Origins . In Madagascar, the period from 1500 to 1800 saw the island's populations go from being mobile and unsettled to having organised largely into states.
Sakalava tradition holds that the ruling dynasty, the Maroserana, originated from overseas and migrated to southwest Madagascar. Together they arrived at the land between the
Morondava and
Tsiribihina rivers, noted for its good quality soil, which they named
Menabe (meaning "very red"). Traditions detail how a kingdom was founded along the Morondava River before 1600, with early leaders holding ritual power through priests () and their protective amulets (
ody, believed to be imbued with
hasina), overtime developing into
divine kingship. Prior to the 17th century,
Indian Ocean trade along the north-western coast of Madagascar was controlled by the
Antalaotra, Muslim
Swahili-speakers who had migrated to the region around the 10th century and intermarried with the locals. The south-west, predominantly inhabited by
Zebu pastoralists, was excluded from this foreign trade prior to the arrival of Europeans (
vazaha). In the mid-to-late 16th century, European merchants began using the newly-named
St. Augustine Bay at the mouth of the
Onilahy River as a stopping-point and traded with the communities there. Cattle and supplies were exchanged for beads and silver and the bay became a prominent trading port. Conflict over trade erupted along the Onilahy River in the 17th century, mostly in the form of cattle raids. On occasion the
Andriana (ruling class) solicited direct or indirect military support from Europeans, who sought to protect trading alliances, further destabilising the region. who rulers intermarried with and adopted their culture and religious beliefs. This saw Andriamandazoala extend his control in Menabe. One brother, , with his followers took this opportunity to expand north. During the conquests he deferred decisions to an
ombiasy, and his forces raided for cattle and slaves which were then traded at conquered port cities. However
Solofo Randrianja says that the kingdoms in the south were derived from the Maroserana's initial migration to the southwest.
Decline and Merina conquests Following the failure of
France's colony in
Marotte/Nosy Mangabe (a small island off
Antongil Bay purchased from the Sakalava Boina king), they began establishing
trading posts along the east coast. Toakafo died c. 1733, and his successor, Ndramahatindriarivo, moved the capital to
Marovoay. Following the death of Menabe's king in 1809 the succession conflict involved Imerina's Andrianampoinimerina. Battles were however inconclusive, and Sakalava's ascended to the position. The 19th century saw rapid growth of the slave trade and pressure from European commercial expansion, and in 1810 the British capitalised on French weaknesses to
capture Mauritius off the east coast. The British allied with King
Radama of Imerina in 1817 and recognised him as "King of Madagascar" with the stated aim of abolishing the slave trade, posing a great threat to Sakalava's dominance over trade, resulting in the Sakalava forming an alliance with the French.. The lack of a supreme ruler in Iboina caused it to rapidly fragment and disintegrate. In response to the massacre the Sakalava resisted tenaciously under
Ingereza, however by 1902 Menabe's Sakalava had been defeated. By 1904 France had consolidated
their rule over Madagascar.
Postcolonial period Many of the lineages continue to exist today as
non-sovereign monarchies. The ancestral
relics of the four 'founders' of Iboina in Majunga are hotly contested over by the
Bemihisatra and
Bemazava lineages, who both split from the main dynastic line during Ndramahatindriarivo's reign in the 18th century. After a fire destroyed the shrine hosting the relics in 1958, the Bemazava built a new one called
Mandresiarivo. On 8 June 1973 the Bemihisatra took the relics by force at night, and in 1979 the Bemazava's temple was bulldozed by a government official with Bemihisatra associations. == Government ==