She was the first female sovereign of the Kingdom of Imerina, the Queen of Madagascar. But Ranavalona I was also a sadistic despot, a woman who consolidated her power by ordering the murder of scores of opponents. As her reign progressed, so did her proclivity for violence. She became more callous and brutal, seemingly oblivious to the suffering of her people. No wonder she was known as the "mad monarch of Madagascar." But how did this high-ranking royal turn into such a despised and dangerous individual?
Click through and revisit one of history's most reviled and feared sovereigns.