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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC04466.02 |
| From Archive Folder | Documents Relating to 1821 |
| Title | Letter of invitation from Radama I, King of Madagascar, to James Hastie |
| Date | 18 June 1821 |
| Author | Radama I, King of Madagascar (1793-1828) |
| Recipient | Hastie, James |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | Written by Radama I "the Great," the first king of Madagascar, to Hastie, the British agent to his court. Document is in Radama's language, probably Malagasy, and is translated and transcribed by Hastie above Radama's words. He is inviting Hastie to visit him, saying the rice is boiled and the birds are cooling. Hastie was in Tananarivo, the capital. Translation of address says "I salute you." |
| Subjects | Global History and Civics Foreign Affairs Entertaining and Hospitality Diet and Nutrition Diplomacy Asia Government and Civics |
| People | Radama I, King of Madagascar (1793-1828) Hastie, James (fl. 1821) |
| Place written | Madagascar |
| Theme | Foreign Affairs; Government & Politics |
| Sub-collection | The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859 |
| Additional Information | At the end of the 18th century the disunited Merina kingdom (a small area in the central plateau of the island, around Antananarivo) was unified by Andrianampoinimerina (1787-1810). Imerina was soundly organized and the Sakaiava incursions checked. Turning his attention to expansion, Andrianampoinimerina brought the Betsileo into subjection. At his death he bequeathed to his son Radama I a single political ambition: "The sea will be the boundary of ricefield" (i.e., of his kingdom). In 1810, Radama I succeeded his father Andrianampoinimerina as king of Merina. An ambitious ruler, he first took over the Betsileo area in the southern part of the central highlands, then the Sakalava. Radama also received help from the British governor of Mauritiu, Sir Robert Farquhar, who, failing to obtain the backing of the British government to replace the French in Madagascar, adopted a policy of supporting the Merina. For some years British agent, James Hastie, resided at Radama's court. By playing off competing British and French interests, Radama acquired British aid for his military, which he then used to conquer most of the rest of the island by 1824. Radama also encouraged social and political change; he organized a cabinet, and invited the Protestant London Missionary Society to establish schools and churches. The Society also brought a printing press, and devised a written form of the Malagasy language. He officially abolished the slave trade in 1817, although slave-dealing continued. Radama died at the age of 36 and was succeeded by his wife, Queen Ranavalona I who seized royal authority. |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859 |