Andriantsitakatrandriana

Andriantsitakatrandriana was ruler of the Kingdom of Imerina in the central highlands of Madagascar from 1630 to 1650. He was the successor of his father Andrianjaka .

family

Andriantsitakatrandriana married two women: Ravololontsimitovy , who gave birth to his first son Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe , who also became his successor. His second wife, Rafoloarivo, gave birth to a son named Andriamanjakatokana . He cast off this woman and drove her and her son into exile when he was king.

Domination

The most important achievement during his reign was the cultivation of the great Betsimitatatra swamp that surrounded the Analamanga hill . He had dikes built and rice fields. Until then, there were only zozoro (a type of sedge ), rushes and small islands of trees around the Antananarivo residence , which Andriantsitakatrandriana's father had wrested from the Vazimba who lived there a few decades earlier. After clearing the swamp, Andriantsitakatrandriana first ordered a dike to be built at the southern end of the swamp near Andriantany. The swamps west of Antananarivo were the first to be converted into rice fields. The following kings continued the work.

Andriantsitakatrandriana planted the first rice fields in the area of ​​Antananarivo.

Tradition has it that Andriantsitakatrandriana used a ruse to get rid of his second wife and son. It is said that he asked Rafoloarivo to go to Ambohitrakely to perform certain rituals ( Hasina ) - rituals intended to enhance his metaphysical powers. However, it was considered inappropriate for a woman to perform these rituals for a royal son. The queen hesitated because she was afraid of breaking taboos . The king assured her, however, that her fear was unfounded because he would be holding the rituals for his eldest son at the same time. He convinced her by promising her that he would name the newly established rice fields after her son. Rafoloarivo agreed and went to Ambohitrakely, where she held the celebrations, which attracted all the residents of the Mahatsinjo village.

While Mahatsinjo lay empty and unguarded, Andriantsitakatrandriana set fire in disguise. When the residents discovered the disaster, they blamed the queen and threatened to kill her. The queen fled first to the north, to Ilafy , then to the west and south, to Mahatsinjo and Ankosy . Nowhere did she find shelter or anyone who would offer them accommodation. It was not until Ambohitrinimanjaka that people gave them shelter. Although her son Andriamanjakatokana wanted to move further, to a rocky area called Anosivato , the queen stayed in Amohitrinimanjaka, where Andriamanjakatokana was later buried. The residents used to pray at his grave when the fog rose. The grave of his son of the same name is shown in Anosivato.

death

Andriantsitakatrandriana died around 1650 and was buried in the tombs of Fitomiandalana near the Rova of Antananarivo . His eldest son, Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe , succeeded him.

literature

• François Callet: Tantara ny andriana eto Madagasikara (histoire des rois) . Ed .: Imprimerie catholique. Antananarivo 1972 (French, first edition: 1908).

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Christopher Buyers: The Merina (or Hova) dynasty . Archived from the original on February 17, 2011. Retrieved October 9, 2010.
2. ↑ ^{a b} Callet, p. 521
3. ↑ Callet, p. 522
4. ↑ Callet, pp. 521-522

predecessor	Office	successor
Andrianjaka	Ruler of Imerina ~ 1630–1650	Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe