Midongy

Midongy lies west of the Betsileo highlands, in a mountainous borderland between Betsileo and Bara country. The slopes beyond descend towards western Madagascar. During the eighteenth century the Betsileo ruler Andriampanalina extended his influence westward and settled Betsileo people on the Midongy massif. His expansion also reached south into Ibara, where he secured the allegiance of the Bara ruler Andriamanely II. Midongy thus stood on the western edge of a growing highland power.