Topkapi Palace

Topkap Palace (in Turkish Topkap Saraya .

Plan included with the audio guide

Topkap Palace and the Golden Horn as seen from Galata

Model of the inner core of the palace (from the Second Court)

History and design of the palace

Ancient Greek site

Byzantine remains in the Second Court

The palace is located on the "tip of the Serail" (Sarayburnu), a promontory overlooking the Golden Horn and the Marmara Sea , with many points of view on the Bosphorus. This height that controls the strait was the acropolis of the ancient Greek city of Byzantium. A tank Byzantine in the second courtyard, was used throughout the Ottoman period. Excavations have been conducted, as well as the remains of a small church called Basilica of the palace. " The church of St. Irene , although situated in the first courtyard, is not considered part of the old Byzantine acropolis.

After the Ottoman conquest and the Fall of Constantinople in 1453, Sultan Mehmed II found the Grand Palais Imperial Byzantine Constantinople largely ruined .

The Ottoman Court settled first in the "Old Palace (Eski Saraya) (which will become the ^twentieth century the site of the Istanbul University ). The sultan is looking for a better location and chose the old Byzantine acropolis. He ordered in 1459 to build a "New Palace (Yeni Saraya). It receives the name of Topkap that ^nineteenth century.

The basic plan

Model of the Seraglio Point, with the palace complex of Topkap.

Sultan Mehmed II himself creates the basic layout of the palace. He chose the highest point of the headland to its apartments . It is from this core private start to edify the other pavilions, from the promontory to the shores of the Bosphorus. The entire complex is surrounded by high walls, some dating back to the Acropolis Byzantine. This basic pattern continues to govern future renovations and extensions.

According to the testimony of the contemporary historian Kritovolous Imbros , the Sultan:

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Unlike other royal residences have strict plans (such as Schnbrunn Palace or the Palace of Versailles ), Topkap Palace develops over the centuries, with additions and changes made by various sultans. The asymmetry of the overall result of this erratic growth and accumulation of these changes , although the project of Mehmed II was always preserved.

Most changes take place during the reign of Sultan Suleiman in the years 1520 - 1560. With the rapid expansion of the Ottoman Empire , Suleiman wants his residence is a reflection of his power and glory. New buildings are built or expanded, under the responsibility of the chief architect of this period, Persian Alauddin, also known under the name Ali Acem . He is also responsible for expanding the harem.

In 1574 , when a great fire destroyed the kitchen, Sinan was entrusted by Sultan Selim II of the reconstruction of the destroyed parts, it enlarges, and the Harem, baths, private lounge and various pavilions schedules . At the end of the sixteenth ^century, the palace acquired its present appearance.

Map Topkapi Palace
A. B Former first court gardens, near the wall along the Sea of Marmara C. Fifth court, now part of the Glhane Park, extending to the Golden Horn in D Seraglio. Ancient gardens, today Glhane Park, extending to the railway line E. Level where the Pavilion of tiles and other museums.
1) Fountain Executioner 2) Middle Gate, entrance to the museum 3) Second Court 4) Selam or stone welcome 5) Summit Byzantine cistern 6) Old Well 7) Fountain 8) Gate Death 9) Mosque of Haci Aga Beir 10) Gate of the mosque 11) Exterior Door of Death 12) Imperial Stables 13) Shared halberdiers braid 14) Terrace 15) Arcades with ancient inscriptions 16) Carriage Gate, to the harem 17) Imperial Council Chamber 18) House Scribes 19) House of the Grand Vizier 20) Imperial Treasury 21) Pierre target 22) Monument to Sukhum 23) Door to pumps Palace 23a) Pumps 24) Kitchen sultans, princes and validated Sultana 26) Kitchen Women's harem 27) Kitchen sentinels 28) Kitchen of the couch 29) Kitchen 30 pages ) Cuisine servants 31) Food for the harem women 32) Cooking for civil servants of the couch, part of the pastry and coffee maker 33) Mosque cooks 34) Dormitory of the young cooks and dishwashers 35) foundry tin 36) area used by the servants of the kitchen 37) Gate of Felicity 38) Third Court 39) Courtroom 40) Library of Ahmed III 41) Precincts white eunuchs 42 ) Aviary Gate 43) Private Kitchen Sultan 44) Street marble mantle sacred flag to the throne room 45) 46 Agas Mosque) Mosque of the Harem 47) Chapel 48) Shared pages the sacred vault 49) sacred Vault 50) Hall of scarf 51) Pavilion sacred mantle 51a) Antechamber of sacred vault 51b) of the sacred cloak room 52) Pierre where the sultan stopped 53) Fountain 54) Treasury sacred relics (formerly Treasury armor) 55) Dormitory of the pages of treasure 56) Dormitory of pages of police 57) Subway from the third to the fourth courtyard 58) Treasury Imperial 59) Dormitory of royal pages 60) Conservatory 61) Precincts white eunuchs 62) Pillared Corridor 63) Gateway to the Harem and the golden road 64) Hall of circumcisions 65) Pavilion Yerevan 66) Fourth Court (Tulip Garden) 67) Fontaine stage 68) with jets on the pool terrace 69) Marble Terrace 70) Garden Iftariye 71) Porte des elephants or garden 72) Flag of Baghdad 73) Flag on the terrace and pavilion Mustafa Pasha 74) Hall of senior physician 75) Garden of the fourth court 76) Door of private gardens, linking the fourth and the fifth court, now part of Gulhane Park 77) Gurites 78) Grand Pavilion 79) Mosque on the terrace 80) Wardrobe 81) Pool carved marine themes.

