Palazzo Vecchio seen from the Uffizi in Florence.

A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop.^[1] The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome.^[1] In many parts of Europe, the term is also applied to ambitious private mansions of the aristocracy. Many historic palaces are now put to other uses such as parliaments, museums, hotels or office buildings. The word is also sometimes used to describe a lavishly ornate building used for public entertainment or exhibitions.^[1]

Etymology[link]

The word "palace" comes from Old French palais (imperial residence), from Latin Palātium, the name of one of the seven hills of Rome.^[1] The original "palaces" on the Palatine Hill were the seat of the imperial power while the "capitol" on the Capitoline Hill was the religious nucleus of Rome. Long after the city grew to the seven hills the Palatine remained a desirable residential area. Emperor Caesar Augustus lived there in a purposely modest house only set apart from his neighbors by the two laurel trees planted to flank the front door as a sign of triumph granted by the Senate. His descendants, especially Nero, with his "Golden House" enlarged the house and grounds over and over until it took up the hill top. The word Palātium came to mean the residence of the emperor rather than the neighbourhood on top of the hill.

"Palace" meaning "government" can be recognized in a remark of Paul the Deacon, writing ca 790 and describing events of the 660s: "When Grimuald set out for Beneventum, he entrusted his palace to Lupus" (Historia Langobardorum, V.xvii). At the same time Charlemagne was consciously reviving the Roman expression in his "palace" at Aachen, of which only his chapel remains. In the 9th century the "palace" indicated the housing of the government too, and the constantly-travelling Charlemagne built fourteen. In the early Middle Ages, the Palas remained the seat of government in some German cities. In the Holy Roman Empire the powerful independent Electors came to be housed in palaces (Paläste). This has been used as evidence that power was widely distributed in the Empire, as in more centralized monarchies, only the monarch's residence would be a palace.

In modern times, the term has been applied by archaeologists and historians to large structures that housed combined ruler, court and bureaucracy in "palace culturtes". In informal usage, a "palace" can be extended to a grand residence of any kind.

Palaces[link]

The earliest known palaces were the royal residences of the Egyptian Pharaohs at Thebes, featuring an outer wall enclosing labyrinthine buildings and courtyards.^[2] Other ancient palaces include the Assyrian palaces at Nimrud and Nineveh, the Minoan palace at Knossos, and the Persian palaces at Persepolis and Susa.^[2] Palaces in East Asia, such as the imperial palaces of Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan and China's Forbidden City, consist of many low pavilions surrounded by vast, walled gardens, in contrast to the single building palaces of Medieval Western Europe.^[2]

Americas[link]

Brazil[link]

The Planalto Palace, in Brasília.

The Brazilian new capital, Brasília, hosts modern palaces, most designed by the city's architect Oscar Niemeyer. The Alvorada Palace is the official residence of the Brazil's president. The Planalto Palace is the official workplace. The Jaburu Palace is the official residence of Brazil's vice-president.

Mexico[link]

The Palacio Nacional, or National Palace in Mexico City.

The capital of Mexico, Mexico City, is traditionally nicknamed the "City of Palaces"; It was dubbed so by Alexander von Humboldt, after he visited it in the late 18th century and early 19th century.

In Central Mexico, the Aztec Emperors built many palaces in the capital of their empire, Tenochtitlan (modern day Mexico City), some of which may still be seen. On observing the great city Hernán Cortés wrote, "There are, in all districts of this great city, many temples or palaces,... They are all very beautiful buildings. Amongst these temples there is one, the principal one, whose great size and magnificence no human tongue could describe,... All round inside this wall there are very elegant quarters with very large rooms and corridors. There are as many as forty towers, all of which are so high that in the case of the largest there are fifty steps leading up to the main part of it and the most important of these towers is higher than that of the cathedral of Seville..."^[3]

The National Palace, or Palacio Nacional, located in Mexico City's main square, the Plaza de la Constitución (El Zócalo), first built in 1563, is in the heart of the Mexican capital. In 1821, the palace was given its current name and the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government were housed in the palace; the latter two branches would eventually reside elsewhere. During the Second Mexican Empire, its name was changed, for a time, to the Imperial Palace. The National Palace continues to be the official seat of the executive authority, although it is no longer the official residence of the President.

Also in Mexico City is the Castillo de Chapultepec, or Chapultepec Castle, located in the middle of Chapultepec Park which currently houses the Mexican National Museum of History. It is the only castle, or palace, in North America that was occupied by sovereigns - Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico, a member of the House of Habsburg and his consort, Empress Carlota of Mexico, daughter of Leopold I of Belgium. The palace features many objets d'art ranging from gifts of Napoleon III's to paintings by Franz Xaver Winterhalter and Mexican painter Santiago Rebull.

