keep the pot boiling we're given insight into the thought processes and conversations of historical persons in a style which wouldn't be out of place in a Mills & Boon novel. In the same manner, speculative motivations are attributed to the main players and presented as an explanation of historical events.

The queen's allegedly voracious sexual appetite is a running theme throughout the book, but one which is backed up more by innuendo than by evidence. In fact the only real evidence we're given that Ranavalona engaged in any sexual activity at all is the fact that she bore a son long after the death of her husband. The son may or may not have been fathered by the French adventurer Jean Laborde who became her technical adviser, but it suits the author's purposes to assume that that particular rumour is true - though if the queen slept with as many other virile young men as he implies, it is surely something of a long shot. Whatever - it all makes for lively reading, though some readers may find the unspoken implication that a strong sexual appetite in a woman is something unnatural to be sexist - the more so because of the implied link to her cruelty which is also presented as unnatural and unfeminine.

To liven up events further, and presumably to heighten the impression of historical accuracy, the text is littered with quotations. But while many of these appear to be properly attributable (as the author never gives us details of the source, we cannot judge), many others are of entirely uncertain provenance, attributed only to some anonymous "commentator".

As I said, a highly entertaining read - I read it from cover to cover without putting it down - but anyone interested in a serious treatment of the historical reality of Madagascar and Queen Ranavalona should look elsewhere.

A hair-raising story (10/11 people found this helpful)

Admirers of George Macdonald Fraser's 'Flashman' novels will already have met the mad queen of Madagascar in 'Flashman's Lady', and so be prepared for what they read in this book. If you are not familiar with her story though, be warned, this book is not for the squeamish.

Ranavalona was one of the wives of King Radama 'the Malagasay Napoleon'. On his death in 1828 she seized the throne, and there began a reign of terror that lasted for thirty-three years, by the end of which at least a third of the population of Madagascar had perished on her orders, either by being executed for real or imagined crimes, or by being worked to death in forced labour.

A terrifying despot, Ranavalona was an absolute monarch whose word was law and on whose commands heads rolled. Criminals traitors, real or imagined, and anyone she happened to take a dislike to, were put to death by unspeakably horrible means. Implacably opposed to foreign influence, Christians were particularly brutally persecuted, and put to death in large numbers.

Although determined to keep Madagascar independent and not allow it to be turned into a French colony, Queen Ranavalona nevertheless formed a close and surprising alliance with an enterprising young Frenchman, Jean Laborde, who was shipwrecked on the west coast of Madagascar in 1831. Although as a castaway he was automatically a slave of the Queen, she soon found he could be useful to her in producing cannons, muskets and gunpowder, and he was apparently useful to her in other ways too, although never proved, it is thought he may have been the father of her only son.

Curiously, in spite of being passionately opposed to foreign influence and to Christianity, the Queen retained a fascination for all things European, and she and her courtiers dressed in French fashions of assorted periods. When she discovered a picture of Marie Antoinette wearing false flowers in her hair, she insisted on Laborde providing her with synthetic blooms. They were so popular with female members of the court that one account described these ladies as 'floral porcupines'.

In spite of all her cruelties and excesses, Ranavalona succeded in defeating every attempt to dethrone her. she had a great gift for inspiring awe in her subjects, and surrounded herself with lavish ceremonies. One of the most fascinating of these was the 'Queen's Bath', which she took in public, and which involved her sprinking the assembled multitude afterwards with her used bathwater, which was considered a great honour.

In 1857 a coup to dethrone her was unsuccesful, and almost led to the death of Laborde and other foreigners, including the enterprising lady traveller Ida Pfeiffer, who was visiting the island at the time and found herself drawn into the plot. The foreigners narrowly escaped with their lives and were allowed to leave the country.

Despite her cruelties and excesses, it is clear that Mr Laidler does not altogether disapprove of Queen Ranavalona. He writes of her: "unlike many other African and Asian kingdoms, while Ranavalona held power Madagascar had succesfully defied all attempts at colonisation. The island had remained an independent state despite the best efforts of both Britain and France to bring it under European sway." and later he writes: "During her long reign Ranavalona-Manjaka had succesfully sustained the culture she had inherited: she had extended her domains and, against the colonial current of the times, had kept the island free from foreign influence."

Within a few years of her death, the island had become a French colony, French had become the national language and Roman Catholocism the national religion. All Ranavalona's work was undone. Despite all the horror, she had, as Mr Laidler points out, kept the promise she made on her coronation day:

"Never say 'she is only a feeble and ignorant woman, how can she rule such a vast empire'. I will rule here, to the good fortune of my people and the glory of my name! I will worship no gods but those of my ancestors. The Ocean shall be the boundary of my realm and I will not cede the thickness of one hair of my realm!"

Whether it really was to the 'good fortune'of her people is debatable, one assumes that the third or more of the population who perished on her orders would have said not. But it cannot be denied that she held onto her kingdom and succeded in preserving it from colonisation until after her death. This is an absolutely fascinating story about an horrific and yet intriguing woman.

Female Caligula: Ranavalona, the Mad Queen of Madagascar

Keith Laidler

Reader Reviews:

Racy, but hardly serious (0/0 people found this helpful)

A hair-raising story (10/11 people found this helpful)

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