Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T22:54:44.677Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Sacred Acquisition: Andrianampoinimerina at Ambohimanga, 1777–1790

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 January 2009

Gerald M. Berg
Gerald M. Berg
Affiliation:
Sweetbriar College, Virginia
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Between 1775 and 1810 Andrianampoinimerina laid the foundations of the Merina state which in subsequent decades was to rule most of Madagascar. Though various circumstances such as the development of irrigated riziculture and slavery, the monopoly of profits and of muskets from coastal trade, and the manipulation of ritual, contributed in part to the nascent monarchy's strength, they equally touched other political formations within Imerina and elsewhere and therefore do not explain why Andrianampoinimerina's organization endured while others did not. The distinctiveness of Andrianampoinimerina's case is revealed by returning to particular events, those culminating in his first successful attempt to rule at Ambohimanga in 1783. His success depended upon exploiting both good luck and pervasive kinship values which recognized individual financial prowess. Thus the resurgent trade with the east coast did not redefine Merina kinship. Rather, trade provided an expanded arena of economic activity in which Andrianampoinimerina demonstrated superior skill at kinship politics, expanding his kin group and assuming the role of sole mediator between the residents of Ambohimanga and their ancestors.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of African History , Volume 29 , Issue 2 , July 1988 , pp. 191 - 211
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

* I wish to thank Claudia Chang, Marc Schloss, Maurice Bloch, Gillian FeeleyHarnik, Raymond Kent, Henry T. Wright, Joseph C. Miller and Cecilia Albin for helpful comments on earlier drafts. Research for this paper was made possible by generous grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Sweet Briar College Faculty Grants Committee. A version of this paper was read on 28 November 1986 at a conference on ‘Pre-Colonial Madagascar’ in London sponsored by the School of Oriental and African Studies and the Museum of Mankind.Google Scholar

1 The best summary of Malagasy history and culture for the non-malgachisant is Mack, John, Madagascar. Island of Ancestors (London, 1986).Google Scholar For recent works on early Imerina see Berg, Gerald M., ‘Riziculture and the founding of monarchy in Imerina’, J. Afr. Hist. XXII (1981) 289–308;CrossRefGoogle Scholar‘Royal Authority and the Protector System in Nineteenth Century Imerina’, in Kent, R. (ed.), Madagascar in History (Albany, 1979), 102–22,Google Scholar and Kottak, C. P. et al. (eds), Madagascar. Society and History (Durham, 1986), Pp. 175–92;Google Scholar‘The sacred musket. Tactics, technology, and power in eighteenth-century Madagascar’, Comp. Studies in Society and Hist. XXVII, 2 (1985), 261–79;Google ScholarBloch, Maurice, ‘The Disconnection between Power and Rank as a Process’, in Friedman, J. and Rowlands, M. (eds), The Evolution of Social Systems (London, 1977), 303–40;Google ScholarDelivré, Alain, L'histoire des rois d'Imerina (Paris, 1974);Google ScholarDeschamps, Hubert, ‘Andrianampoinimerina ou la raison d'Etat au service de l'unité malgache’, in Afrique, Jeune (ed), Les Africains, ii (Paris, 1977), 73–89;Google ScholarIsnard, Hildebert, ‘Les bases géographiques de la monarchie Hova’, in Eventail de l'histoire vivante. Hommage à Lucien Febvre, I (Paris, 1953), 195–206;Google ScholarKent, Raymond K., Early Kingdoms in Madagascar (New York, 1970), 205–42;Google ScholarLejamble, G., ‘Les fondements du pouvoir royal en Imerina’, Bull. de Madagascar, xxii, no. 311 (1972), 349–67.Google Scholar

2 Marks, Shula and Rathbone, Richard, ‘The history of the family in Africa’, J. Afr. Hist. XXIV, 2 (1983), 152–3,Google Scholar and Murray Last, as quoted ibid., 153.

3 MacGaffey, Wyatt, ‘Lineage structure, marriage and the family amongst the Central Bantu’, J. Afr. Hist., XXIV, 2 (1983), 176.Google Scholar

4 MacGaffey, ‘Lineage…’, 179, 185. Merina historical concepts regarding genealogy are treated in Berg, ‘The myth of racial strife and Merina king lists’, History in Africa, IV (1977), 1–30;Google Scholar and Berg, , ‘Some Words about Merina Historical Texts’, in Miller, Joseph C. (ed), The African Past Speaks (Folkestone, 1980), 221–39.Google Scholar

5 Hugon, B., ‘Appercu demon dernier voyage à Ancôva de l'an 1808’, British Library [henceforth BL], Add. MSS. 18137, fol. 16r–16v.Google Scholar

