Madagascar on the Eve of Full French Colonization in 1895
This map, titled Carte de Madagascar, was published in 1894 by the Service Géographique de l'Armée (Army Geographic Service) of France. It provides a highly detailed depiction of Madagascar, highlighting the island's geography, settlements, and key features during the late 19th century, a period of French colonial expansion.
The main map illustrates the entirety of Madagascar, capturing its complex terrain, including mountain ranges, rivers, and coastal features. Settlements and administrative regions are marked, reflecting the colonial administration’s focus on infrastructure and control. Topographical details are rendered with precision, showcasing the island’s diverse landscape and elevation changes.
Inset maps in the lower-right corner include a closer view of the Baie de Diego-Suarez (now Antsiranana Bay) and the southern part of Nosy Bé, an island off the northwest coast. These insets emphasize strategic locations significant to French colonial and military interests. The Baie de Diego-Suarez inset highlights natural harbors, fortifications, and settlements, underscoring its importance as a naval base.
Madagascar
At the turn of the 19th century, Madagascar was politically fragmented, with multiple kingdoms and chiefdoms across the island. The Merina Kingdom, based in the central highlands, emerged as the dominant political entity under the leadership of King Andrianampoinimerina and his successor, Radama I (r. 1810–1828). King Andrianampoinimerina had successfully reunified the Kingdom of Imerina in the central highlands, with its capital at Antananarivo. His reign marked a significant shift in Madagascar's history, as he implemented policies to centralize authority and restore agricultural productivity through an elaborate system of rice terraces and irrigation. His son and successor, Radama I the Great (r. 1810–1828), expanded Imerina's authority to much of the island, forging alliances with European powers, particularly the British. Radama I was the first Malagasy sovereign to be recognized internationally as the ruler of the greater Merina Kingdom. He initiated significant reforms, including the introduction of European-style education, literacy programs, and military modernization, positioning Madagascar as a unified and prominent political entity.
The rule of Queen Ranavalona I (r. 1828–1861) marked both the zenith of Merina expansion and a period of internal turmoil. Under her leadership, the kingdom extended its control to encompass nearly the entire island, consolidating power through military campaigns and alliances. However, her reign is also remembered for its authoritarian policies, including efforts to eradicate European and Christian influence. European missionaries were expelled, and Christianity was banned, with converts facing severe persecution. This period saw a dramatic population decline, with estimates suggesting a drop from 5 million to 2.5 million between 1833 and 1839 due to war, forced labor, slavery, disease, and other forms of violence. Despite these challenges, Ranavalona maintained Madagascar's sovereignty during an era of increasing European colonization in the Indian Ocean.
The reigns of Ranavalona II (r. 1868–1883) and Ranavalona III (r. 1883–1897) marked significant cultural and political changes in the Merina Kingdom. Under Queen Ranavalona II, Christianity was declared the state religion, and European influence returned to the court. However, by the 1880s, the growing rivalry between Britain and France over Madagascar's strategic location resulted in Britain formally recognizing French authority on the island in 1885. This agreement paved the way for France to establish the Malagasy Protectorate in 1890. The Kingdom of Madagascar, led by Ranavalona III, resisted French encroachment, resulting in the two Franco-Hova Wars. These conflicts culminated in September 1895, when French forces captured Antananarivo. Despite the fall of the capital, resistance continued through the Menalamba Rebellion, a grassroots movement opposing French rule and Christian influence, which was ultimately suppressed by 1897.
The Fall of the Kingdom and French Colonization
In 1897, the monarchy was formally dissolved, and Queen Ranavalona III was exiled to Algeria, marking the end of the Merina Kingdom and Madagascar’s independence. Following the French conquest, colonial authorities abolished slavery, liberating an estimated 500,000 enslaved individuals, and began to integrate Madagascar into the French colonial empire. The French administration imposed sweeping changes, including infrastructure development, land reforms, and economic exploitation to benefit the colonial state. While Madagascar entered the 20th century under colonial rule, the late 19th century remains a critical period of transition, defined by the resilience of the Merina monarchy, the impact of European imperialism, and the profound social and political transformations that reshaped the island's history.
Rarity
The map is apparently very rare on the market.
OCLC locate 3 examples (Vrije University Amsterdam; New York Public Library, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (American Geographical Society Collection).
States
We are aware of two states of the map:
- State 1: Dated 1894
- State 2: Dated 1896