The palace is a vast complex consisting of a set of low-rise buildings arranged around courtyards and connected by tunnels and passages. The buildings do not exceed two storeys. They are dotted with trees, gardens and fountains. Life was organized around these buildings and these courses in an open atmosphere and pleasantly cool in summer.

The palace, seen from the sky, form a rectangle roughly divided between the four large courtyards and the harem. The main axis runs from south to north, starting from the first court and joining the others successively northward. The first court was the most accessible, while the later (fourth) and the courtyard of the harem were the most secretive, the only area of the Sultan. The fifth courtyard is on the edge of the outer palace on land near the shore. Access to these courses is limited by high walls and controlled by gates. Besides the four or five main courses, many other courses, medium or small, are scattered throughout the complex. The set covers an area ranging from 592 to 600 square meters and 700 000 square meters, according to the factors taken into account .

Vanniers booth in the foreground, before the palace

The south and west sides are bordered by the park's floral Sultan, nowadays the "Gulhane Park. South and east lies the Sea of Marmara. Various ancillary buildings such as small summer palace (Kasr), pavilions, kiosks (kk) and other structures for the approval and administration once existed on the shore in the area called "fifth place". They disappeared over time, neglected, or removed during construction of the line coastal railway in the nineteenth ^century. A final stand still by the sea: the "booth Vanniers (Sepetiler Kasr), built in 1592 by Sultan Murad III. All this explains why the total area of the Topkap Palace was more important than today.

Functions and Organization

Topkap Palace was the residence of the sultan and his court, he was also the official seat of government. Access is strictly regulated, but its inhabitants had rarely get out, because the palace was virtually autonomous, a city within a city. Courtrooms and conference areas were also used to questions related to the political administration of the empire. For residents like the hosts, the palace had its own water supply through tankers and large kitchens provided meals. The court had dormitories, gardens, libraries, schools, even mosques.

A ceremony was very strict monitoring to ensure the segregation of the ruler of the world . The principle of this isolation is certainly a legacy imperial traditions of the Byzantine court. It was codified by Mehmed II in 1477 and 1481 in the code Kanunname, which governed the precedence of court officials, the administrative hierarchy and protocol issues . This principle of isolation, which has only increased, resulting in the style and arrangement of rooms and buildings. The architects made sure that even in the palace, the sultan and his family can benefit from maximum privacy, which led to the use of screened windows and countless secret passages .

The door to door or Augustus Imperial

The door of Augustus (Bab-i Humayun)

The main street leading to the palace is the Mese ( , lit. "Rue du Milieu"), Byzantine processional route today Divan Yolu (Street of the Council). The Mese was used for processions, as in the Byzantine period and during the Ottoman era. It led directly to the Hagia Sophia , then turned north-west to reach the palace entrance marked by the Fountain of Ahmed III ( 1728 ).

The sultan entered the palace through the gate or door of the August Imperial ( Arabic : Bab-i Humayun or Latin : Porta Augusta), also called gate of the Sultan (Turkish: Saltanat Kapisa), located south of the palace .

This huge gate, dating from 1478 , was covered with marble in the nineteenth ^century. The massive appearance of this gate accentuates its defensive character. Its central arch leads to a passage above. A calligraphy Ottoman gold lettering adorns the top of the structure, with verses from the Koran and tughra sultans. Two tughra are identified: that of Mehmed II and that of Sultan Abdulaziz , who renovated the gate. . On either side of the room, there are coins to house the guards. The door was open from morning prayer until the last evening prayer.

