Madagascar 
 

1817 - c.1881                   c.1881 - 6 Aug 1896                6 Aug 1896 - 21 Oct 1958                  Adopted 21 Oct 1958   Map of Madagascar Hear National Anthem  "Ry Tanindraza nay malala ô" (Oh, Our Beloved Fatherland)   Text of National Anthem    Adopted 27 Apr 1959 -------------------------------- Former National Anthem (to 1896) Constitution  (19 Aug 1992)  Capital: Antananarivo (Tananarive 1630-30 Dec 1975) Currency: Ariary (MGA) (from 1 Jan 2005); Malagasy Franc (MGF) 1960-31 Dec 2004 National Holiday: 26 Jun (1960) Independence Day Population: 20,042,552 (2008) GDP: $20.76 billion (2008) Exports: $1.31 billion (2008) Imports: $2.54 billion (2008)  Ethnic groups: Malagasay 95.9% ([Malayo-Indonesian] Merina 26.6%, and related Betsileo 11.3%, Cotiers [mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry] - Betsimisaraka 13.4%, Tsimihety 7%, Antaisaka, Sakalava 5.9%, Makua 1.1%), French 0.6%, Comorian 0.5%, Reunionese 0.4%, other 1.5% (2000) Total Armed Forces: 13,500 (2006) Merchant marine: 8 ships (2008) Religions: Christian 49.5% (of which Protestant 22.7%, Roman Catholic 20.3%), traditional beliefs 48%, Sunni Muslim 1.9%, other 0.6% (2000) International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, AfDB, APM, AU (suspended), BTWC, COMESA, CTBT, CWC, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, KP, MIGA, NAM, NPT, NTBT, OIF (suspended), OPCW, SADC (suspended), UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Madagascar Index Chronology 10 Aug 1500                Discovered by Portuguese Capt. Diogo Dias,                              named Ilha San Lourençco (St. Lawrence). 23 Oct 1817                King Radama I of Imerina, having conquered                               practically the whole island, enters into a                              treaty of friendship and peace with Britain in                              which he is recognized as king of Madagascar.  6 Aug 1896                Kingdom of Imerina under French protectorate. 28 Feb 1897                French Madagascar colony. 16 Jun 1940 - 14 Dec 1942  Administration loyal to Vichy France                              (from 14 Dec 1942, Free French).  5 May 1942 - 13 Oct 1946  British occupation (until 10 Sep 1942 in                              Diego Suarez and Antisarana). 27 Oct 1946                Madagascar overseas territory of the                               French fourth republic. 14 Oct 1958                Autonomy (Malagasy Republic). 26 Jun 1960                Independence from France. 30 Dec 1975                Democratic Republic of Madagascar. 12 Sep 1992                Republic of Madagascar Provinces (from 2001) Traditional States   Diégo Suarez (1886-1896)   Fort-Dauphin (1642-1674)   Nossi-Bé (1841-1896) Sainte-Marie de Madagascar (1750-1896)