Uruguay[link]

The Palacio Legislativo (Legislative Palace), is the house of the Uruguayan Parliament.

Asia[link]

The throne hall in Phnom Penh.

Cambodia[link]

• Royal Palace
• Khemarin Palace

China[link]

The Forbidden City took form as a grand complex of pavilions enclosed within square walls.

The finest example of Chinese palace is the Forbidden City, the imperial palace of Chinese empire from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is largest palace complex in the world and located in the middle of Beijing, China. The palace complex exemplifies traditional Chinese palatial architecture.^[4] Another example is Summer Palace located in the northern suburb of Beijing and Mukden Palace in Shenyang. The Presidential Palace in Nanjing displays European architecture influences.

The Chinese palace is designed in regular square grids and arranged in formal layout, consisted of main buildings and numbers of pavilions enclosed within walls. Unlike massive single structured European palace or castle, Chinese palace is a multitude of complexes contains several large and smaller structures with parks and courtyards.

Iran[link]

Niavarān Palace Complex is a historical complex situated in the northern part of Tehran, Iran. It consists of several buildings and a museum. The Sahebqraniyeh Palace, from the time of Naser al-Din Shah of Qajar dynasty, is also inside this complex. The main Niavaran Palace, completed in 1968, was the primary residence of the last Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and the Imperial family until the Iranian Revolution. The main palace was designed by the Iranian architect Mohsen Foroughi.

• List of castles in Iran

Brunei[link]

Istana Nurul Iman is the currently the World's largest palace and is the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, and the seat of the Brunei government. The palace is located on a leafy, riverside sprawl of hills on the banks of the Brunei River, a few kilometers south of Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei's capital.

India[link]

The neutrality of this article is disputed. Please see the discussion on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved. (December 2011)

The Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, India.

The Hazarduari Palace in Murshidabad, India.

India is home to a large number of palaces and vast empires. The history of India is full of numerous dynasties that have ruled over various parts of the country. While most monuments of the ancient period have been destroyed or lie in ruins, some medieval buildings have been maintained well or restored to good condition. Several medieval forts and palaces still stand proud all over India. These magnificent buildings are examples of the great achievements of the architects and engineers of that age. The palaces of India offer an insight into the life of the royalty of the country. While some royal palaces have been maintained as museums or hotels over the last decades, some palaces are still home for the members of the erstwhile royal families. These forts and palaces are the largest illustrations and legacy of the princely states of India. Floats of flowers in grand fountains, shimmering blue water of magnificent baths and private pools, doric pillars, ornamental brackets, decorative staircases, light streaming in through large windows, India possesses some of the most fascinating forts and palaces, a true royal retreat. It is not just a romantic longing for a royal experience, but also the search for the truly authentic Indian experience that brings thousands of heritage lovers to India's palaces.

Rajasthan has a large number of forts and palaces that are major tourist destinations in North India. The Rajputs (collective term for the rulers of the region) were known as brave soldiers who preferred to die than be taken prisoners. They were also great connoisseurs of art and brilliant builders. The most famous forts and palaces in Rajasthan are located in Chittor, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Udaipur, Saphieree, Amber and Nahargarh. Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces manage some of the most iconic palaces of the region, Lake Palace, Udaipur; Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur; Fort Madhogarh, Jaipur and Rambagh Palace, Jaipur; and offer authentic royal retreats to the guests in all its grandeur, splendor and magnificence.

Indonesia[link]

Pagarruyung palace.

In Indonesia the palaces are known as Istana (Malay and Indonesian), or Kraton (Javanese and Sundanese). In Bali the royal palace compound is called Puri. The palaces reflects the long history and diverse culture of Indonesian archipelago.

Although Indonesia is now a republic, some parts and provinces in Indonesia still retain and preserve their traditional royal heritage, for example Sultanate of Yogyakarta, Surakarta, Mangkunegaran princedom, Kasepuhan palace in Cirebon, and Kutai in East Kalimantan. The remnant of palaces and royal houses still can be found in Banten, Medan, Ternate, Bali and Bima.

The layout of traditional Balinese and Javanese kratons is similar to Chinese concept; a walled compounds of royal pavilions, squares and gardens. Most of these kratons took forms of wooden pavilions called pendopo. While the istana of Sumatra is usually consist of single large structure. The example of typical Minangkabau vernacular architecture can be found in Pagarruyung palace, West Sumatra. The example of Malay palace is Istana Maimun in Medan.

During VOC and colonial era of Dutch East Indies, the colonial government built several European stately palaces as the residence of the Governor General. Most of these European palaces is now become the state palace of the Republic of Indonesia. Indonesian state palaces are the neoclassic Merdeka Palace and Bogor Palace.

