List of colonial governors of Madagascar
| French colonial governor of Madagascar | |
|---|---|
| Gouverneur colonial français de Madagascar | |
Seal of the Government-General of Madagascar | |
Longest serving Léon Henri Charles Cayla 1 May 1930 – 22 April 1939 | |
| Reports to | Head of State of France |
| Seat | Tananarive |
| Formation | 28 April 1886 |
| First holder | Charles Le Myre de Vilers (as Plenipotentiary) |
| Final holder | Jean Louis Marie André Soucadaux (as High Commissioner) |
| Abolished | 1 May 1959 |
In 1882, the French Third Republic established a protectorate over the Merina Kingdom on the island of Madagascar, with the consent of the United Kingdom. The French position on the island was solidified by the First Madagascar expedition (May 1883 to December 1885, the first phase of the Franco-Hova Wars). The protectorate lasted until 1897, when the French abolished the monarchy and turned the island into a colony, following the Second Madagascar expedition (December 1894 to September 1895, the second and last phase of the Franco-Hova Wars). Afterwards, Madagascar remained part of the French colonial empire until 1958, when the autonomous Malagasy Republic was established. The Republic gained full independence in 1960.