Ranavalona II, Queen of Madagascar, had entered into a political marriage with her Prime Minister, Rainilaiarivony, on February 21, 1869, in a public ceremony at Andohalo wherein the court had officially undergone conversion to Christianity.

This conversion had been effected to bring the increasingly powerful Protestant faction under the influence of the royal court.

Declaring Madagascar a Christian nation, Ranavalona has the traditional royal talismans (sampy) burned in a public bonfire in September 1869 and replaces their authority with that of the Bible, subsequently making the Anglican faith the official state religion of Madagascar Catholic and Protestant missionaries arrive in numbers to build churches and schools.

The reign of Queen Ranavalona II will prove the heyday of British influence in Madagascar.

British arms and troops arrive on the island by way of South Africa.

Ranavalona II was born Princess Ramoma in 1829 at Ambatomanoina, near Antananarivo in the central highlands to Razakaratrimo and Rafarasoa Ramasindrazana.

As a young woman she, like her cousin Rasoherina, had been married to King Radama II and had been widowed upon his assassination in the nobles' coup of 1863.

The prime minister at the time, Rainivoninahitriniony, had played a major role in the assassination plot and public condemnation of the action forced him from his post.

The position of Prime Minister had then been filled by his younger brother Rainilaiarivony, who had married Queen Rasoherina and then, upon her death, had helped to designate Ranavalona II the next monarch of Madagascar and will consequently marry her to retain his position.

During her years at court, young Ramoma had been tutored by Protestant missionaries of the London Missionary Society, who had greatly influenced her religious and political views.

She had become increasingly favorable toward the beliefs of the Christian religion.

Ranavalona II had succeeded to the throne upon the death of Queen Rasoherina on April 1, 1868.