Japan[link]

Tokyo imperial palace, the official residence of the Emperor of Japan.

• Tokyo Imperial Palace
• Kyoto Imperial Palace
• Heian Palace

Korea[link]

The changing of the guard ceremony at the Gyeongbokgung Palace.

• Gyeongbokgung
• Changdeokgung
• Deoksugung
• Changgyeonggung
• Gyeonghuigung

Malaysia[link]

• Istana Alam Shah
• Istana Besar
• Istana Melawati
• Istana Negara, Kuala Lumpur
• Istana Seri Menanti

Philippines[link]

Malacañang Palace

.

During Pre-Hispanic times in the Philippines, the ancient Filipinos built large wooden structures where the Rajahs, Datus and Lakans resided, called Torogan (king's house). During the Spanish colonization, the Spanish built a palace where the highest officials lived. In Manila, specially in Intramuros they built several palaces from the 16th - 19th century, one of these is the Malacañang Palace which is the official residence of the President and first families, during the 20th century, in the time of Ferdinand Marcos he built the Coconut Palace that was once named Tahanang Pilipino, a palace for the Vice President.

• Malacañang Palace
• Coconut Palace (a.k.a. Tahanang Pilipino)
• Palacio del Gobernador
• Palace of Cebu

Thailand[link]

Grand Palace.

Phaya Thai Palace.

• King Narai's Palace
• Ayutthaya Historical Park
• Grand Palace
• Front Palace
• Chitralada Palace
• Bang Pa-In Royal Palace
• Sanam Chandra Palace
• Phaya Thai Palace
• Vimanmek Palace
• Mrigadayavan Palace
• Phra Nakhon Khiri historical park
• Suan Pakkad Palace
• Varadis Palace
• Windsor Palace (Thailand)

Turkey[link]

In Turkey, the main term of these architectures is "saray" which comes from Persian (سرای sarai). However small types of them, name "kasır" in Turkish but in english, all these buildings call as palace (Küçüksu Palace, Turkish: Küçüksu Kasrı).

• Beylerbeyi Palace in Asian part of Istanbul
• Kubadabad Palace, Seljuk palace

Europe[link]

France[link]

In France there has been a clear distinction between a château and a palais. The palace has always been urban, like the Palais de la Cité in Paris, which was the royal palace of France and is now the supreme court of justice of France, or the palace of the Popes at Avignon.

The château, by contrast, has always been in rural settings, supported by its demesne, even when it was no longer actually fortified. Speakers of English think of the "Palace of Versailles" because it was the residence of the king of France, and the king was the source of power, though the building has always remained the Château de Versailles for the French, and the seat of government under the Ancien Régime remained the Palais du Louvre. The Louvre had begun as a fortified Château du Louvre on the edge of Paris, but as the seat of government and shorn of its fortified architecture and then completely surrounded by the city, it developed into the Palais du Louvre.

The hôtel particulier remains the term for an urban residence sited entre cour et jardin, behind a forecourt and opening onto a garden; when fronting directly on streets, they are maisons, "houses". Bishops always had a palais in the town of their diocese, an hôtel in other towns, though they might possess chateaux.

The usage is essentially the same in Italy, Spain and Portugal, as well as the former Austrian Empire. In Vienna, Austria, all large mansions belonging to aristocratic or very wealthy families were traditionally called palais, but this never applied to imperial palaces themselves which were called Burg within the city and Schloss when outside it. In Germany, the wider term was a relatively recent importation, and was used rather more restrictively.

Greece[link]

Tiryns, map of palace

The best examples of the Bronze Age Greece palace are seen in the excavations at Mycenae, Tiryns and Pylos. That these were administrative centers is shown by the records found there. From an architectural point of view, they were the heirs of the Minoan palaces and also of other palaces built earlier on the Greek mainland. They were ranged around a group of courtyards each opening upon several rooms of different dimensions, such as storerooms and workshops, as well as reception halls and living quarters. The heart of the palace was the megaron. This was the throne room, laid out around a circular hearth surrounded by four columns, the throne generally being found on the right-hand side upon entering the room. The staircases found in the palace of Pylos indicate palaces had two stories. Located on the top floor were probably the private quarters of the royal family and some storerooms. These palaces have yielded a wealth of artifacts and fragmentary frescoes.

Italy[link]

The Ca' da Mosto, a 13th century Venetian palace, the oldest building on the Grand Canal.

In Italy, any urban building built as a grand residence is a palazzo; these are often no larger than a Victorian townhouse. It was not necessary to be a nobleman to have your house considered a palazzo; the hundreds of palaces in Venice nearly all belonged to the patrician class of the city. In the Middle Ages these also functioned as warehouses and places of business, as well as homes. Each family's palazzo was a hive that contained all the family members, though it might not always show a grand architectural public front. In the 20th century palazzo in Italian came to apply by extension to any large fine apartment building, as so many old palaces were converted to this use.

