The inner courtyard of Mahitsielafanjaka. The Rova of Andrianampoinimerina in Antananarivo contains no more structural elements than that of Andrianjaka, except for the court of justice (see previous Notes). In 1800, it is a roughly rectangular space bounded to the north by the terrace overlooking Tranovola, and to the west by the current Queen's Palace, along which a steep slope with retaining wall still existed in 1817, since filled in. The northern access must be at the location called since Ranavalona I the "Ileodoka gate," oriented differently and then built of wood. According to the "Tantara ny Andriana eto Madagascar" by Father Callet, there is only one access at that time, as the southwest gate dates from this queen's reign. "This Rova would respond to requirements other than the simple convenience of the sovereign. Security first: the fear of death so profound in the Malagasy soul had solid justifications then," writes Vincent Belrose Huygues ("Rova of Tananarive, from Andrianjaka to Radama I: an example of aesthetic syncretism in the 19th century," see previous notes). The Rova, planted at the summit of the city, "solidly barricaded and guarded," prevents any threat to the king's life. This precaution is renewed around each Lapa (palace) or group of Lapa. "Far more important was the symbolic requirement." The "Tantara" indicate that at the time, the Rova is easy to climb, so a rigorous law was promulgated. Thus, one must enter through its only gate and it is forbidden to pass over the palisade under penalty of death. This law must ensure the sovereign's safety, but to pass through the gate, one must perform a certain number of ritual gestures to prove a state of purity and ward off evil spells. "We find here an architectural model of archaic sacred royalty, whose principle is found in both Creto-Mycenaean royal enclosures and those of the great kingdoms of West Africa and, closer