kingdom · Central and Southern Africa

Antemoro Kingdom

1500 CE – 1890 CE (approx.)

A south-east Malagasy kingdom of Islamic-influenced clans whose scribes kept the sorabe, Malagasy texts written in Arabic script.

Origins

The Antemoro formed around the Matitana river near Vohipeno in south-east Madagascar, where clans claiming descent from Muslim immigrants established a ruling aristocracy around 1500. Their traditions trace the founders to Mecca, though the migrants probably came via the Swahili coast or the Comoros.

Rule and society

Power lay with the Anteony noble clans, while scribal and priestly clans, the Anakara, guarded the sorabe manuscripts on astrology, medicine, history and divination. Antemoro diviners (ombiasy) became sought after as advisers at other Malagasy courts, including the Merina Kingdom. Society was rigidly stratified, and the kingdom produced distinctive paper made from bark.

Decline and legacy

Internal revolts in the 17th century weakened the noble clans, and in the 19th century the region fell under the Merina Kingdom. French colonial rule followed in 1895–96. The Antemoro remain one of Madagascar's ethnic groups, still known for their sorabe and Antaimoro paper.

Connections (1)

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Antemoro Kingdom. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/antemoro-kingdom
MLA
“Antemoro Kingdom.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/antemoro-kingdom. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Antemoro Kingdom.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/antemoro-kingdom.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Antemoro Kingdom’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/antemoro-kingdom (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