Bishop's townhouses were always palaces, and the seat of a localized regime would also be so called. Many former capital display a Palazzo Ducale, the seat of the local duke or lord. In Florence and other strong communal governments, the seat of government was the Palazzo della Signoria until in Florence the Medici were made Grand Dukes of Tuscany. Then, when the power center shifted to their residence in Palazzo Pitti, the old center of power began to be called the Palazzo Vecchio.

Portugal[link]

Pena Palace in Sintra, Portugal is the oldest palace inspired by European Romanticism.

Portugal is a nation with long history, culture and tradition. The north, with lush green mountains lined with vineyards, the center, with its rolling hills and plains lined with its many villages, as well as is south, with its Mediterranean plains and whitewashed villages nestled atop the promontories overlooking the great Atlantic are characteristically dotted with palaces like few other nations. From the Douro in the north to the Algarve region of the south, these palatial estates run rampant. The homes of royalty is the example of the culture of Portugal. The example of Portugal palaces are Mafra National Palace, Pena National Palace, Belém Palace, Ajuda National Palace, Palácio das Necessidades, Mateus Palace, Palace Hotel of Bussaco, Palácio da Regaleira, and Palácio da Brejoeira.

Russia[link]

The Peterhof Palace (1709—1755) in Petergof.

The first palaces were built in Russia for about a thousand years ago for the Grand Dukes of Kiev. They were destroyed by the Mongols, and currently they are not preserved. First palaces in European style were built during the reign of tsar Peter the Great and his successors. The example of Russian palaces are, the Palace of Facets (1487–91) in Moscow Kremlin, Tsarevich Dmitry Ivanovich Palace (1489) in Uglich, the Kolomensky Wooden Palace (1528—1532) in Kolomenskoye, the Terem Palace (1635–1636) in Moscow Kremlin, the Menshikov Palace (1710—1727) in Saint Petersburg, the Oranienbaum Palace (1710) in Lomonosov, Kikin Hall (1714) in Saint Petersburg, and the Peterhof Palace (1709—1755) in Petergof.

Romania[link]

Palace of the Parliament (Casa Poporului) in Bucharest, Romania, is the largest, most luxurious palace in the world.

Serbia[link]

The two dynasties of post-ottoman Serbia, Karađorđević and Obrenović built numerous residences throughout their domain. The most prominent and official palaces are the Stari Dvor and the Novi Dvor (Old and New Court, respectively) in the center of Belgrade and the Royal Compound which includes the Beli Dvor and Kraljevski Dvor (Royal Palace) in the Belgrade suburb, Dedinje.

Spain[link]

Royal Palace of Madrid.

With over a thousand years of monarchic history, Spain has many palaces of its own that were build for different monarchs or nobles. Among these palaces are the Royal Palace of Madrid, also referred to as the Palacio Real. The palace is the largest palace in Europe with over 2,800 rooms but at the current time is of use for only governmental business while the royal family resides in the smaller Palacio de la Zarzuela.

In addition to the Royal Palace of Madrid, Alcázar of Seville (which mixes, with the delicate Moorish filigree, European Christian architectural styles), the Alhambra, the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial and the Royal Palace of Aranjuez, fine baroque palace is surrounded by gardens. Currently, the royal family and Prime Minister live in the more modest Palace of Zarzuela and Palace of Moncloa respectively.

Turkey[link]

Dolmabahçe Palace

Palaces which are located in Europe land of Turkey, are below. Most of them are from Ottoman period.

• Çırağan Palace
• Dolmabahçe Palace
• Palace of the Porphyrogenitus (Turkish: Tekfur Sarayı), Byzantine palace
• Topkapı Palace
• Yıldız Palace

United Kingdom[link]

In the United Kingdom, by tacit agreement, there have been no "palaces" other than those used as official residences by royalty and bishops, regardless of whether located in town or country. However, not all palaces use the term in their name - see Holyrood Palace. Thus the Palace of Beaulieu gained its name precisely when Thomas Boleyn sold it to Henry VIII in 1517; previously it had been known as Walkfares. But like several other palaces, the name stuck even once the royal connection ended. Blenheim Palace was built, on a different site, in the grounds of the disused royal Palace of Woodstock, and the name was also part of the extraordinary honour when the house was given by a grateful nation to a great general. (Along with several royal and episcopal palaces in the countryside, Blenheim does demonstrate that "palace" has no specific urban connotations in English.). On the use of the term palace in the UK it is notable that Buckingham Palace was known as Buckingham House before it was acquired by the monarchy.

