Imerina

a state in Madagascar from the 14th to the early 19th century.

Imerina arose on the central plateau, the most economically developed region of the island. Ethnically, the population was made up of the Merina, one of the groups of the Malagasy. In the late 16th century, during the reign of King Ralambo (c. 1575–1610), the state unified the entire central plateau. Under his son Andrianjaka (ruled approximately 1610–30), the capital of Imerina, Analamanga (“blue woods”), was founded; soon after, it was named Antananarivo. Feudal relations had formed i n Imerina by the 17th century. Terraced irrigated farming (rice was the main crop), handicrafts, and trade attained a high level of development. Under King Andriamasinavaluna (c. 1667–87), Imerina was a centralized feudal state. After his death, a period of discord and civil wars began, and the state disintegrated into independent principalities. Its reunification occurred as a result of persistent wars, which began the unification of all the lands of the island under King Andrianampoinimerina (1787–1810). Under Radama I (ruled 1810–28), the state received the name of the Malagasy Kingdom or the Kingdom of Madagascar.