Kings (personal names in parentheses)
23 Oct 1817 - 27 Jul 1828  Radama I "the Great" (Lehidama)      (b. 1792 - d. 1828)
 1 Aug 1828 - 16 Aug 1861  Ranavalona I (Ramavo) -Queen         (b. c.1772 - d. 1861)
                             Rabodoandrianampoinimerina 
16 Aug 1861 - 12 May 1863  Radama II (Rakotosehenondradama)     (b. 1829 - d. 1863)
Queens
13 May 1863 -  1 Apr 1868  Rasoherina (Rabodozanakandriana)     (b. 1814 - d. 1868)
 2 Apr 1868 - 13 Jul 1883  Ranavalona II (Ramoma)               (b. 1829 - d. 1883)
13 Jul 1883 - 28 Feb 1897  Ranavalona III (Razafindrahety)      (b. 1861 - d. 1917)
Military governor
 6 Aug 1896 - 31 Jul 1897  Joseph Simon Galliéni                (b. 1849 - d. 1916)
Governors-general
31 Jul 1897 - 11 May 1905  Joseph Simon Galliéni                (s.a.)
11 May 1905 -  1 Jan 1906  Charles Louis Lépreux (acting)       (b. 1856 - d. 1930)
 1 Jan 1906 - 13 Dec 1909  Victor Augagneur                     (b. 1855 - d. 1931)
13 Dec 1909 - 16 Jan 1910  Hubert Auguste Garbit (1st time)     (b. 1869 - d. 1933)
                             (acting)
16 Jan 1910 - 31 Oct 1910  Henri François Charles Cor (acting)
31 Oct 1910 -  5 Aug 1914  Albert Jean George Marie Louis       (b. 1853 - d. 1917)
                             Picquié
 5 Aug 1914 - 24 Jul 1917  Hubert Auguste Garbit (2nd time)     (s.a.)
                             (acting to 14 Oct 1914)
24 Jul 1917 -  1 Aug 1918  Martial Henri Merlin                 (b. 1860 - d. 1935)
 1 Aug 1918 - 12 Jul 1919  Abraham Schrameck                    (b. 1867 - d. 1948)
12 Jul 1919 - 22 Jun 1920  Marie Casimir Joseph Guyon (acting)  (b. 1870 - d. 1942)
22 Jun 1920 - 13 Mar 1923  Hubert Auguste Garbit (3rd time)     (s.a.)
13 Mar 1923 - 20 Feb 1924  Auguste Charles Désiré Emmanuel      (b. 1878 - d. 1957)
                             Brunet (acting)
20 Feb 1924 - 30 Jan 1929  Marcel Achille Olivier               (b. 1879 - d. 1945)
30 Jan 1929 -  1 May 1930  Hugues Jean Berthier (acting)        (b. 1868 - d. 1958)
 1 May 1930 - 22 Apr 1939  Léon Henri Charles Cayla (1st time)  (b. 1881 - d. 1965)
22 Apr 1939 - 10 Jun 1939  Léon Maurice Valentin Réallon        (b. 1882 - d. 1960)
                             (acting)
10 Jun 1939 - 30 Jul 1940  Jules Marcel de Coppet               (b. 1881 - d. 1968)
30 Jul 1940 - 11 Apr 1941  Léon Henri Charles Cayla (2nd time)  (s.a.)
11 Apr 1941 - 30 Sep 1942  Armand Léon Annet                    (b. 1894 - d. 1982)
Occupied Territories Administrators
 5 May 1942 -  5 Nov 1942  Robert Grice Sturges                 (b. 1891 - d. 1970)
                             (commander of British forces)
25 Sep 1942 - 1943         Anthony Sillery                      (b. 1903 - d. 1976)
Governors-general
30 Sep 1942 -  7 Jan 1943  Victor Marius Bech (acting)          (b. 1891 - d. 1979)
 7 Jan 1943 -  3 May 1943  Paul Louis Victor Marie              (b. 1884 - d. 1975)
                             Legentilhomme
 3 May 1943 - 27 Mar 1946  Pierre de Saint-Mart                 (b. 1885 - d. 1965)
27 Mar 1946 - 19 May 1946  Robert Boudry (acting)               (b. 1893 - d. 1973) 
High Commissioners
19 May 1946 - 23 Dec 1947  Jules Marcel de Coppet               (s.a.)
Feb 1948 -  3 Feb 1950     Pierre Gabriel de Chevigné           (b. 1909 - d. 2004)
 3 Feb 1950 - Oct 1954     Robert Isaac Bargues                 (b. 1900 - d. 1989)
Oct 1954 -  1 May 1959     Jean Louis Marie André Soucadaux     (b. 1904 - d. 2001)
Presidents
 1 May 1959 - 11 Oct 1972  Philibert Tsiranana                  (b. 1912 - d. 1978)  PSD
Jan 1970 -  25 May 1970    Triumvirate (acting for Tsiranana)
                           - André Resampa                      (b. 1934 - d. 1993)
                           - Jacques Rabemananjara              (b. 1913 - d. 2005)
                           - Calvin Tsiebo                      (b. 1902)
11 Oct 1972 -  5 Feb 1975  Gabriel Ramanantsoa                  (b. 1906 - d. 1979)  Mil
                             (Head of State)
 5 Feb 1975 - 11 Feb 1975  Richard Ratsimandrava                (b. 1931 - d. 1975)  Mil
                             (Head of State)
12 Feb 1975 - 15 Jun 1975  Gilles Andriamahazo                  (b. 1919 - d. 1989)  Mil
                             (chairman National Military Leadership Committee)
15 Jun 1975 - 27 Mar 1993  Didier Ratsiraka (1st time)          (b. 1936)           FNDR/AREMA
                             (chairman Supreme Revolutionary Council to 4 Jan 1976)
27 Mar 1993 -  5 Sep 1996  Albert Zafy                          (b. 1927)            UNDD
 5 Sep 1996 -  9 Feb 1997  Norbert Lala Ratsirahonana (acting)  (b. 1938)            AVI
 9 Feb 1997 -  5 Jul 2002  Didier Ratsiraka (2nd time)          (s.a.)               AREMA
                             (from 25 Feb 2002 in Toamasina)
22 Feb 2002 - 17 Mar 2009  Marc Ravalomanana                    (b. 1949)            TIM
                             (in opposition to Ratsiraka to 5 Jul 2002)
17 Mar 2009  (hours)       Hyppolite Rarison Ramaroson          (b. 1951)            Mil
                             (head of military directorate)
17 Mar 2009 -              Andry Rajoelina                      (b. 1974)            TGV
                             (president of High Authority of Transition;
                             in opposition from 7 Feb 2009) 
           