6 Mayeur, Nicolas, ‘Voyage au pays d'Ancove, autrement dit des Hovas ou Amboilambes en janv. 1777’, BL Add. MSS., 18128 fols. 93v–94r.Google Scholar

7 Raombana, , Histoires (1853–1856), ed. Ayache, S. (Fianarantsoa, 1980), 353, 447, 454.Google Scholar

8 See Berg, ‘Royal Authority…’, passim;Google Scholar and Bloch, M., From Blessing to Violence (Cambridge, 1986), 113–56.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

9 Berg, ‘Riziculture…’ 291–5;Google ScholarTantara fly Andriana eto Madagaskara, ed. Callet, Francois, first edition 1873–1902 (Antananarivo, 1908) [henceforth TA], 296–7, 405;Google Scholar Rainandriamampandry, ‘Tantarany Madagascar’ (c. 1875–80), Archives nationales de la République démocratique malgache, S.S. 22, fols. 100v, 118v–121v; Rainitovo, , Tantaran'ny Malagasy Manantolo (Antananarivo, 1930), 11, 343–5;Google Scholar Lt. Duhautcilly, ‘Notice sur le Royaume d'Emirne’, (1825), Archives nationales de France, Section Outremèr, Madagascar, 11/25, pp. 3–4; Cheffaud, M., ‘Notes sur la chronologie des rois d'Imerina’, Bull. de l'Acad. malgache XIX (1936), 45;Google ScholarDelivré L'histoire…, 253;Google ScholarLejamble, G., ‘Les fondements…’, 359;Google ScholarEllis, William, History of Madagascar (London, 1838), 11, 121–2.Google Scholar

10 Mayeur, N., ‘Voyage…1777’, fols. 87v, 92r–94r.Google Scholar

11 Mayeur, ‘Voyage au pays d'Ancove par le pays d'Ancaye, 1785’, BL Add. MS. 18128, fols. 107v–108v, 112r; Raombana, Histoires, 443.Google Scholar

12 Mayeur, ‘Voyage… 1785’, fol. 107r; Capt.Google ScholarJourdain, , ‘Notice sur les Ovas, 1830’, Nouv. Ann. des Voyages, 3e sér., XXIV (1839), 7;Google ScholarHébert, J. C., ‘Note sur Madagascar du traitant Jacques La Salle’, Omaly sy Anio, XI (1980), 138–9; TA, 421–33, 429, 462, 936–43;Google ScholarRainitovo, Tantaran'…11, 365–8; Rainandriamampandry, ‘Tantarany…’, SS 24, fols. 25r–38r;Google ScholarGrandidier, A. (ed.), ‘Manuscrits des Ombiasy’, 2 vols. Musée de L'Homme, Fonds malgache, 1 (1864–1870), 268, 270–8; Raombana, Histoires, 333–55;Google ScholarEllis, William, History…11, 122–3.Google Scholar

13 TA, p. 493; Mayeur, ‘Voyage…1785’, fol. 110r; Rainandriamampandry, ‘Tantarany…’, SS 24, fols. 31r–33r.Google Scholar

14 Delivré, L'histoire, 163–5; Berg, ‘Some words…’, 228–230.Google Scholar See also Valeri, Valerio, ‘The Hawaiian legend of “Umi”’, in Hooper, A. and Huntsman, J. (eds), Transformations of Polynesian Culture (Auckland, 1985) 87Google Scholar, which tells of Hawaiian kings who upon ascending to the throne recognize or deny the genealogical claims of his men. I am indebted to Susan McKinnon for this reference.

15 TA, 405, 421–4, 937; Rainandriamampandry, ‘Tantarany…’, SS 24, fols. 20v, 25r; Raombana, Histoires, 353–4; Rainitovo, Tantaran'…, 11 365–7;Google ScholarRazafindramanta, , ‘Andrianampoinimerina’, Bull. mens. du Service de l'Enseignement [Antananarivo], 13e année, no. 1 (01. 1911), 25, 5;Google ScholarGrandidier (ed.), ‘Manuscrits…’, 268;Google ScholarJones, David, (ed.), ‘Ancestry of the Kings of Imerina’, MS. 1836, 7–8;Google ScholarEllis, William, History…, 11, 116, 121; Mayeur, ‘Voyage… 1777’, fols. 93v–94r;Google ScholarGuillain, C., Documents sur l'histoire, la géographie, et le commerce de la partie occidentale de Madagascar (Paris, 1845), 40–4.Google Scholar

16 TA, 422, 425, 937: ‘…raha ny tontolo andro an'Andrianjafy ary ny farany andRamboasalama’; Rainaridriamampandry, ‘Tantarany…’, SS 24, fol. 20v; Razafindramanta, ‘Andrianampoinimerina’, 25, 5; Rainitovo, Tantaran’…, 11, 378.Google Scholar