Windsor Castle.

Other[link]

There are buildings or mansions in the United States, not quite called "palaces", that have the grandeur of a typical palace, and which have been used as residences. Hearst Castle, the Biltmore Estate, and the White House are examples. Also, the ʻIolani Palace is the former home of the Hawaiian monarchy in Honolulu.

On the continent of Europe, these royal and episcopal palaces were not merely residences; the clerks who administered the realm or the diocese labored there as well. (To this day many bishops' palaces house both their family apartments and their official offices.) However, unlike the "Palais du Justice" which is often encountered in the French-speaking world, modern British public administration buildings are never called "palaces"; although the formal name for the "Houses of Parliament" is the Palace of Westminster, this reflects Westminster's former role as a royal residence and centre of administration.

In more recent years, the word has been used in a more informal sense for other large, impressive buildings, such as The Crystal Palace of 1851 (an immensely large, glazed hall erected for The Great Exhibition) and modern arenas-convention centers like Alexandra Palace.

The largest in the world is Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest, Romania^{[citation needed]}. Built during the socialist regime, no effort or expense was spared to raise this colossal neo-classic building.

See also[link]

• Great house

References[link]

See also[link]

Look up palace in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• List of palaces
• Castle

Metta World Peace

World Peace, then named Ron Artest, in 2011
No. 15 – Los Angeles Lakers
Small forward
Personal information
Born	(1979-11-13) November 13, 1979 (age 32) Queens, New York
Nationality	American
High school	La Salle Academy
Listed height	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight	260 lb (118 kg)
Career information
College	St. John's
NBA Draft	1999 / Round: 1 / Pick: 16th overall
Selected by the Chicago Bulls
Pro career	1999–present
Career history
1999–2002	Chicago Bulls
2002–2006	Indiana Pacers
2006–2008	Sacramento Kings
2008–2009	Houston Rockets
2009–present	Los Angeles Lakers
Career highlights and awards
NBA Champion (2010) NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2004) NBA All-Star (2004) All-NBA Third Team (2004) 2× All-Defensive First Team (2004, 2006) 2× All-Defensive Second Team (2003, 2009) NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2000) J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (2011) Haggerty Award (1999)
Stats at NBA.com

Metta World Peace (born Ronald William Artest, Jr., November 13, 1979) is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was known as Ron Artest before legally changing his name in September 2011.

World Peace gained a reputation as one of the league's premier defenders as he won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2004. He was a participant in several controversial on-court incidents, most notably the Pacers–Pistons brawl and is known for his sometimes eccentric and outspoken behavior.

Early life[link]

Metta World Peace was born Ronald William Artest, Jr., and raised in the Queensbridge projects in Queens, New York. He has two younger brothers, Isaiah and Daniel.^[1] He played high school basketball at La Salle Academy and college basketball at St. John's University from 1997–1999.^[2][3] In 1999, he helped the Red Storm to the Elite Eight, losing to Ohio State. He gained fame playing in some of New York City's high profile summer basketball tournaments at Nike Pro City, Hoops in the Sun at Orchard Beach, Bronx, New York and Dyckman Park at Washington Heights, earning himself nicknames such as Tru Warier^[4] and The New World Order, a name he received from Randy Cruz (one of the co-founders of the Hoops In The Sun basketball league at Orchard Beach in the Bronx, New York).

As a teenager, he was teamed with future NBA players Elton Brand and Lamar Odom on the same Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team.^[3]

Growing up in a rough neighborhood, he witnessed the death of a fellow player on a basketball court. "It was so competitive, they broke a leg from a table and they threw it, it went right through his heart and he died right on the court. So I'm accustomed to playing basketball really rough."^[5] The player to whom Artest was referring was 19-year-old Lloyd Newton, who was stabbed in the back with a broken-off table leg during an altercation at a 1991 YMCA-sanctioned basketball tournament.^[6]

Professional career[link]

Chicago Bulls[link]

Artest was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the 16th pick of the 1999 NBA Draft.^[7][8]

Artest played a total of 175 games for the Bulls over 2-1/2 years, the bulk as a starter, during which time he averaged about 12.5 points and just over 4 rebounds per game. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in the 1999–2000 season.

Midway through the 2001–02 season, Artest was traded by Chicago to the Indiana Pacers along with Ron Mercer, Brad Miller, and Kevin Ollie, in exchange for Jalen Rose, Travis Best, Norman Richardson, and a 2nd round draft pick.^[9]

Indiana Pacers[link]

During the 2003–04 season with the Pacers, he averaged 18.3 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game, and 3.7 assists per game. Artest made the 2004 All-Star Game as a reserve and was named the Defensive Player of the Year. He wore three jersey numbers for the Pacers: 15, 23 and 91.

