Andriana was both the noble class and a title of nobility in Madagascar. Historically, many Malagasy ethnic groups lived in highly stratified caste-based social orders in which the andriana were the highest strata. They were above the Hova and Andevo (slaves). The Andriana and the Hova were a part of Fotsy, while the Andevo were Mainty in local terminology.
Radama I was from the Andriana strata of Merina people.
Andriana is a prefix for the noble strata in many Malagasy ethnic groups, such as Andriantsoly (above) of Sakalava people.
Ancient Andriana tomb with trano manara or trano masina
The former Ratsimamanga palace in Antananarivo once belonged to a great Andriana family
The Kingdom of Merina, or Kingdom of Madagascar, officially the Kingdom of Imerina, was a pre-colonial state off the coast of Southeast Africa that, by the 18th century, dominated most of what is now Madagascar. It spread outward from Imerina, the Central Highlands region primarily inhabited by the Merina ethnic group with a spiritual capital at Ambohimanga and a political capital 24 km (15 mi) west at Antananarivo, currently the seat of government for the modern state of Madagascar. The Merina kings and queens who ruled over greater Madagascar in the 19th century were the descendants of a long line of hereditary Merina royalty originating with Andriamanelo, who is traditionally credited with founding Imerina in 1540.
Andriamanelo waged war against the Vazimba in an effort to expel them from the highlands.
King Andrianampoinimerina (ca. 1787–1810)
Ranavalona III was the last monarch of Madagascar.
Landing of the 40th Battaillon de Chasseur à Pieds in Majunga, between 5 and 24 May 1895.
