Africa
Madagascar
Antananarivo
Palace
Rova Manjakamiadana
Name:Rova of Antananarivo
Year founded:1610
Founder:King Andrianjaka
Heyday:mainly the 19th century until the French conquest in 1896
Tallest structure:Manjakamiadana Palace, approx. 37 meters high
Major fire:1995
Reconstruction:1997 – 2023
Elevation:approx. 1,460 meters above sea level

14 Fascinating Facts about the Rova of Antananarivo

 

  1. Location: The Rova of Antananarivo stands on Analamanga Hill, high above the centre of Madagascar’s capital, Antananarivo. From there, the former royal fortified complex overlooks the Upper Town and broad stretches of the surrounding high plateau.
  2. Significance: The Rova of Antananarivo is now one of Madagascar’s most important cultural landmarks and one of the capital’s most significant historic ensembles. Since reopening in June 2023, it has once again become a central site for cultural tourism in Antananarivo. A particularly large share of its visitors come from Madagascar itself.
  3. History of Madagascar: The Merina dynasty emerged in the 16th century in Madagascar’s central highlands, where the Kingdom of Imerina developed. Many generations later, King Andrianampoinimerina united this highland kingdom and made Antananarivo an important centre of royal power. His son Radama I continued this expansion and turned Imerina into the dominant political force across large parts of the island. Later, queens Ranavalona I, Ranavalona II and Ranavalona III played a particularly important role in shaping Madagascar’s history. Under Ranavalona I, especially from 1835 until her death in 1861, Christian missionaries were expelled and Malagasy Christians were persecuted, because Christianity was seen as a European influence and a threat to the traditional royal order. From 1864 onward, Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony became the decisive figure at court. To secure his position of power, he successively married the reigning queens Rasoherina, Ranavalona II and Ranavalona III. These marriages were primarily political alliances: the queens embodied the monarchy, while Rainilaiarivony directed the government, modernised the state administration and strengthened Protestant influence at court and within the state. The monarchy was ultimately brought to an end by France. In 1895, French troops occupied Antananarivo, in 1896 Madagascar was annexed, and in 1897 Queen Ranavalona III was forced into exile. Since gaining independence in 1960, Madagascar has repeatedly struggled with political crises, changes of power and weak state institutions.
  4. Founding History: The Rova of Antananarivo is a royal district that developed over time, with residences, courtyards, tombs and ceremonial sites. Around 1610, the Merina king Andrianjaka had a fortified royal residence built on Analamanga Hill. This later became the historic core of Antananarivo. The city’s name roughly means “City of the Thousand” and is associated with a garrison of 1,000 men. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Rova served as the seat of the rulers of Imerina before becoming the centre of power of the Kingdom of Madagascar in the 19th century.
  5. Construction History of the Palace: The Manjakamiadana Palace was built between 1839 and 1841 under Queen Ranavalona I as a large wooden palace. The French builder Jean Laborde combined traditional Merina construction with European influences. The result was a multi-storey building with verandas, tall supports and a steep roof. From 1867 onward, Queen Ranavalona II had the wooden palace enclosed in a stone outer shell, with arched windows and four corner towers. This gave the palace the striking appearance that still defines it today.
  6. Golden Age: During Antananarivo’s golden age, the city had around 50,000 to 80,000 inhabitants, depending on the period. Society was strictly structured, and until its abolition in 1896, slavery was part of everyday life for rulers, nobles and many free Hova families. The Hova were free, non-noble Merina families who often held economic and political influence in the Kingdom of Imerina. Enslaved people included prisoners of war, people abducted from other regions of Madagascar, convicted individuals and children born to enslaved mothers. They worked in households, in fields, in transport and in the service of the royal court. The old city of Analamanga was protected by ditches and seven stone gates, of which Ambavahadimitafo is the main one still preserved today. This gate is a historic entrance with a large round stone slab that once served as a closure.
  7. Fire of 1995: On 6 November 1995, a devastating fire destroyed large parts of the Rova of Antananarivo. The Manjakamiadana Palace was especially badly damaged, as its wooden interior offered little resistance to the flames. Even while the fire was still burning, people tried to rescue furniture, artworks, royal objects and other valuable mementos from the complex. According to commonly cited figures, about 1,675 of roughly 6,700 objects were recovered. At least part of the royal heritage was therefore preserved. Officially, the fire was classified as an accident, but in Madagascar there long remained a suspicion that it may have been started deliberately.
  8. Restoration: After the fire of 1995, the restoration of the Rova of Antananarivo stretched over several decades. The central palace had been badly damaged, and funding problems, planning issues and political crises repeatedly slowed the reconstruction. Some areas of the Rova grounds were reopened earlier, but the Manjakamiadana Palace remained closed to regular visitors for a long time. Only from 2019 onward did the work make clear progress. In June 2023, the palace was finally reopened to the public.
  9. Gate with Bronze Eagle: A stone staircase leads up to the large north gate of the Rova of Antananarivo, which was built in 1845 based on designs by James Cameron. Above the entrance sits a bronze eagle that Jean Laborde had brought from France to Madagascar as early as 1840. Cameron was a Scottish missionary and builder who later also played an important role in the palace’s stone casing.
  10. Besakana: Besakana is one of the oldest and most symbolically important houses in the Rova of Antananarivo. The simple wooden building served the Merina rulers as a traditional throne house and symbolised the early royal power on Analamanga Hill. The historic structure was destroyed during the great fire of 1995 and later reconstructed. Today, Besakana once again appears as a simple traditional wooden house with a steep roof, a dark façade and a clear rectangular form.
  11. Tranovola: Tranovola was built around 1820 for King Radama I and was one of the defining smaller palaces within the Rova. The multi-storey wooden building with surrounding verandas combined traditional Merina construction with new influences from the Indian Ocean. The original palace was destroyed in the fire of 1995, but was later reconstructed.
  12. Fiangonana: The royal chapel Fiangonana was built in the 19th century for Queen Ranavalona II. It showed that the Merina court had officially converted to Protestantism. Measuring about 18.5 metres in length and 12.9 metres in width, it originally had space for around 450 people. Inside, the royal family had its own elevated prayer area, as well as private access via an external connecting bridge. Fiangonana was badly damaged in the fire of 1995. Its stone shell, however, survived and is now one of the most important visible remains of the old Rova.
  13. Royal Tombs: Historically, the Rova of Antananarivo contained nine royal burial sites of the Merina monarchy. These included the two large tombs of Radama I and Queen Rasoherina, as well as the seven Fitomiandalana, a row of older tomb houses for early rulers of Imerina. During the colonial period, further royal remains were transferred to the Rova, including remains from the sacred royal hill of Ambohimanga. For many Merina people, this was a serious intrusion into their sacred order. During the fire of 6 November 1995, the tombs were severely damaged, and many royal remains were lost. Today, restored burial structures with stone bases, simple tomb houses and steep roofs can be seen. They recall the close connection between kingship, ancestor veneration and political power.
  14. Controversy over the Arena: Since 2020, a modern concrete structure called Kianja Masoandro on the grounds of the Rova has caused ongoing debate. The arena was planned as a stage where history, culture and national memory could be brought to life through performances. Many critics, however, see the Roman-inspired structure as an alien presence in a place that is especially sensitive for Merina history and Madagascar’s royal memory. The arena had space for around 400 spectators and was officially presented to the public on 18 June 2023 as part of the reopening of the Rova. On 18 February 2026, a court ordered the building to be demolished.
  • Rova von Antananarivo auf dem höchsten Hügel der Hauptstadt Antananarivo in Madagaskar
  • Fiangonana