Pacers–Pistons brawl[link]

On November 19, 2004, Artest was at the center of an altercation among players and fans during a game in Auburn Hills, Michigan, between Artest's Pacers and the home team Detroit Pistons. The brawl involved Artest, Pistons center Ben Wallace, Artest's teammates Jermaine O'Neal and Stephen Jackson, several other players, and spectators including Pistons fan John Green^[10] and Pistons fan A. J. Shackleford.^[11]

The fight resulted in the game being stopped with less than a minute remaining. Jermaine O'Neal, Jackson and Wallace were suspended indefinitely the day after the game. A day later, the NBA suspended Artest for the rest of the regular season, plus any playoff games. Artest missed 86 games, the longest suspension for an on-court incident in NBA history.

Aftermath and trade[link]

Early in the 2005–06 season, Artest requested a trade from the Indiana Pacers and was put on the team's inactive roster. Artest's call for a trade created a rift between him and his teammates. "We felt betrayed, a little disrespected," teammate Jermaine O'Neal said. As for their basketball relationship, O'Neal said: "The business relationship is over. That's fact." Pacers president Larry Bird said he also felt "betrayed" and "disappointed."^[12]

On January 24, 2006, reports from NBA sources confirmed that the Sacramento Kings had agreed to trade Peja Stojaković to the Pacers for Artest. However, before the trade could be completed, many press outlets reported that Artest had informed team management that he did not want to go to Sacramento. According to Artest's agent, his original trade request was only made because he was upset when he heard rumors that the Pacers were going to trade him to Sacramento for Stojaković early in the season. While not denying his agent's story, Artest did deny that he had rejected the trade to Sacramento, saying that he would play anywhere; hence, contradicting earlier press accounts stating Artest was holding up the trade. Given conflicting accounts, it is unclear why the trade was delayed, but it was nevertheless completed on January 25 and Artest was officially sent to the Kings for Stojaković.

Sacramento Kings[link]

Artest during his tenure with the Sacramento Kings.

Though traded midseason to the Kings franchise, Artest quickly found his place on the team by providing some much needed defense.^[13] Though many feared his abrasive personality would be a problem, he worked well with his teammates and then-coach Rick Adelman. Artest wore #93 for his jersey number with the Kings. After acquiring Artest in late January 2006, the team immediately went on a 14–5 run, the team's best run of the season. The Kings broke .500 and landed the eighth spot in the Western Conference. This prompted ESPN to declare that "Ron Artest has breathed new life in the Sacramento Kings and enhanced their chances of reaching the playoffs for the ninth straight year."^[14] Fox Sports proclaimed, "Artest has Kings back in playoff hunt."^[13]

He was suspended for Game 2 of the team's first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs following a flagrant foul (elbow to the head) on Manu Ginóbili. The Kings eventually were eliminated from the playoffs in six games.

After the playoffs, Artest offered to donate his entire salary to keep teammate Bonzi Wells with the team, who became a free agent after the 2005–06 NBA season. He even jokingly threatened to kill Wells if he did not re-sign with the Kings.^[15] Wells was later picked up by the Houston Rockets and then traded to the New Orleans Hornets for former Sacramento Kings player Bobby Jackson. Artest also offered to donate his salary to retain the services of head coach Rick Adelman, whose contract expired after the same season. Adelman and the Kings did not agree on a contract extension so the two parted ways.

Houston Rockets[link]

Artest playing for the Houston Rockets in the 2008–09 NBA season.

On July 29, 2008, it was reported that Artest was to be traded to the Houston Rockets along with Patrick Ewing, Jr. and Sean Singletary for Bobby Jackson, recently drafted forward Donté Greene, a 2009 first-round draft pick, and cash considerations.^[16] The deal was made official on August 14, due to Greene's rookie contract signing on July 14.^[17] In response to the trade, Yao Ming was generally positive, but jokingly said that "hopefully he's not fighting anymore and going after a guy in the stands." In response, Artest said, "This is Tracy (McGrady) and Yao's team, you know. I'm not going to take it personal. I understand what Yao said, but I'm still ghetto. That's not going to change. I'm never going to change my culture. Yao has played with a lot of black players, but I don't think he's ever played with a black player that really represents his culture as much as I represent my culture."^[18]

Artest and Yao later exchanged extensive phone calls. Artest also said, "Whatever Adelman needs me to do, whether that's come off the bench, sixth, seventh man, start, I don't even care. Whatever he needs me to do, I'm 100 percent sure it's going to work out."^[19]

