Topkapı Palace This article is about the Turkish palace. For the 1964 cludes many fine examples of Ottoman architecture. It film, see Topkapi (film). contains large collections of porcelain, robes, weapons, shields, armor, Ottoman miniatures, Islamic calligraphic The Topkapı Palace (Turkish: Topkapı Sarayı[2] manuscripts and murals, as well as a display of Ottoman treasures and jewelry. or the Seraglio[3] is a (طوپقاپو سرايى :or in Ottoman large palace in Istanbul, Turkey, that was one of the major residences of the Ottoman sultans for almost 400 years (1465–1856) of their 624-year reign.[4] 1 Name As well as a royal residence, the palace was a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments. It is now a mu- The name of the palace was Saray-i Cedid-i Amire Imperial New Palace) until ,سراى جديد عامره :Ottoman) seum and as such a major tourist attraction. It also con- [7] tains important holy relics of the Muslim world, including 18th century. The palace received its current name dur- Muhammed’s cloak and sword.[4] The Topkapı Palace is ing Mahmud I's reign when the seaside palace, Topkapusu Sâhil Sarâyı (Cannon Gate Palace by the Sea) was de- among the monuments contained within the "Historic Ar- [8] eas of Istanbul", which became a UNESCO World Her- stroyed in a fire, its name was transferred to the Palace. In Turkish current name of the palace, Topkapı means itage Site in 1985, and is described under UNESCO’s cri- [9] terion iv as “the best example[s] of ensembles of palaces Cannon gate. [...] of the Ottoman period.”[5] The palace complex consists of four main courtyards and 2 History many smaller buildings. At its peak, the palace was home to as many as 4,000 people,[4] and covered a large area with a long shoreline. It contained mosques, a hospital, 2.1 Site bakeries, and a mint.[4] Construction began in 1459, or- dered by Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Byzantine Constantinople. It was originally called the New Palace (Yeni Saray) to distinguish it from the previous residence. It received the name "Topkapı" (Cannon Gate[6]) in the 19th century, after a (now lost) gate and shore pavilion. The complex was expanded over the centuries, with ma- jor renovations after the 1509 earthquake and the 1665 fire. After the 17th century, the Topkapı Palace gradually lost its importance as the sultans preferred to spend more time in their new palaces along the Bosphorus. In 1856, Sultan Abdül Mecid I decided to move the court to the newly built Dolmabahçe Palace, the first European-style palace in the city. Some functions, such as the imperial treasury, the library, and the mint, were retained in the Topkapı Byzantine remains in the Second Courtyard. Palace. The palace complex is located on the Seraglio Point Following the end of the Ottoman Empire in 1923, Top- (Sarayburnu), a promontory overlooking the Golden kapı Palace was transformed by a government decree Horn and the Sea of Marmara, with a good view of the dated April 3, 1924, into a museum of the imperial Bosphorus from many points of the palace. The site is era. The Topkapı Palace Museum is administered by hilly and one of the highest points close to the sea. During the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The palace com- Greek and Byzantine times, the acropolis of the ancient plex has hundreds of rooms and chambers, but only the Greek city of Byzantion stood here. There is an under- most important are accessible to the public today. The ground Byzantine cistern located in the Second Court- complex is guarded by officials of the ministry as well yard, which was used throughout Ottoman times, as well as armed guards of the Turkish military. The palace in- as remains of a small church, the so-called Palace Basilica 1 2 2 HISTORY on the acropolis, which have been excavated in modern times. The nearby Church of Hagia Eirene, though lo- cated in the First Courtyard, is not considered a part of the old Byzantine acropolis. 2.2 Initial construction Scale model of Seraglio Point with the Topkapı Palace complex Scale model of the inner part of the palace (2nd-4th courtyards) contemporary historian Critobulus of Imbros the sultan also Sultan Mehmed II ordered the initial construction around the 1460s ... took care to summon the very best work- After the Ottoman conquest in 1453, Sultan Mehmed men from everywhere - masons and stonecut- II found the imperial Byzantine Great Palace of Con- ters and carpenters ... For he was construct- stantinople largely in ruins.