Rainiharo

Field Marshal Rainiharo
2ndPrime Minister of Madagascar
In office 1833 – 10 February 1852
Monarch	Ranavalona II
Preceded by	Andriamihaja
Succeeded by	Rainivoninahitriniony
Personal details
Born	Ravoninahitriniarivo Madagascar
Died	18 October 1852
Resting place	Fasan-dRainiharo, Isoraka
Spouse(s)	Rabodomiarana Ranavalona I
Children	Rainivoninahitriniony Rainilaiarivony

Rainiharo's tomb is located on the road connecting the Isoraka and Isotry neighborhoods of Antananarivo.

Field MarshalRainiharo(died on 18 October 1852 in Rabodomiarana) was from 1833 to 1852 prime minister of theKingdom of Imerinain the central highlands ofMadagascar.

Biography

Rainiharo was born asRavoninahitriniarivointo the Hova (freeman) class of theMerinapeople in the central highlands of Madagascar. His father, Andriantsilavonandriana, served as an adviser to the kingAndrianampoinimerina.After distinguishing himself as a military officer in a series of campaigns of pacification in the southeastern part of the island, he was chosen as a spouse byQueen Ranavalona Ifollowing the death of her first husband in 1833,and was thereupon promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the military andPrime Minister of Madagascar.He retained these roles until his death in 1853,when he was interred in a distinctive tomb constructed in centralAntananarivoby FrenchmanJean Laborde.This tomb would later hold the bodies of Rainiharo's two sons,RainivoninahitrinionyandRainilaiarivony,who would each succeed him as Commander-in-Chief, Prime Minister and consort.

He was buried in Fasan-dRainiharo, Isoraka.

Literary

Rainiharo is mentioned inThe FugitivesbyR. M. Ballantyne.