ruler central highlands region madagascar ruling expanded realm father assign region oral history preserved numerous legends king including dramatic military victories contributing heroic near mythical status kings ancient circumstances surrounding birth occurred highly date year said supernatural nature add sovereign oral history attributes numerous significant lasting political cultural innovations king credited consumption beef celebrating discovery establishment new year festival traditionally took place day birth according legend introduced rule division noble class sub oral history furthermore traces tradition royal idols reign heavy use supernatural objects expand realm consolidate divine nature sovereignty enduring cultural legacy left king considered key figure development cultural identity early life born sacred highland village king parents children survive adulthood according legend child known given successfully killing particularly ferocious wild woods story attributes wild walked past threshold house mother resting shortly giving birth explanations likely originated point reign probable took consumption meat called language tongue derived popular legend birth mystical character legend relates mother known youth green forest daughter water goddess great bird assistance mother confronted overcame numerous obstacles marriage assumed obstacles took form reproductive difficulties consecutive times lost children infancy pregnant seventh child queen especially afraid child number seven traditionally associated death time sought guidance protect child evil fate advice chose tradition delivering baby parents home village choosing village north cardinal direction embodied great power according tale queen gave birth house built resemble boat called evocative origins people took delivering healthy son day month year date birth sovereign reign enduring significant political cultural achievements reign earned heroic near mythical status greatest ancient history assign land people central highland territories ruled moved capital location capital maternal grandfather king sub divisions noble created split ranks introduced traditions family parent step child half siblings nobles practices having existed certain ethnic groups practice deceased believed originated king credited introducing tradition legend origin practice recorded 19th century collection oral history entitled according source married servant encountered beautiful princess female companions gathering edible valley west hearing beauty instructed servant marriage offer behalf servant asked times time princess refused consent instead king queen fourth time instructed servant carry force princess agreed marry condition properly consent parents condition king agreed informed wife intention marry replied approve decision marriage ultimately took wives total marriages produced daughters sons eldest passed succession favor second son expanded defended realm combination diplomacy successful military action aided firearms way trade kingdoms coast according legend group warriors village near river attempted attack village frightened warriors noise single shotgun blast warrior ran river drowned imposing tax time price secure life able establish standing royal army established units equip famously repelled attempted invasion army powerful western coastal people site known lazy north traditionally fought night found asleep camp men easily famous incident army set trap king named claimed control thunder man named sent king invite participate contest superiority traveled join competition set fire capital king saw smoke began village captured ambush laid troops forced exile forests far east according oral history wild cattle highlands food reign different legends attribute discovery edible king servant discovery realm practice design cattle pen construction likewise credited founding traditional ceremony royal bath suggested merely added certain practices celebration long standing ritual legend characterizes festival established celebrate discovery according version story traversing countryside men came wild exceptionally fat king decided burnt offering flesh cooked smell led taste meat declared meat fit human consumption honor discovery decided establish holiday called distinguished consumption meat holiday celebrated day birth coincided day year end holiday symbolically represented community wide renewal place period days year precise form original holiday known certainty traditions evolved time 19th century accounts provide insight festival practiced time accounts centuries indicate family members required reunite home villages festival period estranged family members expected attempt reconcile homes cleaned repaired new clothing purchased symbolism renewal particularly embodied traditional sexual encouraged eve characterized early 19th century british missionaries following morning return rigid social order sovereign firmly helm kingdom morning day year red traditionally sacrificed blood sovereign present ceremony afterward sovereign water attendees ensure start year children celebrate carrying nighttime villages meat eaten course festival primarily consumed preparation reserved uniquely holiday festival sealing meat decorative clay underground pit months served year idols fashioned natural materials occupied important place ethnic groups madagascar centuries personal believed protect powers commonplace objects possessed slave children kings given physically indistinguishable distinct powers extended entire community complete distinct personality offered house guardians dedicated service amassed reputed powerful neighboring communities furthermore transformed nature relationship ruler previously seen tools disposal community leaders divine leader sovereignty integrity state preserved power condition line ensured shown respect collecting greatest sacred number transforming nature strengthened supernatural power legitimacy royal line 19th century oral history offers account idols introduction according legend day reign woman named arrived carrying small object wrapped banana leaves grass traveled village located country south destroyed fire walking great distance traveling night order deliver king called little famous giving impression greatest treasure land took built house nearby village selected group study learn mysteries oral history maintains disappear training completed order prevent precious idol long legend continues group accounts warriors preparing attack village north called announced sufficient throw rotten egg warriors care rest according oral history egg thrown hit warrior head killing contact corpse fell warrior killed corpse fell forth warriors destroyed confirming power protector kingdom minds populace similarly besieged village said produced massive wiped enemy warriors honored place awarded encouraged like bring neighboring lands introduced long said control snakes repel attacks arrival protected sovereignty king rivals favorite kept near afterward came believed protect injury death followed origin possible exception come forest people east propagation similar service powerful citizens consequently increased rule nearly village chief common families possession claimed powers protection communal offered lesser destroyed reduced status personal end reign son officially leaving truly powerful known royal possession king royal including continued supposed destruction public conversion christianity death succession believed died buried traditional stone tomb grandfather stands highland village according 19th century source death year burial reportedly took place night royal constructed tomb royal tradition continue collapse 19th century kingdom madagascar rules succession established obliged pass eldest son second wife favor succession younger son wife
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