[10] The Ottoman court ini- ing great edifices which were to be worth see- tially set itself up in the Old Palace (Eski Saray), today ing and should in every respect vie with the the site of Istanbul University. The Sultan then searched greatest and best of the past. For this rea- for a better location and chose the old Byzantine acropo- son he needed to give them the most careful lis, ordering the construction of a new palace in 1459. oversight as to workmen and materials of many kinds and the best quality, and he also was con- cerned with the very many and great expenses [12] 2.3 Layout and outlays. Sultan Mehmed II established the basic layout of the Accounts differ as to when construction of the inner core palace. He used the highest point of the promontory for of the palace started and was finished. Kritovolous gives [11] the dates 1459-1465; other sources suggest a finishing his private quarters and innermost buildings. Various [13] buildings and pavilions surrounded the innermost core date in the late 1460s. and grew down the promontory towards the shores of the Unlike some other royal residences that had strict mas- Bosphorus. The whole complex was surrounded by high ter plans, such as Schönbrunn Palace or the Palace of walls, some of which date back to the Byzantine acropo- Versailles, Topkapı Palace developed over the course of lis. This basic layout governed the pattern of future ren- centuries, with sultans adding and changing various struc- ovations and extensions. According to an account of the tures and elements. The resulting asymmetry is the result 2.4 Function 3 The palace is an extensive complex rather than a single monolithic structure, with an assortment of low buildings constructed around courtyards, interconnected with gal- leries and passages. Few of the buildings exceed two sto- ries. Interspersed are trees, gardens and water fountains, to give a refreshing feeling to the inhabitants and to pro- vide places to rest. The buildings enclosed the courtyards, and life revolved around them. Doors and windows face the courtyard to create an open atmosphere and provide cool air during hot summers. The palace compound, seen from above, is a rough rect- angle, divided into four main courtyards and the harem. The main axis is from south to north, the outermost (first) courtyard starting at the south, with each succes- sive courtyard leading north. The first courtyard was the most accessible one, while the innermost (fourth) court- yard and the harem were the most inaccessible, being the sole private domain of the sultan. The fifth courtyard was in reality the outermost rim of the palace grounds border- ing the sea. Access to these courtyards was restricted by high walls and controlled with gates. Apart from the four to five main courtyards, various other small to mid-sized courtyards exist throughout the complex. The total size of Overview map of the courtyards the complex varies from around 592,600 square meters (146.4acres)[16] to 700,000 square meters (172.9acres), depending on which parts are counted.[17] 51 28 Basketmakers’ Kiosk (foreground), Topkapı Palace in the back. Layout of the 2nd-4th courtyards (plan of the harem appears The southern and western sides border the large former separately later in the article) imperial flower park, today Gülhane Park. Surrounding the palace compound on the southern and eastern side is the Sea of Marmara. Various related buildings such as small summer palaces (kasrı), pavilions, kiosks (köşkü) of this erratic growth and change over time,[14] although and other structures for royal pleasures and functions for- the main layout by Mehmed II was preserved. Most of merly existed at the shore in an area known as the Fifth the changes occurred during the reign of Sultan Suleyman Place, but have disappeared over time due to neglect and from 1520 to 1560. With the rapid expansion of the Ot- the construction of the shoreline railroad in the 19th cen- toman Empire, Suleyman wanted its growing power and tury. The last remaining seashore structure that still exists glory to be reflected in his residence, and new buildings today is the Basketmakers’ Kiosk, constructed in 1592 by were constructed or enlarged. The chief architect in this Sultan Murad III. The total area of Topkapı Palace was period was the Persian Alaüddin, also known as Acem in fact much larger than what it is today. Ali.[15] He was also responsible for the expansion of the Harem. In 1574, a great fire destroyed the kitchens. Sinan was 2.4 Function entrusted by Sultan Selim II to rebuild the destroyed parts, which he did, expanding them, as well as the Topkapı Palace was the main residence of the sultan and Harem, baths, the Privy Chamber and various shoreline his court. It was initially the seat of government as well pavilions.[15] By the end of the 16th century, the palace as the imperial residence. Even though access was strictly had acquired its present appearance.