Chief minister
1828 - 1833                Andriamihaja                         (d. 1833)  
Prime ministers
1833 - Feb 1852            Rainiharo                            (b. 17.. - d. 1852)
Feb 1852 - Jul 1864        Rainivoninahitriniony                (b. 1821 - d. 1869)
14 Jul 1864 - 14 Oct 1895  Rainilaiarivony                      (b. 1828 - d. 1896)
15 Oct 1895 - Sep 1896     Rainitsimbazafy 
Principal governor
Sep 1896 - Feb 1897        Ombalahivelo Rasanjy                 (b. 1851 - d. 1918)
Feb 1897 - 27 May 1957     Post abolished
Vice president of Executive Council
27 May 1957 - 14 Oct 1958  Philibert Tsiranana                  (s.a.)               PSD
Prime ministers
14 Oct 1958 -  1 May 1959  Philibert Tsiranana                  (s.a.)               PSD
 1 May 1959 - 18 May 1972  Post abolished
18 May 1972 -  5 Feb 1975  Gabriel Ramanantsoa                  (s.a.)               Mil
 5 Feb 1975 - 11 Jan 1976  Vacant
11 Jan 1976 - 30 Jul 1976  Joel Rakotomalala                    (b. 1929 - d. 1976)  AREMA
12 Aug 1976 -  1 Aug 1977  Justin Rakotoniaina                  (b. 1933 - d. 2001)  AREMA
 1 Aug 1977 - 12 Feb 1988  Désiré Rakotoarijaona                (b. 1934)            Mil
12 Feb 1988 -  8 Aug 1991  Victor Ramahatra                     (b. 1945)            Mil
 8 Aug 1991 -  9 Aug 1993  Guy Razanamasy                       (b. 1928)            AREMA
 9 Aug 1993 - 30 Oct 1995  Francisque Ravony                    (b. 1942 - d. 2003)  CSDDM
30 Oct 1995 - 28 May 1996  Emmanuel Rakotovahiny                (b. 1938)            UNDD
28 May 1996 - 21 Feb 1997  Norbert Ratsirahonana                (s.a.)               AVI
21 Feb 1997 - 23 Jul 1998  Pascal Rakotomavo                    (b. 1934)            AREMA
23 Jul 1998 - 31 May 2002  Tantely Andrianarivo                 (b. 1954)            AREMA
                             (under house arrest by Ravalomanana from 27 May 2002)
26 Feb 2002 - 20 Jan 2007  Jacques Sylla                        (b. 1946)            Non-party
                             (appointed by Ravalomanana) 
31 May 2002 -  5 Jul 2002  Jean-Jacques Rasolondraibe           (b. 1947)            AREMA
                             (interim; appointed by Ratsiraka)
20 Jan 2007 - 17 Mar 2009  Charles Rabemananjara                (b. 1947)            TIM
17 Mar 2009 - 10 Oct 2009  Monja Roindefo                       (b. 1965)            TGV
                             (appointed by Rajoelina on 7 Feb 2009)
10 Oct 2009 -              Eugène Régis Mangalaza               (b. 1950)            Non-party
Oct 2009 -                 Cécile Manorohanta (f)
                             (acting for Mangalaza)

French Residents-general
28 Apr 1886 - Mar 1888     Charles Le Myre de Vilers (1st time) (b. 1833 - d. 1918)
Mar 1888 - 12 Dec 1889     Arthur Larrouy (1st time)
12 Dec 1889 - 11 Oct 1890  Maruice Bompard                      (b. 1854 - d. 1935)
11 Oct 1890 - Oct 1892     Lacoste (acting)
Oct 1892 - 1894            Arthur Larrouy (2nd time)
1894 -  1 Dec 1895         Charles Le Myre de Vilers (2nd time) (s.a.)
 1 Dec 1895 - 28 Sep 1896  Hippolyte Laroche                    (b. 1848 - d. 1914)
28 Sep 1896 - 31 Jul 1897  Joseph Simon Galliéni                (s.a.)

