Madagascar

‘Canaanising Madagascar’: Africa in English imperial imagination, 1635–1650

“…41 Following a peaceful conquest, Rupert leads his men against other Europeans in the region, displacing these rivals to secure political dominance in Asia and becoming 'the first true Monarch of the Golden Isle: an Isle, so seated for predominance, where Navall strength, its power can so advance, That it may tribute take, of what the East shall ever send traffique to the West.' 42 This mirrors the later aim-discussed below-of using the island as a base from which to oust Dutch or Portuguese power and to control trade. With the conquest complete, the riches of the island, such as gold, ruby and diamond, but also other more exotic goods like 'Ambar-Greece,' were made available to the English.…”

“…What is most interesting, however, is not necessarily that such a bold colonisation scheme piqued the interest of this group, but how the idea of a Madagascan colony was presented. The changing place of the island in the English imagination was keenly expressed in a poem by William Davenant 36. Although not published until 1638, it is likely that the poem was written during the height of excitement generated by Arundel and Rupert.It was dedicated to Davenant's patron, Endymion Porter, showing again his role as a public figure who supported English endeavours in the Indian Ocean.…”