Editing Radama I (section)

==Early years==
Radama was the son of Rambolamasoandro{{sfn|Campbell|2012|p=719}} and King [[Andrianampoinimerina]] of [[Imerina]], a growing kingdom in the central plateau of the island around [[Antananarivo]].{{sfn|Ade Ajayi|1998|p=165}} As a child, Radama was educated at court and learned to read the [[Malagasy language]] in the [[Sorabe]] Arabico-Malagasy script used by [[Antemoro]] ''ombiasy'' (court astrologers).{{sfn|Campbell|2012|p=627}} As a young man he was described by a contemporary as about {{convert|5|ft|4|in|m|abbr=on|sp=us}} and slim with broad shoulders and a narrow waist.{{sfn|Campbell|2012|p=503}}

Radama was invited to join his father on a military expedition during his campaign to pacify the [[Betsileo]], who had forsaken an oath sworn to Andrianampoinimerina. Their initial attempt to capture King Andriamanalina at the fortified city of [[Fandanana]] west of [[Antsirabe]] was unsuccessful. When they returned a year later, Andrianampoinimerina split his army into two columns and put Radama at the head of the second column, providing him with his first opportunity to command a military regiment. He was accompanied by a group of seasoned soldiers called the Tantsaha, and Andriandtsoanandria, one of his father's more experienced military advisers. He successfully negotiated the submission of several towns in Betsileo.

Andrianampoinimerina ultimately captured and executed Andriamanalina, and together Radama and his father also captured the strategic town of Kiririoka.{{sfn|Callet|1908|pp=345-355}} On Andrianampoinimerina's deathbed, he reportedly told his son, "The sea is the border of my rice field".{{sfn|Fage|Flint|Oliver|1986|p=400}} Radama swore to his father that he would achieve this ambition.{{sfn|Callet|1908|p=430}}