Merina Kingdom

Kingdom of Imerina Fanjakan'Imerina
1540–1897
Standard of the Merina Kingdom Coat of Arms (1896–97)
Motto: "Tsy adidiko izaho samy irery, fa adidiko izaho sy ianao" (Malagasy) "It is not only my responsibility, but ours: mine and yours"
Anthem: Andriamanitra ô! Tahionao ny Mpanjakanay O God, bless our Queen
Location of Madagascar in Africa
Capital and largest city	Antananarivo 18°55′25″S 47°31′56″E / 18.92361°S 47.53222°E / -18.92361; 47.53222
Common languages	Malagasy
Religion	Traditional beliefs, Protestantism (from 1869)[1]
Government	Semi-feudal absolute monarchy (1540–1863) Unitary semi-feudal constitutional monarchy (1863–1897)
Monarch
• 1540–1575 (first)	Andriamanelo
• 1883–1897 (last)	Ranavalona III
Prime Minister
• 1828–1833 (first)	Andriamihaja
• 1896–1897 (last)	Rasanjy
Historical era	Pre-colonial
• Accession of King Andriamanelo	1540
• French capture of the royal palace	1897
Succeeded by Malagasy Protectorate
Today part of	Madagascar

Part of a series on the
History of Madagascar
Ancient history c. 500 BCE–700 CE Exploration era c. 700–1500 Merina Kingdom 1540–1897 French protectorate 1882–1897 French colony 1897–1958 First Republic 1958–1975 Second Republic 1975–1992 Third Republic 1992–2010 High Transitional Authority 2009–2014 Fourth Republic 2014–present
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The Kingdom of Merina, or Kingdom of Madagascar, officially the Kingdom of Imerina (Malagasy: Fanjakan'Imerina; c. 1540–1897), was a pre-colonial state off the coast of Southeast Africa that, by the 18th century, dominated most of what is now Madagascar. It spread outward from Imerina, the Central Highlands region primarily inhabited by the Merina ethnic group with a spiritual capital at Ambohimanga and a political capital 24 km (15 mi) west at Antananarivo, currently the seat of government for the modern state of Madagascar. The Merina kings and queens who ruled over greater Madagascar in the 19th century were the descendants of a long line of hereditary Merina royalty originating with Andriamanelo, who is traditionally credited with founding Imerina in 1540.

In 1883, France invaded the Merina Kingdom to establish a protectorate. France invaded again in 1894 and conquered the kingdom, making it a French colony, in what became known as the Franco-Hova Wars.