The Topkapi Palace is a large palace in Istanbul, Turkey
and one of the major residences of the Ottoman sultans for almost 400
years (1465–1856) of their 624-year reign.
The palace
complex is located on the Seraglio Point, a promontory overlooking
the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara, with a good view of the Bosphorus from
many points of the palace. The site is one of the highest points close to the
sea.
Topkapı
Palace was the main residence of the sultan and his court. It was initially the
seat of government as well as the imperial residence.
The
palace complex consists of four main courtyards and many smaller buildings.
There were
originally around 700-800 residents of the Palace at the beginning, but during
the centuries it dramatically raised to 5,000 during normal days and 10,000
during festivals, approximately.
It
contained mosques, a hospital, bakeries, and a mint. Construction began in
1459, ordered by Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Byzantine Constantinople.
It was originally called the New Palace to distinguish it from the
previous residence. It received the name "Topkapı" (Cannon Gate) in
the 19th century, after a (now lost) gate and shore pavilion. The complex was
expanded over the centuries, with major renovations after the 1509
earthquake and the 1665 fire.
Following
the end of the Ottoman Empire in 1923, Topkapı Palace was transformed by a
government decree dated April 3, 1924, into a museum of the imperial era.
The
palace includes many fine examples of Ottoman architecture. It contains large
collections of porcelain, robes, weapons, shields, armor, Ottoman
miniatures, Islamic calligraphic manuscripts and murals, as well as a
display of Ottoman treasures and jewelry.
The
main enter to the palace is the Imperial Gate (Turkish: Bâb-ı Hümâyûn or Latin: Porta
Augusta), also known as "Gate of the Sultan" (Turkish: Saltanat
Kapısı) located to the south of the palace. This massive gate, originally
dating from 1478, is now covered in 19th-century marble.
The
First Courtyard contained purely functional structures and some royal ones,
many of which do not exist today. The structures that remain are the former
Imperial Mint (Darphane-i Âmire, constructed in 1727), the church of
Hagia Irene and various fountains. The Byzantine church of Hagia Irene was
never destroyed by the conquering Ottomans and survived by being used as a
storehouse and imperial armoury.
The
large Gate of Salutation (Arabic: Bâb-üs Selâm), also known as the Middle
Gate (Turkish: Orta Kapı), leads into the palace and the Second Courtyard.
The
Second Courtyard was completed probably around 1465 during the reign of Mehmed
II, but received its final appearance around 1525-1529 during the reign of
Suleyman I. This courtyard is surrounded by the former palace hospital, bakery, Janissary quarters,
stables, the imperial harem and Divan to the north and the
kitchens to the south. At the end of the courtyard, the Gate of Felicity marks
the entrance to the Third Courtyard. The whole area is unified by a continuous
marble colonnade, creating an ensemble.
The
Gate of Felicity (Bâbüssaâde or Bab-üs Saadet) is the entrance into
the Inner Court (Enderûn), also known as the Third Courtyard, marking the
border to the Outer Court or Birûn. The Third Courtyard comprises the
private and residential areas of the palace. The gate has a dome supported by
lean marble pillars. It represents the presence of the Sultan in the palace. No
one could pass this gate without the authority of the Sultan. Even the Grand
Vizier was only granted authorisation on specified days and under specified
conditions.
Beyond the
Gate of Felicity is the Third Courtyard (III. Avlu), also called the Inner Palace
(Enderûn Avlusu), which is the heart of the palace, where the sultan spent his
days outside the harem. It is a lush garden surrounded by the Hall of the
Privy Chamber (Has Oda) occupied by the palace officials, the treasury (which
contains some of the most important treasures of the Ottoman age, including the
Ottoman miniatures, the Sacred Trusts), the Harem and some pavilions, with
the library of Ahmed III in the center. Entry to the Third Courtyard
was strictly regulated and off-limits to outsiders.
The Imperial
Harem (Harem-i Hümayûn) occupied one of the sections of the private
apartments of the sultan; it contained more than 400 rooms. The harem was home
to the sultan's mother, the Valide Sultan; the concubines and
wives of the sultan; and the rest of his family, including children; and their
servants. The harem consists of a series of buildings and structures,
connected through hallways and courtyards. Every service team and hierarchical
group residing in the harem had its own living space clustered around a
courtyard. The number of rooms is not determined, with probably over 100, of
which only a few are open to the public. These apartments (Daires) were
occupied respectively by the harem eunuchs, the Chief Harem Eunuch (Darüssaade
Ağası), the concubines, the queen mother, the sultan's consorts, the princes
and the favourites. There was no trespassing beyond the gates of the harem,
except for the sultan, the queen mother, the sultan's consorts and favourites,
the princes and the concubines as well as the eunuchs guarding the harem.