Territorial Disputes: Claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de
Nova Island all administered by France; France and Comoros dispute Madagascar's claims to Banc du Geyser, a drying reef in the Mozambique Channel.

Party abbreviations: AREMA = Andry sy Riana Enti-Manavotra an'i Madagasikara/Association pour la Rénaissance de Madagascar (Pillar and Structure for the Salvation of Madagascar, socialist, ruling party 1975-90, to 1989 member of FNDR; 1975-97 named Antoky ny Revolisiona Malagasy/Avant-garde de la révolution Malgache [Vanguard of the Malagasy Revolution]);
TGV = Tanora malaGasy Vonona (Determined Malagasy Youth, reformist, Rajoelina personalist, est.2007); TIM = Tiako i Madagasikara (I Love Madagascar Party, reformist, Ravalomanana personalist, est.2002); Mil = Military;
- Former parties: AVI = Asa Vita no Ifampitsarana (Judged by Your Work); CSDDM = Comité pour le Soutien de la Démocratie et du Developpement a Madagascar (Committee for Support of Democracy and Development in Madagascar); FNDR = Front National pour la Défense de la Révolution (National Front for the Defense of the Revolution, disbanded 1989); PSD = Parti Social Démocratique du Madagascar (Social Democratic Party of Madagascar); UNDD = Union Nationale pour le Développement et la Démocratie (National Union for Development and Democracy, Zafy personalist)

 

Capital: Diégo Suarez

Population: N/A

1886                       French colony of Diégo Suarez.
 6 Aug 1896                Incorporated into Madagascar.

Commandants
1886 - 1887                Henri Caillet
1887 -  6 Aug 1896         Ernest Emmanuel Froger            (b. 1848 - d. ....)

24 Sep 1642                Fort-Dauphin founded.
1667 - 1671                Headquarters of the Compagnie des Indes Orientales.
27 Aug 1674                Abandoned.
1768 - 1771                Attempted resettlement.

Governors
24 Sep 1642 -  4 Dec 1648  Jacques de Pronis (1st time)      (d. 1655)
 4 Dec 1648 - 12 Feb 1655  Étienne de Flacourt               (b. 1607 - d. 1660)
12 Feb 1655 - 23 May 1655  Jacques de Pronis (2nd time)      (s.a.) 
                             (acting)
23 May 1655 - 1655         Jean des Perriers
1655 - 1656                Martin Gueston (acting)
1656 - 29 May 1657         Luc de Champarqou (1st time)
                             (acting)
29 May 1657 -  9 May 1661  Pierre de Rivau
 9 May 1661 -  8 Jul 1665  Luc de Champarqou (2nd time)
 8 Jul 1665 - 14 Dec 1665  Pierre de Beausse
14 Dec 1665 - Sep 1666     Gilles Mountauban
Sep 1666 - 10 Mar 1667     Luc de Champarqou (3rd time)
10 Mar 1667 -  4 Dec 1670  François de Lopis, marquis de 
                             Montdevergue
 4 Dec 1670 - 26 Jun 1671  Jacob Blanquet de La Haye
26 Jun 1671 -  6 Dec 1672  Luc de Champarqou (4th time)
 6 Dec 1672 - 27 Aug 1674  Jean de la Bretesche
1768 - 1771                Louis Laurent de Féderbe,         (b. 1725 - d. 1777) 
                             comte de Modave

 

Capital: Hellville

Population: N/A

14 Jul 1840                Nossi-Bé Island a French colony
                             (subordinated to Île de Bourbon [Réunion]).
25 Mar 1843                Subordinated to Mayotte.
1878                       Nossi-Bé a separate French colony.
 6 Aug 1896                Incorporated into Madagascar.

