On February 28, 1897, Madagascar’s Queen Ranavalona III was overthrown and sent into exile by invading French forces. 

Who is certain of tomorrow? Only yesterday I was a queen. Today I am simply an unhappy, broken-hearted woman.
Attributed to Ranavalona after her exile began.

Ranavalona III part of a 4-stamp set celebrating the last 3 queens.
Madagascar Post Office issued Sept. 9, 2008

Ranavalona was a fierce defender of Madagascar’s independence and culture, resisting French colonial incursions. In 1896, France launched a full invasion, making the independent kingdom of Madagascar a colony. In less than a year, French authorities feared rebels & freedom fighters would use Ranavalona as a rallying point for resistance and exiled her in 1897.  She remained in exile until her death in 1917. 

Soon into her reign, in 1895, France invaded and annexed the island. Ranavalona was initially allowed to stay as a puppet queen, but the French authorities accused her influential aunt Ramisindrazana of inciting Malagasy rebels.

Ranavalona, her aunt and other members of the royal family were packed off to the island of Réunion, where photographs in the archive show how miserable they were.

“They all look so upset, thin and drawn,” said Taylor. “You have Ranavalona and her aunt and her nephew in a bowler hat outside this weird-looking palace that they had built for them, it is like a villa in wood.” Remarkable story of Madagascar’s last queen emerges from Surrey attic | Heritage | The Guardian

**NOTE: Some websites list the day as Feb. 27. The majority say she was removed on the 28th. 

I love Africa has an excellent timeline of the events surrounding her reign Ranavalona III: The Last Queen Of Madagascar And Her Tragic Exile | I Love Africa

Ranavalona III, the last queen of the Kingdom of Madagascar [1881 – 1897] | The African History

TAIK | Pre-colonial Madagascar Had All The Elements of a Modern State (theafricaiknow.org)

Gisèle Rabesahala pedagogical unit 1 | Women (unesco.org)