17 Lejamble, ‘Les fondements…’, 357–60; Delivré, L'histoire…, 258–60.Google Scholar

18 TA, 400; Rainitovo, Tantaran'…, 11, 360; Rainandriamampandry, ‘Tantarany…’, SS 24, fol. 18v. Razafindramanta, ‘Andrianampoinimerina’, 25, 4;Google Scholar‘Andriamiaramanjaka’, Firaketana ny Zavatra malagasy, no. 37 (1940), 64–5;Google Scholar‘Kaloy’, Firaketana…, no. 183 (1956), 60;Google ScholarRaombana, Histoires, 334–6, 374;Google ScholarRamilison, E., Ny loharan' ny Andriana nanjaka teto Imerina (1952), II, 114;Google ScholarEllis, W., History…, 11, 116, 122–3;Google ScholarMayeur, ‘Voyage… 1785’, fol. 107r; Duhautcilly, ‘Notice… 1825’, 3;Google Scholar Lars Vig, Manuscript notebooks (c. 1875–89), Archives Norske Misjionsskolen, Madagassisk Afguder, RUM C., Avd. III–I, nos 10,275–10,284, bilingual text edited and translated Domenichini, J.-P., Histoire des Palladium d'Imerina, Musée d'Art et d'Archéologie de l'Université de Madagascar, Travaux et Documents, VIII (1971), 44, 89;Google ScholarMaizac, Pr., ‘Ordre de succession au trône chez les Hova’, Notes, Reconnaissances, et Explorations [Antananarivo], VI, 4 (1900), 610–11.Google Scholar

19 Berg, ‘Riziculture…’, 305–7, and see below, p. 12.Google Scholar

20 Delivré, L'histoire…, 251–5, 260–2; Lejamble, ‘Fondements…’, 358–9;Google Scholar and Ottino, Paul, L'ancienne succession dynastique malgache’, in Raison-Jourde, F. (ed.), Les souverains de Madagascar (Paris, 1983), 244–6.Google Scholar

21 TA, 379, 400; Rainandriamampandry, ‘Tantarany…’, SS 24, fols. 19r–20r; Mayeur, ‘Voyage… 1777’, fols. 93v–94r. See also Delivré, L'histoire, 254–55, 258–9, 265; Jones, ‘Ancestry…’, 7–8; and Ellis, History7…, 116, 122. Ellis received his information from a son of Andriambelomasina, Andriamahery, who in 1829 was the guardian of Ramahavaly, one of the principal talismans of Imerina. See also Firaketana…, no. 37 (1940), 107 and Raombana, Histoires, 335–6.Google Scholar

22 TA, 421–5, 936–8; Mayeur, ‘Voyage…1777’, fols. 93r–94r.Google Scholar

23 Mayeur, ‘Voyage…1785’, fol. 107r; TA, 425–9.Google Scholar

24 Mayeur, ‘Voyage…1777’, fol. 90r–91v.Google Scholar

25 TA, 938.Google Scholar

26 On Andrianampoinimerina's foreign trading contacts see Razifindramanta, ‘Andrianampoinimerina’, 25–6; Raombana, Histoires, 305–9, 375;Google ScholarMunthe, Ludvig, ‘Le manuscrit arabico-malgache, HB-4 à Paris’, Acta Orientalia ‘Copenhagen’, XXXIX (1978), 135, 168;Google ScholarMayeur, ‘Voyage… 1777’, fol. 89v; Mayeur, ‘Voyage… 1785’, fols. 107v–108v;Google Scholarde la Salle, Jacques, ‘Mémoire sur Madagascar’ [1797], Notes, Reconnaissances, et Explorations, III (1898), 577;Google ScholarDumaine, ‘Voyage fait au pays d'Ancaye en 1790’, BL, Add. MSS. 18128, fols. 136r-137r.Google Scholar

27 On Ratsimilaho and the disorder of the 1750s see Mayeur, , ‘Histoire de Ratsimilahoe’ [1806], BL, Add. MSS. 18129, fols. 82r–143v; Anon., ‘Fragment d'un vieux mémoire’ [c. 1771], BL, Add. MSS. 18130, fols. 60r–67v, 72v–77r, 85r;Google Scholar and Berg, , ‘The sacred musket’, Comp. Studies in Society and History, XXVII/I (1985), 265–7.Google Scholar On overseas trading establishments on the east coast for the period 1768 to 1793, see Archives nationales de France, série C5A; Ellis, William, History…, 11, 66–72;Google ScholarFilliot, J. M., La traite des esciaves vers les Mascareignes au XVIIe siècle (Paris, 1974), 62–5.Google Scholar

28 Bloch, Maurice, Placing the Dead (London, 1971), esp. 108–11;Google ScholarBloch, , From Blessing to Violence (Cambridge, 1986), 34–39;CrossRefGoogle Scholar and discussions at the Wenner-Gren Symposium no. 83, ‘Human Adjustment in Time and Space in Madagascar’, Burg Wartenstein, Austria, Aug., 1979.

