A coup, an ancient poison, and 2.5 million dead: this is how Ranavalona I, the queen who terrorized Madagascar for 33 years, ruled.

Ranavalona I ascended to power in Madagascar following the 1828 death of Radama I, whose passing was attributed to illness amid persistent rumors of poisoning. Her subsequent 33-year reign was marked by significant population decline, with historical accounts estimating approximately 2.5 million deaths during her rule over a nation that initially held five million inhabitants. Her governance is characterized by the use of traditional practices and authoritarian control.