Ranavalona III

Ranavalona III was the last sovereign of the Kingdom of Madagascar. She ruled from 30 July 1883 to 28 February 1897 in a reign marked by ultimately futile efforts to resist the colonial designs of the government of France. As a young woman, she was selected from among several Andriana qualified to succeed Queen Ranavalona II upon her death. Like both preceding queens, Ranavalona entered a political marriage with a member of the Hova elite named Rainilaiarivony, who largely oversaw the day-to-day governance of the kingdom and managed its foreign affairs in his role as prime minister. Ranavalona tried to stave off colonization by strengthening trade and diplomatic relations with foreign powers throughout her reign, but French attacks on coastal port towns and an assault on the capital city of Antananarivo led to the capture of the royal palace in 1895, ending the sovereignty and political autonomy of the centuries-old kingdom.

22 November 1861

Born on the same birth day (22 November): Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Baden • Edward Bernays • Emanuel Feuermann • George Alagiah • Jim Jefferies (footballer) • JuJu Smith-Schuster • Nikolai Kapustin • Olivier Brouzet • Robbie Slater • Scarlett Johansson • Ville Valo

Born in the same month (November 1861): Adina Emilia de Zavala • Alice Gossage • Camillo Laurenti • Frederick Jackson Turner • Georgina Febres-Cordero • James Naismith • Jeff Milton • Lesser Ury • Luigi Facta • Spyridon Samaras