september assumed dead son heir ruled controlled virtually entire island rule brief pivotal period history harsh year rule mother madagascar successfully preserved cultural political independence french british designs rejecting queen policy christian persecution permitted religious freedom opened madagascar european influence terms secretly contracted french entrepreneur ruled french awarded exclusive rights exploitation large tracts valuable land lucrative resources projects agreement later revoked prime minister key establishing france claim madagascar colony dramatic contrast son pro european stance represented abrupt reversal policy threatened traditional order pursuing dramatic reforms disregard advice ministers ultimately turned coup led prime minister wife took throne allowed ministers succeed husband condition future longer rule concert class free citizens represented position prime minister public informed committed suicide body interred tomb soon emerged rumors believed prominent foreigners lived making plans reclaim throne strong case basis significant evidence revived lived old age near northwestern island upbringing early years born september building compound officially recognized son king widow king died months prince birth likely fathered lover mother progressive young officer army queen tricked putting death conservative ministers court mother succeeded throne instituted increasingly regime attempted restore traditional values contain eliminate prince highly influenced french adviser queen favorably impressed european culture knowledge state economic political technological development troubled socially policies pursued according british account french played sympathy signing request french aid enabled france establish control madagascar true nature letter signing uncovered british contacts alternate explanation offered maintained prince supported attempt end mother harsh policies willing collaborator failed plot remove throne prior death conservative progressive factions court waged tactical power struggle secure successor favorable political agenda conservative faction favored son queen sister queen prime minister head army brothers supported successfully obtained key strategic allies court enabled seize throne violence following mother death obliged swear public oath allegiance later sent exile highland village died april reign prince throne august natural death mother assuming throne coronation ceremony held following year september throne immediately initiated rapid dramatic reversal mother policies reopened country foreign powers concluded treaties friendship britain france opened business possibilities french investors freedom religion declared persecution christians ceased missionaries returned island schools reopened abolished traditional trial ordeal guilt innocence accused person determined based outcome consuming poison inhabitants permitted raise city walls practice previously forbidden taboo forbidding kept near royal dispersed sacred villages originated 16th century king early monarchs significantly freed numerous political prisoners captured provincial wars offered confiscated property pardon ethnic groups island good coasts central administration improved significantly changes king praised madagascar european partners remarkable formed views policy large liberal humane patriotic form foundation throne son mother trained dark restrictive cruel adopted principles religious freedom political economy equal civil liberty universal free trade principles nation slow learn lands civilization far advanced reaction sided abrupt dramatic policy changes pursued progressive king alienated established conservative factions nobles court especially controversial special privileges accorded partners including exclusive implementation public works projects trees making roads building canals etc control lucrative mining rights proposed madagascar french madagascar company citizens concern stemmed primarily clauses agreement permitted company permanent owners lands point land madagascar viewed populace sacred ground ancestors temporarily possessed foreigners death point land revert crown threat permanently losing sacred soil foreigners deeply assassination plot ultimately issue brought head tension king entourage friends established political figures known collectively red eyes representatives opposition led prime minister announced intention allow disputes settled duel disapproval advisers court feared practice lead anarchy prime minister prevented law publicly declared friday market following day friday afternoon prime minister younger brother head army called thousand troops city number members royal family palace compound saturday morning decision carried execute key political figures sunday demanded hand palace refused prime minister agreed spare lives handed monday morning death drama ended tuesday morning group officers soldiers forced way seized king wife pleaded life spared attempted stop forcibly removed soldiers threw head silk believed dead avoiding royal blood custom royal executions nobles informed support queen condition accept certain articles form new contract rulers ruled madagascar future word sovereign law sovereign nobles heads people unite making laws friendship foreigners maintained death word sovereign nobles heads people sentence inflicted religion worship equally free natives foreigners christians non christians public worship ordeal death inflicted great crimes agreed conditions morning publicly announced marketplace taken life grief deaths succeed cement new power sharing agreement ruler nobles heads people political marriage contracted queen prime minister instrumental husband death struck list kings declared illegal death rumors survival following apparent death rumors spread rendered unconscious attempt life revived body transported designated tomb french historian presents evidence supports scenario group tasked carrying body frightened king began revive prompting abandon body falsely maintain completed task place tomb months reported death rumors began circulating alive residing west coast island supporters political comeback rumors persisted point causing political turmoil claims substance judging actions prominent christian missionaries outside capital extensive efforts visit support seemingly succeeded factions government concerned rumors death sixteen supporters hundreds according evidence study survived failing regain throne lived old age ordinary citizen north island apparent murder power monarchs broken subsequent monarchs controlled influential particularly prime minister brother married remaining queens monarchy issue illegitimate children line succession died epidemic son born august daughter niece son married left children compositions composer romance cottage wood musical works honours national honours master master order master ancestry
Radama II