Merina

The Merina are the highlander people of central Madagascar. They emerged from the mingling of early Austronesian settlers with later Bantu migrants and the older Vazimba population, and speak the Merina dialect of Malagasy. By the fifteenth century Hova clans had settled in the highlands and intermarried with Vazimba rulers.

Andriamanelo, who ruled from 1540 to 1575, founded the Kingdom of Imerina and fought the Vazimba, building fortified hilltop compounds and irrigated rice paddies. His son Ralambo named the realm, and Andrianjaka seized the last Vazimba stronghold and founded Antananarivo around 1620.

King Andriamasinavalona divided Imerina among his sons, opening a period of civil war and slave raiding until Andrianampoinimerina reunited it after 1787. His son Radama I, ruling from 1810, had conquered nearly the whole island by 1824 and opened the court to European missionaries and diplomats.