On October 30, 2008, Artest received his first technical as a Houston Rocket, as he raced towards a group of Dallas Mavericks players and then quickly went to Yao Ming who bumped Josh Howard after play stopped. Artest was trying to pull Yao away from the play and to the foul line, but contact was made with Maverick players. The TNT broadcast crew felt this technical was not warranted, and was based upon Artest's prior reputation as a feisty player in the league. In the playoffs, Artest helped the Rockets advance past the first round for the first time in 12 seasons.^[20] In Game 2 of the second round against the Los Angeles Lakers, Artest, who was battling for rebounding position with Kobe Bryant, was elbowed in the neck by Bryant, which was later ruled to be a Type 1 flagrant foul. After being called for an offensive foul, Artest was indignant and proceeded to antagonize Bryant after the play, which eventually led to an ejection by Joe Crawford.^[21] In Game 3, Artest was again ejected in the fourth quarter after a hard foul on Pau Gasol, who was attempting to dunk on a fast-break. It was determined the next day that the foul was not serious enough to warrant an ejection, and the flagrant foul was downgraded.^[22]

Los Angeles Lakers[link]

Artest shoots over defender Ryan Gomes.

In July 2009, the Los Angeles Lakers signed Artest to a five-year deal worth about $33 million.^[23][24][25] Artest chose the number 37 jersey, which he said was in honor of Michael Jackson. Jackson's Thriller album was at No. 1 on the charts for 37 straight weeks.^[26]

In Game 5 of the 2010 Western Conference Finals, Artest hit a game-winning shot at the buzzer after grabbing a last second offensive rebound. He scored 25 points against the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 and went to the NBA Finals for the first time in his career. In the finals, the Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics, four games to three. Artest scored 20 points in the clincher and sank the team's last field goal – a three-pointer late in the fourth quarter – to virtually seal the victory.^[27] Afterwards, Lakers head coach Phil Jackson called Artest the most valuable player of Game 7 against the Celtics.^[28][29] He won his first championship ring with the Lakers.

For the 2010–2011 season, Artest switched back to number 15, his college number at St. John’s and the first number he wore in his NBA career.^[30]

On April 26, 2011, Artest won the NBA's J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award.^[31]

Artest changed his name to Metta World Peace during the offseason. He came into training camp for the 2011–12 season out of shape. Consequently, new Lakers coach Mike Brown moved World Peace to a reserve role with reduced playing time.^[32] World Peace lamented that Brown's coaching style placed too much emphasis on statistics.^[33]

On April 22, 2012, in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, World Peace elbowed James Harden in the head as he was celebrating a dunk. He received a flagrant foul 2 and was immediately ejected. Harden stayed on the floor for several minutes and left the game for evaluation.^[34] Harden was later found to have suffered a concussion.^[35] After the game, World Peace apologized in front of reporters, claiming that the elbow was "unintentional."^[36] On April 24, 2012, World Peace was suspended for seven games, meaning he would miss the Lakers' season finale game against the Sacramento Kings as well as the first few games of the playoffs.^[37]

Career transactions[link]

• June 30, 1999: Drafted 16th overall by Chicago Bulls in 1999 NBA Draft.
• February 19, 2002: Traded by Chicago along with Ron Mercer, Brad Miller and Kevin Ollie to the Indiana Pacers for Jalen Rose, Travis Best, Norman Richardson and a future second-round draft pick.^[38]
• January 25, 2006: Traded by Indiana to the Sacramento Kings for Peja Stojaković.^[39]
• August 21, 2008: Traded by Sacramento along with Patrick Ewing, Jr. and Sean Singletary to the Houston Rockets for Bobby Jackson, Donté Greene and a future first-round draft pick.^[40]
• July 8, 2009: Signed by the Los Angeles Lakers for a 5-year deal worth $33 million.^[25]

NBA career statistics[link]

Regular season[link]

Playoffs[link]

Media presence[link]

Artest celebrates at the 2010 Lakers Championship parade.

Television[link]

In April 2010, it was announced that Artest would help develop and produce his own reality show, They Call Me Crazy, in conjunction with E1 Entertainment and Tijuana Entertainment.^[41]

On December 18, 2010, an art show honoring Artest was held in Toronto, Canada. Entitled Lovable Badass,^[42] the show featured work by 30 Canadian and American artists, illustrators, painters and sculptors inspired by the athlete. Artest made a surprise appearance at the exhibition's opening night, commenting that “(the show) was definitely special. It was unexpected. Overwhelming.”^[43]

Artest was part of the line-up for the thirteenth season of the reality show Dancing with the Stars, though he finished in last place, being eliminated in the show's first week.^[44]

Discography[link]

On October 31, 2006, Artest released a rap album entitled My World. He published the album on the Lightyear Records label under his own imprint, Tru Warier Records. The album features guest artists P. Diddy, Juvenile, Mike Jones, Big Kap, Nature and Capone.

