The historical Topkapi Palace is the largest and one of the most famous tourist attractions in Istanbul, Turkey. This remarkable site was constructed sometime between 14666 and 1478 by Sultan Mehmed II, then ruler of the Ottoman Empire who, according to historians, conquered Constantinople at the age of 21. The Topkapi Palace became the principal and legitimate residence of the ruler and was the venue of various royal entertainments and state occasions during the reign of the Ottoman Sultans who succeeded its founder.
Being a current major tourist attraction and the site of Prophet Muhammed’s possessions such as his cloak and word, as well as all the other holy relics of the Muslim world, I believe it to be a very special place and a site to be proud of; for it tells the world of our history, of how our forefathers fought with their enemies with great courage and dignity, and how our civilization came to existence and began to flourish over the years.
The Location of the Palace
Topkapi Palace was built on a high hill which happened to be the highest point in the peninsula. The exact location of the palace complex is on the Seraglio Point, an area overlooking the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn.
The initial construction of the palace was said to have begun sometime in 1459, after Sultan Mehmed II found the perfect location in the old Byzantine acropolis. Topkapi Palace was originally called The New Palace, as a means of distinction from the former residence of the Sultan; but it later acquired the name Topkapi, meaning Gate of Cannons, because of the gigantic cannons displayed outside its gates; these cannons were the ones used during the conquest.
The Palace Layouts
It was Sultan Mehmed II who personally established the palace’s fundamental layouts, which then became the pattern of further extensions and renovations. He had his private quarters as well as the innermost buildings built on the highest area of the peninsula, and had them surrounded by various pavilions and buildings down towards the Bosphorus shores. The palace complex was surrounded by high walls wherein some were as old as the Byzantine acropolis.
According to a Greek politician, scholar and historian named Michael Cristobulus, who was an author of a historical book about the conquest of the Byzantine Empire by the Ottoman, the Sultan [...] took care to summon the very best workmen from everywhere - masons and stonecutters and carpenters [...]. For he was constructing great edifices which were to be worth seeing and should in every respect vie with the greatest and best of the past. For this reason he needed to give them the most careful oversight as to workmen and materials of many kinds and the best quality, and he also was concerned with the very many and great expenses and outlays." (Necipoğlu, 1991).
The Inhabitants of the Palace
Over the years, the residents of the palace grew from the initial member of 700-800 residents, the population increased to approximately 5,000 during ordinary days and doubled to around 10, 000 during the times of the festivals. Majority of the population inhabiting the palace complex were those of the Sultan’s infantry units which consisted of his bodyguards and household troops, otherwise known as the Janissaries or new soldiers.
For the past 400 years, every sultan who had the opportunity to reign at the palace added and extension or had a renovation worked on, in accordance with his preferences and needs. The palace then became somewhat similar to a maze of structures which had on its center a series of courtyards which in turn were protected by gates.
Among the changes made over the years was the transfer of the Harem – an apartment complex where the sultan’s wives, concubines as well as his children lived the place was guarded by black eunuchs and inside it were the rooms for the sultan’s mother, his wives, Turkish baths, the sultan’s apartments, \the black eunuch chief’s apartments and the circumcision room.
The Palace Gates and Courtyards
The first gate known as the Imperial Gate was the one leading to the first courtyard known as the Courtyard of the Regiments. This courtyard was located at the southern part of the palace complex and was the most accessible of all the four courtyards. Being the most accessible, anyone could enter this courtyard but they would have to do it on foot, since only the sultan was entitled to enter the area riding a horse.
The second gate was called the Gate of Salutation. It had two guard towers. Such name was given to this gate since anyone who would be entering it would have to salute the sultan. It was not, however, for public access, but only for the sultan and the inhabitants of the palace. This gate was leading to the Courtyard of the Divan or the Council Chamber which served as the reception area for foreign visitors and as conference area where both the grand viziers and the viziers discussed daily issues.
Also located in the said courtyard was the treasury of the Divan, where the weapon during those times were being exhibited; above it was the Tower of Justice, which symbolized the sultan’s eternal vigil against prejudice; it was also where the surveillance of the harbor was being done. In the same area, just behind the Divan chamber was the door leading to the Harem.
