Editing Ranavalona I (section)

=== Government ===
[[File:Original wooden manjakamiadana palace of Ranavalona I of Madagascar.jpg|thumb|Ranavalona built a wooden palace (upper right) called Manjakamiadana, the largest structure in the [[Rova of Antananarivo|Rova compound of Antananarivo]]. It was later encased in stone during Ranavalona II's reign.]]

In the tradition of many of her [[List of Malagasy monarchs|royal Merina predecessors]],<ref>''L'habitation à Madagascar'' (1898), pp.&nbsp;920–923</ref> the queen ruled from the [[Rova of Antananarivo|royal Rova compound]] in Antananarivo. Between 1839 and 1842, [[Jean Laborde]] built the queen a new residence called Manjakamiadana, which became the largest structure on the Rova grounds. The residence was made entirely from wood and bore most of the features of a [[Architecture of Madagascar#Merina aristocratic tradition|traditional home of the Merina]] ''[[andriana]]'' (aristocratic class), including a central pillar (''andry'') to support the roof. In other ways it showcased distinctly European innovations, as it contained three floors entirely surrounded by wooden verandas and incorporated dormers in the shingled roof. The palace was eventually encased in stone in 1867 by [[James Cameron (missionary)|James Cameron]] of the London Missionary Society during the reign of [[Ranavalona II]]. The original wooden palace of Ranavalona and virtually all other structures of the historic Rova compound were destroyed in a 1995 fire, leaving only the stone shell to mark where her palace had once stood.<ref>Frémigacci (1999), p. 427</ref>

In many respects, Ranavalona's rule was a continuation of precedent established under Radama I. Both monarchs encouraged the introduction of new technologies and forms of knowledge from abroad, supported the establishment of an industrialized economy, and adopted measures to professionalize the army. Both viewed foreigners with ambivalence, establishing close personal relationships and drawing upon their expertise while enforcing restrictions on their activities to avert destabilizing changes to existing cultural and political systems. In addition, both contributed to the further development of a complex political bureaucracy that enabled the Merina court to govern remote provinces across an island larger than [[metropolitan France]].<ref name="Berg" />

Ranavalona maintained the tradition of ruling with the support of advisers drawn largely from the aristocratic class. The queen's most powerful ministers were also her consorts. Her first chief adviser was a young army officer from [[Twelve sacred hills of Imerina#Hill of Namehana|Namehana]] named [[Andriamihaja]], who served as first minister from 1829 to 1830. Major-General Andriamihaja most likely fathered the queen's only son, Prince Rakoto (later King Radama II),<ref name="Ajayi" /> who was born eleven months after the death of his official father, King Radama I.<ref>Oliver (1886), pp.&nbsp;45–47</ref> In the early years of Ranavalona's reign, Andriamihaja was the leader of her court's progressive faction, who favored maintaining the relations with Europe initiated under Radama. The conservative faction was led by the brothers Rainimaharo and [[Rainiharo]], the latter being the official guardian of one of the most powerful royal ''sampy''. These talismans were believed to embody and channel the supernatural powers of the kingship and had played a major role in the spiritual life of the [[Merina people]] since at least the 16th century reign of [[Ralambo]]. The conservative faction conspired to reduce Andriamahaja's progressive influence over the queen, and in September 1830 they managed to persuade her while highly intoxicated to sign his death warrant for charges of witchcraft and treason. He was immediately captured in his home and killed.<ref>Freeman and Johns (1840), pp. 17–22</ref><ref name="Prout">Prout (1863), p. 14</ref>

Following Andriamihaja's death, the influence of Radama's old guard of progressives was eclipsed by that of conservative advisers at court, who grew ever closer to the queen, eventually resulting in Ranavalona's marriage to ''sampy'' guardian and conservative figurehead Field Marshal Rainiharo (also called Ravoninahitriniarivo) of [[Twelve sacred hills of Imerina#Hill of Ilafy|Ilafy]] in 1833. Rainiharo gained initial access to the court through his father, Andriantsilavonandriana, a ''[[Hova (Madagascar)|hova]]'' (commoner) who had exceptionally been accorded the privilege of joining King Andrianampoinimerina's inner circle of noble advisers.<ref name="Ajayi">Ade Ajayi (1989), p. 423</ref> Field Marshal Rainiharo served as the queen's First Minister from 1830 to 1832, then Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief from 1832 to 1852. Upon Rainiharo's death, the queen wed another conservative, Field Marshal Andrianisa (also called Rainijohary), who remained Ranavalona's husband until her death in 1861. He served as Prime Minister from 1852 to 1862 before being exiled to the royal city of [[Ambohimanga]] for his part in a plot against the queen's son, Radama II.<ref name="rainijohary" />

Traditionally, Merina sovereigns relied on the pronouncement of ''[[kabary]]'' (oratory) in public gatherings to communicate policy and reaffirm the relationship between sovereign and public. Due in part to her lack of experience in public speaking and politics, Ranavalona preferred to direct and inform her subordinates through letters that she dictated to missionary-educated court scribes. She strengthened her relationship with the public through occasional kabary and fulfilled the traditional role of the Merina sovereign as bestower of ''[[Hasina (Madagascar)|hasina]]'' (ancestral blessings) by enacting traditional rituals, including the ''[[fandroana]]'' (new year ritual of renewal), tributes to the royal idols, and offerings of ''[[Andriamanelo#Vodiondry|vodiondry]]''  and ''[[Malagasy cuisine#Prior to 1650|jaka beef]]'' at customary occasions. Ranavalona innovated on these traditional rituals by increasing their complexity and symbolism to imbue them with added significance.<ref name="Berg" />