Governors
 3 Feb 1841 - 1842         François Gouhot                    (b. 1802 - d. ....)
1842                       Peirre Passot                      (b. 1806 - d. 1854)
1842 - 1845                Charles Auguste Joseph Morel
1845 - 1848                Henri Martin Lamy                  (b. 1802 - d. ....)
1848 - 1851                Jean Ernest Marchaisse             (b. 1814 - d. ....)
1851                       Alexandre Louis Berg
1851 - 1852                Jean Théophile Lapeyre-Bellair     (b. 1813 - d. ....)
1852 - 1853                Thomas Jospeh Dupuis (1st time)
1853 - 1854                André Brisset                      (b. 1808 - d. ....)
1854 - 1855                Louis Antione-Ernest Arnoux
1855 - 1856                Joseph Méciste Septans             (b. 1812 - d. ....)
1856 - 1858                Thomas Joseph Dupuis (2nd time)    (s.a.)
1858 - 1860                Paul-Gustave Sachet
1860 - 1861                Justin Jean Baptiste Clément
                             Dupérier
1861 - 1865                Vincent Derussat                   (b. 1806 - d. ....)
1865 - 1866                Pierre Lucas
1866 - 1868                Joseph Jean Ferdinand Hayes        (b. 1814 - d. ....)
1868 - 1869                Louis Jean Chériner
1869 - 1870                Aimé Ernest Justin Champy          (b. 1837 - d. ....)
1870 - 1871                Patrice Louis Jules Ventre de la   (b. 1813 - d. ....)
                             Touloubre 
1871 - 1872                Jean-Baptiste Joseph Chalres 
                             Barnier
1872 - 1873                Alexandre Marie Le Clos            (b. 1828 - d. ....)
1873 - 1874                Honoré Henri Léchelle              (b. 1827 - d. ....)
1874 - 1875                Claude Michel Jacques Louis 
                             François Fontaine
1875 - 1876                Joseph Marie Carle                 (b. 1830 - d. ....)
1876                       Arthur Paul Feutray                (b. 1829 - d. ....)
1876 - 1878                François Aimé Marie Édmond Ferriez (b. 1834 - d. ....)
1878 - 1883                Alphonse Seignac-Lesseps
1883 - 1886                Alexandre Charles Le Maitre        (b. 1836 - d. ....)
1886 - 1888                Léon Émile Clément-Thomas
1888 - 1889                Furcy Augustin Armanet
1889 -  6 Aug 1896         Joseph François                    (b. 1853 - d. 19..)

 

Capital: Ambodifototra (from 1819)

Population: N/A

26 Jul 1750                Île de Sainte-Marie de Madagascar a French possession.
Jul 1754 - 15 Oct 1818     Unoccupied.
15 Oct 1818                Sainte-Marie de Madagascar French territory
                             (subordinated to Île de Bourbon [Réunion]).
 2 Mar 1843                Subordinated to Mayotte.
1853                       Separate colony of Sainte-Marie de Madagascar.
27 Oct 1876                Subordinated to Réunion.
 4 May 1888                Subordinated to Diégo-Suarez.
28 Jan 1896                Incorporated into Madagascar.

Administrator
30 Jul 1750 - Jul 1754     Gosse                              (d. 1754)
Jul 1754 - 1819            None
Commandants
1819 - 15 Apr 1821         Jean-Louis Joseph Carayon          (b. 1794 - d. ....)
                             (1st time)
15 Apr 1821 -  2 Apr 1823  Jean-Baptiste Sylvain Roux         (d. 1823)
 2 Apr 1823 - 29 Apr 1823  François Fortuné Albrand           (b. 1795 - d. 1826)
29 Apr 1823 - Oct 1826     Bertrand Hercule Blévec (1st time) (b. 1792 - d. 1866)
Oct 1826 - May 1827        Giraud (acting)
May 1827 - 24 Oct 1830     Bertrand Hercule Blévec (2nd time) (s.a.)
24 Oct 1830 - 1830         Jean-Louis Joseph Carayon          (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)
1830 - 1841                direct rule from Île de Bourbon (Réunion)
1841 - 1849                Raimond Vergés
1849 - 1850                Pierre Balthasar Mermier 
                             (1st time)
1850 - 1851                André Brisset                      (b. 1808 - d. ....)
1851 - 1853                Pierre Balthasar Mermier 
                             (2nd time)
1853                       Félix Sylvain Grébert
1853 - 1855                Jean Pierre Thomas Durand          (b. 1810 - d. ....)
1855 - 1858                Anne Jean Baptiste Raffenel        (b. 1809 - d. 1858)
1858 - 1868                Jean-Paul de la Grange
1868 - 1874                Louis Justin Ignace Blandinières   (b. 1814 - d. ....)
1874 - 1878                Charles Henri Vassal
1878 -  6 Aug 1896         direct rule from Réunion/Diégo-Suarez