Which 19th-century palace in Antananarivo was the royal palace of Madagascar's Merina rulers?

The 19th-century palace in Antananarivo that served Madagascar’s Merina rulers was the Rova of Antananarivo.

The Rova is a royal palace complex on Analamanga, the highest point of Antananarivo’s historic hills. Merina king Andrianjaka established the fortified royal site around 1610, and successive rulers expanded it with residences, ceremonial spaces, and royal tombs. It became the political centre of the Kingdom of Imerina and later the Kingdom of Madagascar.

Its most prominent building is Manjakamiadana, often called the Queen’s Palace. The original wooden palace associated with Queen Ranavalona I was rebuilt in stone between 1839 and 1841 under the direction of the French craftsman Jean Laborde. The complex also includes important older structures such as Besakana and Tranovola.

The Rova should not be confused with Ambohimanga, another major Merina royal site that held greater spiritual significance. The Rova was primarily the political seat in the capital. A major fire damaged it in 1995, after which restoration work began.