Franco - Hova Wars The Franco - Hova Wars ( also Franco - Malagasy Wars ) comprised French military interventions in Madagascar between 1883 and 1896 that overthrew the ruling monarchy of the Merina Kingdom , and resulted in Madagascar becoming a French colony . Hova refers to a class within the Merina tribal structure . Background . European colonial powers , primarily Britain and France , had ambitions to control Madagascar , a rich island with strategic importance in regard to the sea passage to India . However , Madagascar proved difficult to subdue due to its size , local hostility , and the unsuitable climate . Further , the Merina tribe had been successful in bringing the various local tribes under its control under their royalty and to coordinate the resistance . Skillfully exploiting the rivalry between Britain and France , the monarchy kept its independence . When the Queen Ranavalona I took power in 1828 , considerable British influence was already suppressed . Upon her death , her son took over as King Radama II in 1861 . As prince , he had already made secret concessions to Joseph - François Lambert , a French adventurer . This so - called Lambert Charter was unfavorable to Madagascar , and after a brief reign , he was assassinated in 1863 and the concessions were revoked resulting in a conflict with France . First Franco - Hova War . France invaded Madagascar in 1883 , in what became known as the first Franco - Hova War , seeking to restore the cancelled concessions . With the signing of the Treaty of Tamatave in January , 1886 , the war ceased . Madagascar ceded Antsiranana ( Diego Suarez ) on the northern coast to France and paid a hefty fine of 10 million francs . The treaty included an ' Instructive Letter ' which was to clarify the treaty , but which was never presented in the French Parliament when they voted to ratify the treaty . The treaty essentially gave France control over Malagasy foreign policy , and the French government used this to exert increasing control over the territory , but a Protectorate was not formally declared . Second Franco - Hova War . The terms and impositions of the treaty were resented by the Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony , but accepted . The monarchy was merely a figurehead for the tight control of the government exerted by the Prime Minister . The situation quickly changed when his former ally , the British , recognized a French Protectorate of Madagascar in September 1890 , in return for eventual British control over Zanzibar and as part of an overall definition of spheres of influence in Africa . With the opening of the Suez Canal , the strategic significance of Madagascar had declined . This caused the Prime Minister to begin preparing for conflict by sending Colonel Shervinton , his European military adviser , to purchase arms in Europe . The French administration was determined to bring about a full Protectorate on the island , and thus evacuated its nonessential citizens from the region . Active hostilities commenced on December 12 , 1894 , when the French marines took possession of Tamatave . General Duchesne and his flying column landed in Mahajanga ( Majunga ) and marched to the capital , Antananarivo , hampered by the jungle , shallow river , disease , and lack of roads . Queen Ranavalona III was actually in favor of the French action , and supported their overthrow of the iron rule of Rainilaiarivony . They finally reached the city and began the assault in the last week of September 1895 . The defenders were stationed on the main road to the capital , to the south of the city . The French commander , however , circled the city and executed a feint attack on the north of the city . His main force attacked the east of the city , commanding a hillock from which he could shell the main government buildings , including the Queen ' s palace . Three shells were fired against the city , and the Hova army was routed . The Prime Minister ' s Secretary , Mark Rabibiosa , hoisted the flag of surrender and went out to meet the French . General Duchesne entered the city on October 1 , and Queen Ranavalona III signed the treaty that made Madagascar a full Protectorate of the French government . Her first act was to replace Rainilaiarivony as Prime Minister . The Merina Kingdom was put under French protection in 1896 , overseen by the first Resident - General , Laroche . Twenty French soldiers died fighting and 6 , 000 died of malaria and other diseases before the second Franco - Hova War ended . End of the Merina monarchy . Following a local uprising , General Gallieni deposed the queen in 1897 , and thereby terminated the 103 - year - old Merina monarchy . Queen Ranavalona III was exiled to Réunion and later to Algeria .