Sakalava

The Sakalava formed kingdoms on western Madagascar under the Maroseranana dynasty. After 1610 Andriandahifotsy used weapons obtained through the slave trade to extend his power north of the Mangoky River.

His sons pushed toward Mahajanga, and the first major Sakalava kingdoms emerged around 1650. Menabe became a leading kingdom, and Sakalava rule reached its greatest extent between 1730 and 1760 under Andrianinevenarivo. In the early nineteenth century Merina expanded against the western polities.