Servants were only allowed inside the castle on a strict shift basis, and most of them came from long-standing families who had served for generations. No new members or migrants from nearby lands were permitted entry into the castle grounds.
Ranavalona was born into wealth and privilege, rooted in her noble lineage. From a young age, she was surrounded by luxury, with individual servants and maids appointed to cater to her every need. Most of her time was spent within the walls of Neuschwanstein Castle, where she was born.
She witnessed many acts of barbarism, often carried out as punishment for the common folk living in the nearby villages. During times of war, taxes on land and goods were raised significantly, and most of the goods produced by the villagers were seized for the castle, often at half their worth.
The laws were harsh, leaving no room for mercy. Brave men who dared question the decrees or stand against the ruling power were swiftly silenced—sent beneath the earth.
Ranavalona often observed these punishments firsthand. She saw bodies beheaded, with blood gushing like a fountain from their necks. Women accused of crimes, even those giving birth, were forced to stand on public stages, where they were stoned to death in front of crowds. Their children were then sent away to Wallachia.
To her, seeing bones and skulls in the castle gardens or playgrounds was normal. Passing by the bodies of the dead or strange, witch-like objects in her daily life was no more than casual entertainment.
Her stepmother, Sinatara, had been well-versed in spell-casting, a practice that involved using enchanted words to perform magical actions on humans. Sinatara used immolation rituals, burning objects made of wax or clay that gained power through her spells. Ranavalona had learned some of these dark arts herself, including how to control a person’s mind and force them to remain still under her command.
During Sinatara’s final years, the villagers believed she had turned to necromancy—the practice of gaining power from spirits. She came to resemble an old, powerless witch, her once-feared abilities drained by her dark rituals. Sinatara eventually died during her final attempt at necromancy. Her body was buried far from the castle, many yards away.
Even in death, she inspired fear. The villagers were too terrified to travel along the path where she was buried, even in broad daylight. Some claimed to have seen her whip twisted around the branch of a large tree along the way, as though her presence still lingered.
Before her first marriage, Ranavalona secretly gave birth to a baby boy, allegedly fathered by a peasant. This secret was kept strictly within the castle walls. Servants and maids who knew about it were held captive to prevent any leaks. Though Ranavalona didn’t want her child killed, she was unwilling to abandon her wealth and social standing.
And then what happened is...
Way to ajay....I'm curious to know what happened next
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