Ratsimilaho (c.1694 – 1750) was a ruler of an east coastal region of

Madagascar Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands. Lying off the southeastern coast of Africa, it is the world's List of islands by area, f ...

. He is said to be the son of an English

pirate Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence by ship or boat-borne attackers upon another ship or a coastal area, typically with the goal of stealing cargo and valuable goods, or taking hostages. Those who conduct acts of piracy are call ...

Thomas Tew Thomas Tew (died September 1695), also known as the Rhode Island Pirate, was a 17th-century English privateer-turned- pirate. He embarked on two major pirate voyages and met a bloody death on the second, and he pioneered the route which became ...

and a Malagasy

queen regnant A queen regnant (: queens regnant) is a female monarch, equivalent in rank, title and position to a king. She reigns ''suo jure'' (in her own right) over a realm known as a kingdom; as opposed to a queen consort, who is married to a reigning ...

, Antavaratra Rahena.Sainte Marie Island
/ref> The region, known as the Betsimisaraka confederation, covered of coast and this legacy was created by Ratsimilaho.Ratsimilaho
''Encyclopædia Britannica'', accessed 13 August 2008 The Betsimisaraka make up approximately fifteen percent of the Malagasy people and are the second largest group in

after the

Merina The Merina people (also known as the Imerina, Antimerina, Borizany or Ambaniandro) formerly called Amboalambo are the largest ethnic group in Madagascar.

Biography

Ratsimilaho was reputedly born as a result of the hospitality shown by the Malagasy queen Antavaratra Rahena to an English pirate named "Thomas" (possibly

, Thomas White, or Thomas Collins) when he arrived to show his accreditation as a privateer. The pirate is said to have adopted the resulting child and taken the boy briefly to England where he had some education. Now "according to most chroniclers", whilst Ratsimilaho had been away there had been a redistribution of power. The tribes to the south under their leader Ramano had captured the territory to the north of TamataveForget Colonialism? Sacrifice and the Art of Memory in Madagascar
Jennifer Cole, 2001, , accessed 13 August 2008 as they were jealous of the riches arising from the trade with the Europeans. Ratsimilaho's initial approach was to negotiate with Ramano and the Tsikoa clans, but this proved impossible. He therefore called a meeting, a ''kabary'', of the leaders and after much debate he persuaded them to give him the power to lead them in a battle. Ratsimilaho was given the title of ''filoha be'' and he used this power to create a new state. Driving out the Southern clans and resisting their later attempts at reinvasion he was victorious. The southern tribes were then called ''those who wear red mud''. In 1712, Ratsimilato obtained a new

treaty A treaty is a formal, legally binding written agreement between sovereign states and/or international organizations that is governed by international law. A treaty may also be known as an international agreement, protocol, covenant, convention ...

and it was at this time that his people took on the title of ''Betsimisaraka'' meaning ''the many who will not be sundered'', whilst his descendants were known as the ''Zana-Malatas'', the "children of the mulattos". He is said to have requested a wife from the people known as ''Zafimbolamena'' (Grandchildren of Gold) who were part of the ''Sakalava'' people. The resulting child, a son, was named

Zanahary Zanahary is the personified sky and supreme deity of Malagasy mythology and folklore. He (usually male, but sometimes considered genderless) is considered a creator god, having collaborated with the earth god Ratovantany to create humanity; up ...

- a name now used in Madagascar to mean a God.Recollecting from the Past
Ron Emoff, , accessed 14 August 2008 Ramaromanompo was the new name taken by Ratsimilaho meaning ''he who is served by many''. This important Betsimisaraka federation lasted principally until 1750/51, ending either because of the death of the ''filoha be'' or because of internal squabbles. The confederation continued after his death but there was pressure from outside and disagreement within. However his legacy, the Betsimisaraka territory included the important port

Toamasina Toamasina (), meaning "like salt" or "salty", unofficially and in French language, French Tamatave or in the past as Port aux prunes, is the capital of the Atsinanana region on the east coast of Madagascar on the Indian Ocean. The city is the chief ...

, Fenerive,

Maroansetra Maroantsetra , formerly Louisbourg, is a market town and domestic seaport in Analanjirofo Region, Madagascar, at the northern end of the Bay of Antongil. In 2018, Maroantsetra counted 42,529 people. Even though it is a small city, Maroantsetra ...

commanding

Antongil Bay ''Helodranon' Antongila'' (Bay of Antongila), more commonly called Antongil Bay in English, is the largest bay in Madagascar. This bay is on the island's east coast, toward the northern end of the eastern coastline of the island. It is within A ...

, the largest bay in Madagascar.Madagascar: A Country Study

Helen Chapin Metz Helen Chapin Metz (April 12, 1928 – May 13, 2011) was an American editor and Middle East analyst. Life Helen Chapin was born on April 12, 1928, in Peking, China. She was the daughter of diplomat Selden Chapin and Mary Paul Noyes. Her brother, ...

, ed. Library of Congress, 1994., accessed 14 August 2008 After his death, his daughter, Bity, became queen.World Statesman.org
accessed 13 August 2008 She married a French

corporal Corporal is a military rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The rank is usually the lowest ranking non-commissioned officer. In some militaries, the rank of corporal nominally corr ...

and it is said that this is what gave France its first claim. She reigned with her husband, until Ratsimilaho's son, Zanahary, became leader.

References

{{Authority control 1690s births 1750 deaths Betsimisaraka Kings Malagasy people of English descent