Ambohimanga
Encyclopedia
The Royal Hill of Ambohimanga is a site of cultural and historical significance located approximately 24 kilometers to the east of the capital city of Antananarivo
in Madagascar
. The site consists of a walled historic village including residences and burial sites of several key members of the royalty of Imerina, the ethnic community that rose to power in the 19th century and united much of the island nation of Madagascar under its administrative authority. The site, one of the twelve sacred hills of Imerina
, is associated with strong feelings of national identity and has maintained its spiritual and sacred character both in ritual practice and the popular imagination for the past 500 years. It remains a place of worship to which pilgrims come from Madagascar
and elsewhere. The compound was added to the list of UNESCO
World Heritage Site
s in 2001.
ruler Andriamasinavalona
divided his kingdom, leaving Ambohimanga (the Blue Hill) to one of his four sons, who in turn made it his capital. It later came into the hands of Prince Andrianampoinimerina
in 1787 and even after he had become King and begun his grand project to unite the Merina kingdom under his rule from his new capital in Antananarivo, he still often stayed in the triangular dark-stained wooden palace built for him here. Ambohimanga was henceforth considered one of the sacred royal hills of Imerina
(the Merina kingdom) and was known as a "forbidden city" until 1897 when the French colonial administration transferred all the relics and significant belongings of the royal family to Antananarivo to break the spirit of resistance and ethnic identity inspired by these symbols.
and features an ancient mortaring technique using lime and egg whites.
Mahandrihono
The compound features a building that served as home and headquarters for King Andrianampoinimerina
before moving his capital to Antananarivo. The simple wooden building is constructed in the traditional Malagasy architectural style of the aristocracy
of Imerina: the walls are made of solid rosewood
and incline to meet in the middle, forming a peaked roof that is supported by 10-meter central rosewood pillar, much like the one that had originally supported the roof of the Rova Manjakamiadana
of Antananarivo before it burned down in 1995. A white marble plaque here is inscribed with the word mahandrihono meaning "he who knows how to wait." In this hut can still be found a number of items belonging to this great king of Madagascar, including weapons, drums, talismans and the enormous raised bed where he received each of his twelve wives one after another. The site is highly sacred and many pilgrims come here to connect with the spirit of Andrianampoinimerina and those of his ancestors.
Nanjaka
An earlier fortress was built within this complex, but the building was destroyed when powder kegs stored nearby exploded on the day of Queen Ranavalona I
's burial.
The Two Pavilions of Queen Ranavalona II
The two ornate palace buildings constructed within the compound were built of rosewood in 1871. The first and larger of the two features a room for receiving visitors and a large salon on the ground floor, and the bedroom of Queen Ranavalona II on the second floor. The original European furnishings have been preserved, and the many gifts given by foreign dignitaries to the Queen are on display here. The Queen's bedroom is considered a sacred place and many visitors come here in pilgrimage to pray to her spirit.
The second, smaller pavilion is known as the Trano Fitaratra (house of glass) and was where the Queen would gather her Ministers for counsel. The large windows on all four sides of the building provide a stunning view of the countryside below, as well as enabling the Queen to take stock of the security of her surroundings, and are made of glass imported by an Englishman named Parrett in 1862.
Two large basins have been carved from the stone foundation of the compound. One was a bath for Andrianampoinimerina, and the other was a swimming pool for Ranavalona I. Water was taken from the sacred lake of Amparihy at the north of the village and was replaced weekly.
Royal edicts and public judgments were handed down in the small courtyard of Ambarangotina at the base of the hill leading to the Rova. The esplanade of Fidasiana above it, at the foot of the Rova, was the location of larger gatherings and royal festivals.
Antananarivo
Antananarivo , formerly Tananarive , is the capital and largest city in Madagascar. It is also known by its French colonial shorthand form Tana....
in Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
. The site consists of a walled historic village including residences and burial sites of several key members of the royalty of Imerina, the ethnic community that rose to power in the 19th century and united much of the island nation of Madagascar under its administrative authority. The site, one of the twelve sacred hills of Imerina
Twelve sacred hills of Imerina
The twelve sacred hills of Imerina are hills of historical significance to the Merina people of Madagascar. Located throughout Imerina, the central area of the highlands of Madagascar, the sites were often ancient capitals, the birthplaces of key public figures, or housed the tombs of esteemed...
, is associated with strong feelings of national identity and has maintained its spiritual and sacred character both in ritual practice and the popular imagination for the past 500 years. It remains a place of worship to which pilgrims come from Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
and elsewhere. The compound was added to the list of UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
s in 2001.
