NAME: Kingdom of Madagascar
CAPITAL: Antananarivo
POPULATION: 28,541,000
LEADER: King Radama VI
GOVERNMENT: Constitutional Monarchy
MILITARY:
Royal Army
-Royal Army
-Royal Air Corps
Royal Navy
(Primary Naval Stations at Tamatave and Majunga)
Provincial Militias
(Coordinated by Ministry of Defence, Antananarivo)
TECHNOLOGY: Similar to OTL's 2004
HISTORY:
The modern history of the Kingdom of Madagascar begins with the union of the Merina peoples of the interior by King Andrianampoinimerina in the late 18th century, who later also subjugates the Bétsiléo. He was succeeded by his son Radama I, otherwise known as Radama the Great, who ended the slave trade in return for British aid in modernizing and equipping his army which helped him conquer the Betsimisáraka kingdom and founded the Kingdom of Madagascar with it's capital at Antananarivo. The Protestant London Missionary Society was welcomed and gained many converts, opened schools and helped to transcribe the Merina language, beginning the spread of Merina culture across Madagascar. When Radama died in 1835, he was succeeded by his son Radama II who continued his father's policies despite the obvious disapproval of his mother Ranavalona. The Kingdom continued to expand until it encompassed the entire island by 1865. Madagascar's agriculture diversified dramatically as cash crops such as coffee, cocoa and various spices were introduced and mines were opened that produced coal, bauxite, garnets and other minerals. The ports of Tamatave (Toamasina) and Majunga (Mahajanga) were expanded and railroads were built between them and Antananarivo which soon became Madagascar's leading industrial city.
After Radama II died in 1868, Madagascar saw a period of fighting against the colonial ambitions of the French in the late 19th century which was only thwarted by a British-sponsored general European agreement that preserved Madagascar's independence. During World War 1 Madagascar remained neutral and during the 1920s, the Kingdom continued a pro-Britain and America foreign policy. Under Radama V, however, Madagascar began a rapid military expansion during the 30s and occupied and annexed the Comoros islands in the Mozambique Channel in 1938. When World War 2 broke out and France collapsed into the puppet Vichy regime, Madagascar found a way to expand their territory at the hated French's expense while assisting their long time ally, Great Britain. In late 1940, the Kingdom of Madagascar declared war on Germany, Italy and Vichy France and 'occupied' the French territories of Reunion, the Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, Europa Island, Bassas da India and Tromelin Island, gaining control of the Mozambique Channel and the waters surrounding Madagascar. After the war, Madagascar began to pay for it's aggressive policies before and during the war as relations with Britain and the United States cooled while relations with France were downright venomous. Taking some notes from the Soviet Union, Madagascar created the MIS, or Malagasy Intelligence Service, and poured funds that otherwise have gone into offensive measures for the military into the new agency. The MIS proved remarkably capable as the 20th century wore on and the Madagascar intelligence network spanned the African continent and into Europe, Asia and the Americas. MIS covert operations are unofficially considered largely responsible for independence movements in African colonies across the Sub-Saharan region and is consulted on occasions by the CIA, Interpol and the KGB for intelligence data.
Today the Kingdom of Madagascar is non-aligned in the Cold War between the American-led NATO and the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact but isn't lumped automatically in with such nations as India. Madagascar and its surrounding empire of islands is a source of great mystery to diplomats and intelligence operatives around the world. Madagascar's military and economy, while strong and prosperous enough, are nothing compared to the two known superpowers, the United States and Soviet Union, or even some of their minor allies. But the MIS's intelligence network is one to be feared and it's indirect control over most of the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa make it a possible third player in the Cold War though Madagascar has made no threatening moves for over 60 years. Shrouded in mystery and secrecy, the Kingdom of Madagascar continues its long history of plotting and intrigue to benefit only Madagascar.
