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The construction of this palace began in 1839 and the surveyor was [[Jean Laborde]] who deployed all his genius in marrying traditional Malagasy and European styles by the sole use of wood. He created galleries, three huge superimposed halls each having an area of 360 square metres. In the enormous ground floor he set out the magnificent throne room with precious woods and on the 48 metres high roof ridge placed a bronze eagle with wings spread as the symbol of royal power. From this time on the palace of Manjakamiadana riveted the attention as if it was the Rova's only royal house and to such a degree that the entire group of buildings was designated under the name of ''Queen's Palace''. Although next to it was the Manampisoa house built by Queen Rasoherina eclipsed by the majesty of the grand palace.
Over the years, Manjakamiadana deteriorated and some of the wood began to rot, and this resulted in 1868 in the idea of Queen Ranavalona II to have it surrounded by a masonry shell and James Cameron, the English architect and missionary, was entrusted with this work.
When the fire broke out on 6 November 1995, everything in wood was consumed by the fire leaving only the stone carapace surrounding the edifice. This grand palace is being reconstructed by a team entirely committed to the Malagasy people being able one day to see the completion of this monument - a witness to their past and their identity.
=== The Royal Necropolis ===
On the death of Radama I in July 1828, a modern tomb was constructed for him by the English architect Gros, assistant to the dead king. Another in a similar style was built next to it for Queen Rasoherina in 1868. Thus, since this period two types of funerary architecture can be seen in the Rove: the traditional represented by the Fitomiandalana and the new, incarnated by the two edifices in dressed stone. Initially, the ancient necropolis was situated near the site of the stone church but for unknown reasons, it was transferred elsewhere on the orders of the French Governor, General Galliéni.
At the same time, this French representative ordered the demolition of the royal necropolis, dating from the end of the 17th century situated in the [[Ambohimanga|Rova d'Ambohimanga]], where the Kings Andriantsimitoviaminandriana, Andriambelomasina and [[AndrianamponimerinaAndrianampoinimerina - King of Merina Kingdom|Andrianamponimerina]] reposed. In 1861, Queen Ranavalona I was buried there followed in 1883 by Queen Ranavalona II. All the royal remains were moved to the necropolis in Antananarivo and since this time the kings of Ambohimanga (Andriantsimitoviaminandriana, Andriambelomasina, Andrianamponimerina and Radama II, exhumed from his tomb in Ilafy) were placed in the mausoleum of Radama I. The queens Ranavalona I, Ranavalona II and the other female members of their families were placed in that of Rasoherina.
== Additional Information ==
* View all [[Manjakamiadana Rova photos]]
