Binao

Binao (1867–1927) was a queen regnant of the Sakalava people of Madagascar between 1881 and 1927.

Life She was the granddaughter of King Andriantsoly of the Boina Kingdom, and acceded in 1881 to the throne of the Bemihisatra group of the Sakalava following the death of her mother, Safy Mozongo. She controlled a relatively small territory on the north-western coast of Madagascar consisting of the island of Nosy Be and a stretch of the mainland coast opposite.

During the early years of her reign she faced the challenge posed by the ambitions of the mainland's dominant power, the Merina Kingdom.

Binao allied with France when it intervened in Malagasy politics in the first of the Franco-Hova Wars between 1883–85. The war ended with France taking de facto control of Madagascar's foreign policy and recognising the Merina as the dominant native power on the island, a development that was a considerable disappointment to Binao. Amada succeeded her as king on her death and reigned until 1963.