Parts of this article (those related to reconstruction & restoration) need to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(November 2018)
severely damaged by fire in 1995 restoration in progress since 1997
Site history
Built
c. 1610–1625
In use
early 17th century – 1897
Events
Second Madagascar expedition
Garrison information
Occupants
Rulers of the Merina Kingdom
The Rova of Antananarivo/ˈruːvə/ (Malagasy: Rovan'i Manjakamiadana[ˈruvᵊnmanˌdzakəmiˈadə̥nᵊ]) is a royal palace complex (rova) in Madagascar that served as the home of the sovereigns of the Kingdom of Imerina in the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as of the rulers of the Kingdom of Madagascar in the 19th century. Its counterpart is the nearby fortified village of Ambohimanga, which served as the spiritual seat of the kingdom in contrast to the political significance of the Rova in the capital. Located in the central highland city of Antananarivo, the Rova occupies the highest point on Analamanga, formerly the highest of Antananarivo's many hills. Merina king Andrianjaka, who ruled Imerina from around 1610 until 1630, is believed to have captured Analamanga from a Vazimba king around 1610 or 1625 and erected the site's first fortified royal structure. Successive Merina kings continued to rule from the site until the fall of the monarchy in 1896, frequently restoring, modifying or adding royal structures within the compound to suit their needs.
Over time, the number of buildings within the site varied. Andrianjaka founded the Rova with three buildings and a dedicated tomb site in the early 17th century. The number of structures rose to approximately twenty during the late 18th-century reign of King Andrianampoinimerina. By the late 20th century, the Rova's structures had been reduced to eleven, representing various architectural styles and historical periods. The largest and most prominent of these was Manjakamiadana, also known as the "Queen's Palace" after Queen Ranavalona I, for whom the original wooden palace was built between 1839 and 1841 by Frenchman Jean Laborde. In 1867 the palace was encased in stone for Queen Ranavalona II by Scotsman James Cameron, an artisan missionary of the London Missionary Society. The neighbouring Tranovola, a smaller wooden palace constructed in 1819 by Creole trader Louis Gros for King Radama I, was the first multi-story building with verandas in the Rova. The model offered by Tranovola transformed architecture throughout the highlands over the course of the 19th century, inspiring a widespread shift toward two-storey houses with verandas. The Rova grounds also contained a cross-shaped wooden house (Manampisoa) built as the private residence of Queen Rasoherina, a stone Protestant chapel (Fiangonana), nine royal tombs, and a number of named wooden houses built in the traditional style reserved for the andriana (nobles) in Imerina. Among the most significant of these were Besakana, erected in the early 17th century by Andrianjaka and considered the throne of the kingdom, and Mahitsielafanjaka, a later building which came to represent the seat of ancestral spiritual authority at the Rova.
A fire on the night of 6 November 1995 destroyed or damaged all the structures within the Rova complex shortly before it was due to be inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Although officially declared an accident, rumours persist that politically motivated arson may have been the actual cause of the fire. The chapel and tombs, as well as Besakana and Mahitsielafanjaka, have since been fully restored with bilateral government donations, state funds and grants from intergovernmental and private donors. Completion of the reconstruction of the Manjakamiadana exterior was estimated for 2012, with interior restoration expected to be completed no earlier than 2013. Once the building is fully restored, Manjakamiadana will serve as a museum showcasing royal artifacts saved from destruction in the fire. Restoration was well underway in June 2020 and a new concrete "Colosseum" was also being built at the Queen's Palace amid some controversy.[1]
^"Madagascar's 'Colosseum' sparks outrage". Malay Mail. 29 June 2020.
and 28 Related for: Rova of Antananarivo information
The RovaofAntananarivo /ˈruːvə/ (Malagasy: Rovan'i Manjakamiadana [ˈruvᵊn manˌdzakəmiˈadə̥nᵊ]) is a royal palace complex (rova) in Madagascar that served...
largest city of Madagascar. The administrative area of the city, known as Antananarivo-Renivohitra ("Antananarivo-Mother Hill" or "Antananarivo-Capital")...
a type of fortified royal complex found throughout the highlands of Madagascar RovaofAntananarivo, a royal-palace complex in Antananarivo that served...
he established the fortified compound (rova) that would form the heart of his new capital city ofAntananarivo. Upon his orders, the first structures...
the hill of Analamanga. There he established the fortified compound (rova) that would form the heart of his new capital city ofAntananarivo. Upon his...
RovaofAntananarivo with several hundred soldiers and sending a member of Ramboasalama's family to bring him to the Rova to swear a public oath of allegiance...
were placed within the tomb of Queen Rasoherina on the grounds of the RovaofAntananarivo. Ranavalona III, daughter of Andriantsimianatra and his wife...
administrative posts were built within fortified garrisons (rova) on the model of the original RovaofAntananarivo. These were staffed with Merina colonists called...
along with those of other monarchs buried in Ambohimanga and transferred them to the tombs on the compound of the RovaofAntananarivo, where her bones...
settlement (rova) in Madagascar, located approximately 24 kilometers (15 mi) northeast of the capital city ofAntananarivo. It is situated in the commune of Ambohimanga...
of the island. Radama II was born Prince Rakoto (Rakotosehenondradama) on September 23, 1829, in the Imasoandro building on the compound of the Rova of...
residence of the President of Madagascar. It is situated 15 km to the south from the capital Antananarivo. Iavoloha was modeled on the RovaofAntananarivo and...
retained the royal compound - the RovaofAntananarivo - at the crest of the highest hill in the city, and in the center of the urban space that expanded...
estimated 1,466 objects of historical importance to the Kingdom of Madagascar that were rescued from the 1995 fire at the RovaofAntananarivo are housed here...
heritage of several of the sites has been preserved. The historic significance of the sites is best represented by the RovaofAntananarivo at Analamanga...
(1787–1810). From his initial capital Ambohimanga, and later from the RovaofAntananarivo, this Merina king rapidly expanded his rule over neighbouring principalities...
The following is a chronological list of notable heads of governments and heads of state deaths that have resulted from assassination or execution. This...
capital of the 19th century Merina sovereigns of Madagascar at the RovaofAntananarivo, had originally been slated to become the nation's first cultural...
[citation needed] Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe died at the RovaofAntananarivo in 1670. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Andrianjaka Razakatsitakatrandriana...
Antananarivo from Ambohimanga by Andrianampoinimerina. 1800 - Population: 15,000 (approximate estimate). 1840 - Manjakamiadana built in the Rovaof Antananarivo...
died around 1650 and was buried in the Fitomiandalana tombs at the RovaofAntananarivo. He was succeeded by his oldest son, Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe...
state crown") and many other royal artifacts were saved when the RovaofAntananarivo (the royal palace and royal tomb complex) burned on November 6, 1995...
located at the RovaofAntananarivo. In opposition to Andriamasinavalona's intentions, after the king's death his sons forsook the concept of unity and instead...
parts of Marania Farm near Mount Kenya Western half of the country: Maseru and major roads. Landmarks: Avenue of the Baobabs, RovaofAntananarivo Water...
was Raombana (1809–1855), one of the first pupils of the London Missionary Society school at the RovaofAntananarivo, who documented early 19th century...
Rakotoarisoa, Jean-Aimé (23–27 November 2003). Fire of the Rova, the Queen's Palace, in Antananarivo (PDF). Cultural Heritage Disaster Preparedness and...
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