French Madagascar

This article is about the specific polity French Madagascar and therefore only includes events related to its territory and not to its possessions or colonies. If you are interested in the possession, this is the link to the article about the nation which includes all possessions as well as all the different incarnations of the nation.

If you are looking for the page with the statistics about this polity you can find it here:All Statistics

France acquired its first colonial possession in Madagascar in 1774 when the French set up a trading-post at Antongil on the east coast. It lasted only a couple of years. The colony was created (again) officially in 1897 as a successor to the Malagasy Protectorate. Madagascar would become fully independent from France only in 1960.

Establishment

April 1774: This expedition arrived in Madagascar in November 1773 and were fully established there by the end of March 1774. They set up a trading-post at Antongil on the east coast.

Chronology

Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation

1. Campaign against the Maflahy

The Mahafaly kingdom in Madagascar ended after a short French military campaign in 1907.

January 1908: A short French military campaign in 1907 ended the reign of king Tsiampondy. French authorities annexed the Mahafaly kingdom to French Madagascar.

2. World War II

Was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945 (it started sooner in certain regions) between the Axis Powers (mainly Germany, Japan and Italy) and the Allies (mainly the Soviet Union, the U.S.A., the U.K., China and France). It was the war with more fatalities in history. The war in Asia began when Japan invaded China on July 7, 1937. The war in Europe began when Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. The war ended with the complete defeat of the Axis powers, which were occupied by the Allies.

2.1.World War II (All other Vichy France Colonies)

Refers to the events that happened in French Colonies that decided to be loyal to the German puppet state of Vichy France.

July 1940: With the creation of Vichy France, initially all French colonies were aligned with Vichy.

2.2.Free France

Refers to events that happened in French colonies that either remained loyal or soon became loyal to Free France very soon during World War II.

December 1942: Transfer of Madagascar to Free France by the British.

3. Further events (Unrelated to Any War)

July 1779: Facing significant problems with the climate, the terrain, and the native Sakalava people the trading post was eventually dismantled by order of the French government in June 1779.

February 1897: Bemazava Kingdom incorporated into Madagascar.

February 1897: Establishment of French Madagascar.

January 1901: The Kingdom of Menabe was not pacified until the year 1900. Menabe was then incorporated into the province of Toliara of French Madagascar.

October 1958: Îles Éparses (actual Madagascar) gains independence as a sovereign republic.