{{short description|Prime minister of Madagascar}} {{Infobox officeholder |honorific_prefix = [[Field Marshal]] |name = Rainiharo |order = 2nd |office = Prime Minister of Madagascar |term_start = 1833 |term_end = 10 February 1852 |monarch = [[Ranavalona I]] |predecessor = [[Andriamihaja]] |successor = [[Rainivoninahitriniony]] |birth_name = Ravoninahitriniarivo |birth_place = Madagascar |death_date = 18 October 1852 |resting_place = Fasan-dRainiharo, Isoraka |spouse = Rabodomiarana <br /> [[Ranavalona I]] |children = [[Rainivoninahitriniony]] <br /> [[Rainilaiarivony]] }} [[Image:Rainiharo tomb.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Rainiharo's tomb is located on the road connecting the Isoraka and Isotry neighborhoods of Antananarivo.<ref name=uni/>]]
Field Marshal '''Rainiharo''' (died on 18 October 1852 in Rabodomiarana) was from 1833 to 1852 prime minister of the [[Kingdom of Imerina]] in the central highlands of [[Madagascar]].
==Biography== Rainiharo was born as ''Ravoninahitriniarivo'' into the Hova (freeman) class of the [[Merina]] people in the central highlands of Madagascar. His father, Andriantsilavonandriana, served as an adviser to the king [[Andrianampoinimerina]].{{cn|date=August 2020}} After distinguishing himself as a military officer in a series of campaigns of pacification in the southeastern part of the island, he was chosen as a spouse by [[Ranavalona I|Queen Ranavalona I]] following the death of her first husband in 1833,<ref>[http://www.uq.net.au/~zzhsoszy/states/africa/madagascar.html Non European Royalty], accessed 15 August 2008</ref> and was thereupon promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the military and [[Prime Minister of Madagascar]].<ref name=rule>[http://rulers.org/rulm1.html#madagascar Madagascar prime ministers], rulers.org, accessed 15 August 2008</ref> He retained these roles until his death in 1853,<ref name=uni>[http://digarc.usc.edu/impa/controller/view/impa-m1621.html University of Southern California archive] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807034458/http://digarc.usc.edu/impa/controller/view/impa-m1621.html |date=2016-08-07 }}, accessed 15 August 2008</ref> when he was interred in a distinctive tomb constructed in central [[Antananarivo]] by Frenchman [[Jean Laborde]].<ref>[http://www.hotel-palissandre.com/plan_en.htm Tourist guide] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130103082005/http://www.hotel-palissandre.com/plan_en.htm |date=2013-01-03 }}, hotel-palissandre.com</ref> This tomb would later hold the bodies of Rainiharo's two sons, [[Rainivoninahitriniony]] and [[Rainilaiarivony]], who would each succeed him as Commander-in-Chief, Prime Minister and consort.<ref name=rule/>
He was buried in Fasan-dRainiharo, Isoraka.
==Literary== Rainiharo is mentioned in ''The Fugitives'' by [[R. M. Ballantyne]].<ref>[http://www.athelstane.co.uk/ballanty/fugitive/tyran13.htm The Fugitives] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105220048/http://www.athelstane.co.uk/ballanty/fugitive/tyran13.htm |date=2009-01-05 }}, R.M.Ballantyne, athelstane.co.uk</ref>
==References== {{reflist|2}}
{{MadagascarPMs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rainiharo}} [[Category:Year of birth missing]] [[Category:1852 deaths]] [[Category:Prime ministers of Madagascar]] [[Category:Merina people]]