Advocacy[link]

In 2008, Artest appeared in a video^[45] promoting companion animal spaying and neutering for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals entitled "Have the balls to spay or neuter your dog."^[46]

He has become involved in advocacy relating to mental health issues.^[47] In December 2010, he announced that he would donate some or all of his salary for the 2011–12 NBA season toward mental health awareness charities. Artest also auctioned off his 2009–10 championship ring and donated the proceeds to various mental health charities nationwide.^[48]

Disciplinary and legal issues[link]

Early career incidents[link]

In a December 2009 Sporting News interview, Artest admitted that he had led a "wild" lifestyle as a young player, and that he drank Hennessy cognac in the locker room at halftime when he was playing for the Chicago Bulls at the beginning of his NBA career.^[49]

During his rookie season in Chicago, he was criticized for applying for a job at Circuit City in order to get an employee discount.^[50][51]

He once attended a practice with the Indiana Pacers in a bath robe.^[52]

Artest was suspended for three games in 2003 for destroying a TV camera at Madison Square Garden, and for four games the same year for a confrontation with Miami Heat coach Pat Riley.^[51] He was also suspended for two games in the early 2004–05 season by Pacers coach Rick Carlisle after he allegedly asked for a month off because he was tired from promoting an R&B album for the group Allure on his production label.^[51]

Pacers–Pistons brawl[link]

On November 19, 2004, Artest was at the center of an altercation among players and fans during a game in Auburn Hills, Michigan between Artest's Pacers and the home team Detroit Pistons.

The brawl began when Artest fouled Pistons center Ben Wallace as Wallace was putting up a shot. Wallace, upset at being fouled hard when the game was effectively over (the Pacers led 97–82 with less than 50 seconds to go), responded by shoving Artest, leading to an altercation near the scorer's table. Artest walked to the sideline and lay down on the scorer's table. Reacting to Wallace throwing something at Artest, Pistons fan John Green threw a cup of Diet Coke^[10] at Artest, hitting him. Artest jumped into the front-row seats and confronted a man he incorrectly believed to be responsible, which in turn erupted into a brawl between Pistons fans and several of the Pacers. Artest returned to the basketball court, and punched Pistons fan A.J. Shackleford, who was apparently taunting Artest verbally.^[11] This fight resulted in the game being stopped with less than a minute remaining. Artest's teammates Jermaine O'Neal and Stephen Jackson were suspended indefinitely the day after the game, along with Wallace.

On November 21, the NBA suspended Artest for the rest of the regular season, plus any playoff games. All told, Artest missed 86 games (73 regular season games plus 13 playoff games), the longest suspension for an on-court incident in NBA history. Eight other players (four Pacers and four Pistons) received suspensions, without pay, which ranged from one to thirty games in length. Each of the players involved were levied fines and ordered to do community service. Several fans were also charged and were banned from attending Pistons games for life. Artest lost approximately $7 million in salary due to the suspension.

Legal issues[link]

On March 5, 2007, Artest was arrested for domestic violence, and excused from the Sacramento Kings indefinitely by GM Geoff Petrie.^[53] On March 10, Kings announced that Artest would return to the team, while his case was being reviewed by the Placer County District Attorney.^[54] On May 3, he was sentenced to 20 days in jail and community service. Artest spent only 10 days in the jail, as the judge stayed 10 days of the sentence, and served the remainder in a work release program.^[55] On July 14, 2007, the NBA suspended Artest for seven games at the beginning of the 2007–08 NBA season for his legal problems.^[56]

Personal life[link]

On September 16, 2011, Artest's name was officially changed to Metta World Peace.^[57][58][59] The idea was inspired by Chad Ochocinco's name change.^[44] "Metta" is his first name, and "World Peace" is his surname.^[44] "Changing my name was meant to inspire and bring youth together all around the world," World Peace said in a statement released after the name change court hearing. His publicist, Courtney Barnes, said that World Peace chose Metta as his first name because it is a traditional Buddhist word that means loving kindness and friendliness towards all.^[57]

World Peace and Kimsha Artest (née Hatfield) were married for 6 years. Kimsha is a cast member on VH1's reality TV show Basketball Wives: LA. The two have three children together: Sadie, Ron III, and Diamond.^[60] Kimsha and World Peace, who was still called Ron Artest at the time, married in June 2003 and divorced in 2009.^[61] World Peace has another son, Jeron, with his former high school girlfriend Jennifer Palma.^[62][63] World Peace's daughter, Diamond, also plans to change her surname from Artest to World Peace now that her father's name change has become official.^[64]

See also[link]

• List of National Basketball Association career steals leaders

References[link]