# Ranavalona II of Madagascar baptised (1869)

URL: https://christianity-history.com/timeline/1869-ranavalona-ii-of-madagascar-baptised
Location: Antananarivo, Madagascar
Themes: Mission

Queen Ranavalona II and her prime minister are baptised, the royal idols are burned, and Protestant Christianity becomes the religion of the Merina court. Mass conversions follow in the highlands of Madagascar. At this point in the timeline (1869), the Bishop of Rome was Pope Pius IX (16 June 1846 – 7 February 1878).

## Why it matters
It reversed decades of persecution under Ranavalona I and made Madagascar a largely Christian nation.

Pope at the time: [Pope Pius IX](https://christianity-history.com/popes/pope-pius-ix)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Ranavalona II](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranavalona_II)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Ranavalona II of Madagascar baptised](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Ranavalona+II+of+Madagascar+baptised)
- [Wikipedia — Enlightenment & Revival (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity#Modern_era)