By the beginning of the 19th century, Madagascar had an established monarchy and was developing quite rapidly as a sovereign nation. But as with most of Africa, Europeans had eyes on the kingdom, the French specifically. The ruler they had to fight to take over the kingdom was none other than the young Queen Ranavalona III who was the ruler of Madagascar at the time and became the last monarch to rule the island nation. Ranavalona III, was born Princess Razafindrahety on the 22nd of November, 1861. As a young child, her aunt, Queen Ranavalona II took custody of her and arranged for her to begin receiving a private education from a London Missionary Society (LMS) teacher. She continued her education throughout her adolescent years.
As a young woman, Razafindrahety married a nobleman named Ratrimo. Ratrimo later died leaving the young princess widowed at just 22. It was said that he was poisoned by the Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony so that being the most eligible candidate for the throne, she would be free to marry him as the Prime Minister which was the custom at the time. When Queen Ranavalona II died, Razafindrahety was proclaimed queen and was given the title "Her Majesty Ranavalona III by the grace of God and the will of the people, Queen of Madagascar, and Protectoress of the laws of the Nation. Her coronation happened on the 22nd of November 1883. Ranavalona entered a political marriage with Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony just like her two predecessors. With this arrangement, her position as queen was more or less ceremonial as nearly all the crucial political decisions were left for the much older and more experienced prime minister. She however made many public speeches and commissioned new public buildings.
As queen of Madagascar, Ranavalona III became unavoidably involved in the political tension that had been existing between Madagascar and France since the beginning of the 19th century.
