The earliest settlement at the height of Ambohimanga was most likely established in the 15th century, with rice paddies having taken the place of the original valley forests by the 16th century. By the reign of Andriantsimitoviaminandriana (1710-1730), the rova was used as a regional capital protected by defensive walls and the first set of seven gates. The community inhabiting the villages around the rova, known as the Tsimahafotsy, were an elite clan of hova (commoners). The Tsimahafotsy family known as the Andafiavaratra would become one of the two most powerful hova families in the 19th century, including the first Queen Ranavalona's consort Rainijohary, as well as the brothers Rainivoninahitriniony and Rainilaiarivony, who would successively serve as Prime Ministers between 1861 and 1896.
In 1710, Merina ruler Andriamasinavalona divided his kingdom into four quadrants, which were given to his four favorite sons to rule. His son Andriantsimitoviaminandriana was given control of the eastern quadrant, Avaradrano, and the town of Ambohimanga that it contained, which he designated as 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
Ambohimanga and Antananarivo are centrally placed within the the Kingdom of Imerina and are the most important in symbolic, political and historical terms. While Antananarivo is viewed as the political capital, the