History
In 1710, MerinaMerina
The Merina are an ethnic group from Madagascar. The Merina are concentrated in the Highlands and speak the official dialect of the Malagasy language, which is a branch of the Malayo-Polynesian language group derived from the Barito languages, spoken in southern Borneo. Their ancestors, the...
ruler Andriamasinavalona
Andriamasinavalona
King Andriamasinavalona , also known as Andrianjakanavalondambo, was a King of Imerina in the central part of the highlands of Madagascar.-Early life:...
divided his kingdom, leaving Ambohimanga (the Blue Hill) to one of his four sons, who in turn made it his capital. It later came into the hands of Prince Andrianampoinimerina
Andrianampoinimerina
Ruling between 1787–1810, Andrianampoinimerina , born Ramboasalama or Ramboasalamarazaka at Ambohimanga around 1745 , initiated the unification of Madagascar under Merina rule and is considered one of the greatest military and political...
in 1787 and even after he had become King and begun his grand project to unite the Merina kingdom under his rule from his new capital in Antananarivo, he still often stayed in the triangular dark-stained wooden palace built for him here. Ambohimanga was henceforth considered one of the sacred royal hills of Imerina
Twelve sacred hills of Imerina
The twelve sacred hills of Imerina are hills of historical significance to the Merina people of Madagascar. Located throughout Imerina, the central area of the highlands of Madagascar, the sites were often ancient capitals, the birthplaces of key public figures, or housed the tombs of esteemed...
(the Merina kingdom) and was known as a "forbidden city" until 1897 when the French colonial administration transferred all the relics and significant belongings of the royal family to Antananarivo to break the spirit of resistance and ethnic identity inspired by these symbols.
Buildings
The village of Ambohimanga features seven gates. The largest and principal gate is also the most well-preserved and is known as Ambatomitsangana (standing stone). Every morning and evening, a team of twenty soldiers would work together to roll into place an enormous stone disk, 40.5 meters in diameter and 30 cm thick, weighing about 12 tons, to open or seal off the doorway. This form of "gate" (vavahady in the Malagasy language) was typical of most walled villages of Imerina at the time and protected the villagers from marauders. The wall around the village was itself constructed in 1847 on the orders of Queen Ranavalona IRanavalona I
Ranavalona I , also known as Ranavalo-Manjaka I, was a sovereign of the Kingdom of Madagascar from 1828 to 1861...
and features an ancient mortaring technique using lime and egg whites.
Mahandrihono
The compound features a building that served as home and headquarters for King Andrianampoinimerina
Andrianampoinimerina
Ruling between 1787–1810, Andrianampoinimerina , born Ramboasalama or Ramboasalamarazaka at Ambohimanga around 1745 , initiated the unification of Madagascar under Merina rule and is considered one of the greatest military and political...
before moving his capital to Antananarivo. The simple wooden building is constructed in the traditional Malagasy architectural style of the aristocracy
Andriana
Andriana is a title of nobility in Madagascar and often traditionally formed part of the names of noblemen, princes and kings. Historically, many Malagasy ethnic groups lived in highly stratified caste-based social orders in which the andriana were the political and/or spiritual leaders...
of Imerina: the walls are made of solid rosewood
Rosewood
Rosewood refers to any of a number of richly hued timbers, often brownish with darker veining, but found in many different hues. All rosewoods are strong and heavy, taking an excellent polish, being suitable for guitars, marimbas, turnery , handles, furniture, luxury flooring, etc.In general,...
and incline to meet in the middle, forming a peaked roof that is supported by 10-meter central rosewood pillar, much like the one that had originally supported the roof of the Rova Manjakamiadana
Rova of Antananarivo
The Rova of Antananarivo is a royal palace complex in Madagascar that served as the home of the sovereigns of the Kingdom of Imerina in the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as the rulers of the Kingdom of Madagascar in the 19th century...
of Antananarivo before it burned down in 1995. A white marble plaque here is inscribed with the word mahandrihono meaning "he who knows how to wait." In this hut can still be found a number of items belonging to this great king of Madagascar, including weapons, drums, talismans and the enormous raised bed where he received each of his twelve wives one after another. The site is highly sacred and many pilgrims come here to connect with the spirit of Andrianampoinimerina and those of his ancestors.
Nanjaka
An earlier fortress was built within this complex, but the building was destroyed when powder kegs stored nearby exploded on the day of Queen Ranavalona I
Ranavalona I
Ranavalona I , also known as Ranavalo-Manjaka I, was a sovereign of the Kingdom of Madagascar from 1828 to 1861...
's burial.
The Two Pavilions of Queen Ranavalona II
The two ornate palace buildings constructed within the compound were built of rosewood in 1871. The first and larger of the two features a room for receiving visitors and a large salon on the ground floor, and the bedroom of Queen Ranavalona II on the second floor. The original European furnishings have been preserved, and the many gifts given by foreign dignitaries to the Queen are on display here. The Queen's bedroom is considered a sacred place and many visitors come here in pilgrimage to pray to her spirit.
The second, smaller pavilion is known as the Trano Fitaratra (house of glass) and was where the Queen would gather her Ministers for counsel. The large windows on all four sides of the building provide a stunning view of the countryside below, as well as enabling the Queen to take stock of the security of her surroundings, and are made of glass imported by an Englishman named Parrett in 1862.
Other Features
AmparihyTwo large basins have been carved from the stone foundation of the compound. One was a bath for Andrianampoinimerina, and the other was a swimming pool for Ranavalona I. Water was taken from the sacred lake of Amparihy at the north of the village and was replaced weekly.
Royal edicts and public judgments were handed down in the small courtyard of Ambarangotina at the base of the hill leading to the Rova. The esplanade of Fidasiana above it, at the foot of the Rova, was the location of larger gatherings and royal festivals.