29 Berg, ‘Some words…’, 227–30; Delivré, L'histoire…, 262.Google Scholar

30 I am indebted to Maurice Bloch for clarifying this point.Google Scholar

31 Delivré, L'histoire…, 163–5.Google Scholar

32 Raombana, Histoires, 353, 419, 427, 447, 454, 459;Google Scholar and Ayache, Simon, Roambana. L'historien (Fianarantsoa, 1975) 75–95, 107–9.Google Scholar

33 Berg, ‘The sacred musket’, 272–3;Google ScholarBloch, Maurice, ‘The disconnection between power and rank as a process’, Archives europ7eacute;ennes de sociologie, XVII, I (1977), 124–9.Google Scholar For detailed descriptions of similar prestations, see Berg, G., ‘Royal authority…’.Google Scholar

34 TA, 425–6, 429, 939; Rainandriamampandry, ‘Tantarany…’, SS 24 fols. 25r–27v; and Rainitovo, Tantaran'ny…, 11, 365–8.Google Scholar

35 TA, 493: ‘ …ary izao tsy lafintany intsony fa efa lafinkavana’.Google Scholar

36 TA, 425–6.Google Scholar

37 Berg, ‘The sacred musket’, 273; Sibree to Mullens (21 Oct. 1870), London Missionary Society, Letters Incoming, IX/2/C; Vig, Manuscripts…, 52 123, 44 89; and ‘Kelimalaza’, Firaketana…, no. 186 (1957), 62–67.Google Scholar

38 See Bloch, Maurice, ‘Almost eating the ancestors’, Man, xx (1986), 639–40.Google Scholar

39 Berg, Gerald M., ‘Historical Traditions and the Foundations of Monarchy in Imerina’ (Univ. of California, Ph.D. dissertation, 1975), 194–205.Google Scholar

40 TA, 145 and Rabetrano, ‘Ny Tantarany Razan Andriana ‘1844’’, in Rainandriamampandry, Livret, Archives de la république démocratique malgache, PP fols. 31v–32r.Google Scholar

41 TA, 65–6, 145–7, 401;Google ScholarGrifliths, David, Journal (18 January-19 July 1822), entry of 19 June, London Missionary Society, Journals, ¼.Google Scholar

42 For a symbolic analysis of the jaka presentation, see Bloch, Maurice, ‘Almost eating the ancestors’, passim.Google Scholar

43 TA, 432; 433 (‘ …atao ko tsy very tantara mandrakizay hianareo’), 433 (‘ …Izaho no tafoany Merina ny hasina’), 434: ‘…(taritaraina hianareo’).Google Scholar

44 TA, 433, 439.Google Scholar

45 TA, 305, 433, 434, n 1.Google Scholar

46 TA, 436–7.Google Scholar

47 Such was the case regarding the guardians of the principal talismans of Imerina. See Berg, ‘Royal authorit…’, 103–13.Google Scholar

48 TA, 303–5, 438–40, 542, 608.Google Scholar

49 TA (1st ed., 1873), 162, notes 1 and 3.Google Scholar

50 TA, 437–9.Google Scholar

51 This point is fully elaborated in Berg, ‘The sacred musket’, 261–79.Google Scholar

52 See Raombana, Histoires, 226–34, 275, 296–302, 305–309.Google Scholar

53 TA, 423, 938.Google Scholar

54 Raombana, Histoires, 289, 322; TA, 426, 428, 437, 940.Google Scholar

55 TA, 940–1.Google Scholar

56 TA, 424, 493.Google Scholar

57 TA, 216: ‘…nasain'ny sampy atao aminy ny basy’.Google Scholar See also Berg, ‘The Sacred Musket’, 274–8.Google Scholar

58 Razafindramanta, ‘Andrianampoinimerina’, relates that the notables of the Tanala and Sihanaka on the east coast appealed many times to his mother to return him (25 4). Tanala would arrive at Ambohimanga to give the child presents (25 5) and were eventually prohibited from entering the area for fear that they would kidnap young Ramboasalama (26 1). For other indications of his foreign status, see Roambana, Histoires, 374; Rainandriamampandry, ‘Tantarany…’, SS 24, fol. 18v; and ‘Kaloy’, Firaketana…no. 37 (1940), 64–5.Google Scholar

59 Raombana, Histoires, 362–3, 454.Google Scholar

60 Hugon, ‘Aperçu…’, fol. 16r–16v.Google Scholar See also Coroller's description quoted in Ellis, William, History…11, 124–5.Google Scholar