The third gate was called the Gate of Felicity. This gate served as the entrance to the inner or third courtyard which comprised the palace’s residential and private areas. The gate having a dome supported by lean pillars made of marbles represented the presence of the sultan in the entire palace.
The sultan had the sole authority to permit the entry of anyone who wished to pass this gate and the authorization was being given under specific days and conditions.
Among the structures that were located at t third courtyard were the following:
The Audience Chamber, an Ottoman kiosk also known as the Inner Council Hall, as contrary to the second courtyard’s outer Imperial Hall. This was where the viziers presented their individual reports to the sultan where and the place where their fates would be sealed depending on the sultan’s satisfaction or dissatisfaction toward the news that they brought to him;
· Dormitory of the Expeditionary Force;
· Conqueror’s Pavilion;
· Imperial Treasury and may others
The fourth courtyard, otherwise known as the Imperial Sofa, consisted of several pavilions, gardens and terraces and kiosks and served as the sultan and his family’s private sanctuary.
Topkapi Palace is still in existence today, telling of the past and showing its beauty and grandeur to everyone who wishes to discover the beauty of our heritage. It is something to be proud of, something to tell about to the generations to come.
Bibliography
Cesari, M. (1988) Late-Ottoman architects and master builders. Muqarnas. Vol 5. pp. 87-102. BRILL. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1523112 Accessed May 10, 2011.
Filiz, Ç. & Tanini, Z. (1996). Remarks on some manuscripts from the Topkapi palace treasury in the context of Ottoman-Safavid relations. Muqarnas. Vol 13. pp. 132-148. BRILL. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1523256 Accessed May 10, 2011.
History of Topkapi Palace. http://www.topkapisarayi.com.tr/ Retrieved on May 11, 2011
Kuran, A. (1996). A spatial study of three ottoman capitals: Bursa, Edirne, and Istanbul. Muqarnas. Vol 13. pp. 114-131. BRILL. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1523255 Accessed May 10, 2011.
Necipoğlu, G. (1991). Architecture, ceremonial, and power: The Topkapi Palace in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press. p.8.
Topkapi Palace. http://www.greatistanbul.com/topkapi_
Being a current major tourist attraction and the site of Prophet Muhammed’s possessions such as his cloak and word, as well as all the other holy relics of the Muslim world, I believe it to be a very special place and a site to be proud of; for it tells the world of our history, of how our forefathers fought with their enemies with great courage and dignity, and how our civilization came to existence and began to flourish over the years.
The Location of the Palace
Topkapi Palace was built on a high hill which happened to be the highest point in the peninsula. The exact location of the palace complex is on the Seraglio Point, an area overlooking the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn.
The initial construction of the palace was said to have begun sometime in 1459, after Sultan Mehmed II found the perfect location in the old Byzantine acropolis. Topkapi Palace was originally called The New Palace, as a means of distinction from the former residence of the Sultan; but it later acquired the name Topkapi, meaning Gate of Cannons, because of the gigantic cannons displayed outside its gates; these cannons were the ones used during the conquest.
The Palace Layouts
It was Sultan Mehmed II who personally established the palace’s fundamental layouts, which then became the pattern of further extensions and renovations. He had his private quarters as well as the innermost buildings built on the highest area of the peninsula, and had them surrounded by various pavilions and buildings down towards the Bosphorus shores. The palace complex was surrounded by high walls wherein some were as old as the Byzantine acropolis.
According to a Greek politician, scholar and historian named Michael Cristobulus, who was an author of a historical book about the conquest of the Byzantine Empire by the Ottoman, the Sultan [...] took care to summon the very best workmen from everywhere - masons and stonecutters and carpenters [...]. For he was constructing great edifices which were to be worth seeing and should in every respect vie with the greatest and best of the past. For this reason he needed to give them the most careful oversight as to workmen and materials of many kinds and the best quality, and he also was concerned with the very many and great expenses and outlays." (Necipoğlu, 1991).
The Inhabitants of the Palace
Over the years, the residents of the palace grew from the initial member of 700-800 residents, the population increased to approximately 5,000 during ordinary days and doubled to around 10, 000 during the times of the festivals. Majority of the population inhabiting the palace complex were those of the Sultan’s infantry units which consisted of his bodyguards and household troops, otherwise known as the Janissaries or new soldiers.
For the past 400 years, every sultan who had the opportunity to reign at the palace added and extension or had a renovation worked on, in accordance with his preferences and needs. The palace then became somewhat similar to a maze of structures which had on its center a series of courtyards which in turn were protected by gates.
Among the changes made over the years was the transfer of the Harem – an apartment complex where the sultan’s wives, concubines as well as his children lived the place was guarded by black eunuchs and inside it were the rooms for the sultan’s mother, his wives, Turkish baths, the sultan’s apartments, \the black eunuch chief’s apartments and the circumcision room.
The Palace Gates and Courtyards
The first gate known as the Imperial Gate was the one leading to the first courtyard known as the Courtyard of the Regiments. This courtyard was located at the southern part of the palace complex and was the most accessible of all the four courtyards. Being the most accessible, anyone could enter this courtyard but they would have to do it on foot, since only the sultan was entitled to enter the area riding a horse.
The second gate was called the Gate of Salutation. It had two guard towers. Such name was given to this gate since anyone who would be entering it would have to salute the sultan. It was not, however, for public access, but only for the sultan and the inhabitants of the palace. This gate was leading to the Courtyard of the Divan or the Council Chamber which served as the reception area for foreign visitors and as conference area where both the grand viziers and the viziers discussed daily issues.
Also located in the said courtyard was the treasury of the Divan, where the weapon during those times were being exhibited; above it was the Tower of Justice, which symbolized the sultan’s eternal vigil against prejudice; it was also where the surveillance of the harbor was being done. In the same area, just behind the Divan chamber was the door leading to the Harem.
The third gate was called the Gate of Felicity. This gate served as the entrance to the inner or third courtyard which comprised the palace’s residential and private areas. The gate having a dome supported by lean pillars made of marbles represented the presence of the sultan in the entire palace.
The sultan had the sole authority to permit the entry of anyone who wished to pass this gate and the authorization was being given under specific days and conditions.
Among the structures that were located at t third courtyard were the following:
The Audience Chamber, an Ottoman kiosk also known as the Inner Council Hall, as contrary to the second courtyard’s outer Imperial Hall. This was where the viziers presented their individual reports to the sultan where and the place where their fates would be sealed depending on the sultan’s satisfaction or dissatisfaction toward the news that they brought to him;
· Dormitory of the Expeditionary Force;
· Conqueror’s Pavilion;
· Imperial Treasury and may others
The fourth courtyard, otherwise known as the Imperial Sofa, consisted of several pavilions, gardens and terraces and kiosks and served as the sultan and his family’s private sanctuary.
Topkapi Palace is still in existence today, telling of the past and showing its beauty and grandeur to everyone who wishes to discover the beauty of our heritage. It is something to be proud of, something to tell about to the generations to come.
Bibliography
Cesari, M. (1988) Late-Ottoman architects and master builders. Muqarnas. Vol 5. pp. 87-102. BRILL. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1523112 Accessed May 10, 2011.
Filiz, Ç. & Tanini, Z. (1996). Remarks on some manuscripts from the Topkapi palace treasury in the context of Ottoman-Safavid relations. Muqarnas. Vol 13. pp. 132-148. BRILL. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1523256 Accessed May 10, 2011.
History of Topkapi Palace. http://www.topkapisarayi.com.tr/ Retrieved on May 11, 2011
Kuran, A. (1996). A spatial study of three ottoman capitals: Bursa, Edirne, and Istanbul. Muqarnas. Vol 13. pp. 114-131. BRILL. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1523255 Accessed May 10, 2011.
Necipoğlu, G. (1991). Architecture, ceremonial, and power: The Topkapi Palace in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press. p.8.
Topkapi Palace. http://www.greatistanbul.com/topkapi_
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