According to ancient documents, there was a wooden shelter over the door until the second half of the nineteenth ^century . It was first used as a pavilion by Mehmed, later as a deposit for the property of those who came to die without heirs to the palace. He also served as a vantage point for the women of the harem on special occasions .

Church of St. Irene , the first court

The imperial currency (Darphane i-Amir)

The door of Augustus gives access to the first court.

First Courtyard

The first court (I. Avlu or Alay Meydani) extends to the tip of the Serail, and is surrounded by high walls . The first courtyard is the greatest of all and works like an external enclosure .

The structures that remain today are the ancient imperial currency (Darphane i-Amir), built in 1727 , the church of St. Irene and various fountains. The Byzantine church Hagia Irene was never destroyed by the Ottomans. She survived the conquest, and served as a warehouse and imperial arsenal .

This court is also called "court of Janissaries "or" court of Parades. " Visitors entering the palace followed the path to the door of the Hi and the second courtyard of the palace. Officials of the Court and the Janissaries were waiting, dressed in their finest clothes. The visitors had to leave their horses to pass the second door .

Middle Gate or door Hi

The door of Hi (Bab-s Selam), entered the second court

The great "door Hi" (Arabic: or "gate of Mean" (Turkish: leads to the palace and the second court. She is flanked by two crenellated towers orthogonal. Its construction date is uncertain, because the architecture of the towers is rather Byzantine and Ottoman influence. She was able to draw on the door of St. Barbara, which marked the entrance to the gardens of the Imperial Palace on the side of the Bosphorus . An inscription on the door makes up at least to 1542, that is to say, the reign of Mehmed II. A miniature from 1584 shows a structure with three windows with a roof between the towers above the arc , probably a guard room disappeared since . The gate is richly decorated on both sides and the upper part with religious inscriptions and monograms of sultans.

Apart from officials and foreign dignitaries, nobody was allowed to pass through that door. Only the sultan could pass it on horseback . This tradition dates back to the Chalk (bronze doors) of the Grand Palais Byzantine.

The Fountain of the Executioner is on the right side of the door of the Environment: is where the executioner , they say, was washing his hands and his sword after a decapitation .

Second courtyard

Panoramic view of the palace kitchens of the second court

The second court, with the kitchen on the right

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Selim III hearing before the door of Bliss.

By the middle door, the visitor enters the second courtyard (II. Avlu), or place of the Council (Divan Meydani), a gathering place for courtiers . Only the Sultan could cross it on horseback, the black pebble walkways leading to the third courtyard.

The second court had to be completed around 1465, during the reign of Mehmed II , but took its final appearance until about 1525-1529 .

This court is surrounded by the former palace hospital, bakery, Janissary quarters, stables, the imperial harem and the Council (Divan) in the north and south through the kitchen. At bottom is the third door or gate of Bliss leading to the third court. The set finds its unity in a continuous marble colonnade.

Recent excavations have revealed a number of artifacts from the Roman and Byzantine: a sarcophagus , baptismal fonts, pilasters and parapet panels, as well as capitals, exposed to the kitchens. The tank located under the second courtyard dates back to Byzantine times. It is normally closed to the public.

The second court was essentially used by the sultan to dispense justice. It was therefore designed to impress visitors. Austrian ambassadors, Venetian, French have left accounts of their visits. The ambassador Philippe du Fresne-Canaye received by the sultan in 1573, tells the alignment of the Janissaries on the wall, their turbans as ears of corn, hands clasped in front of them, like monks, remaining motionless and silent during more than seven hours, as statues .

This discipline and protocol severe combined to the majestic appearance of this second court.

Car Museum

Some cars imperial

A car museum is housed imperial north-east, in the former stables. It is a low-rise building, covered with a roof, not a dome like almost everywhere else in the palace. Many cars were destroyed in a fire in the late nineteenth ^century. There are still coaches and light cars that belonged to the Sultans, the queen mothers and characters of the court. Some of these cars were imported from abroad.

Cuisines of the palace

The kitchens of the palace and tall chimneys

Cuisines of the exhibition palace and bronze utensils

Palace Kitchen: Chinese ceramics in blue and white

Celadon the time Yuan , Topkap Museum

The huge kitchen is an essential part of the palace. Some of them were built in the ^fifteenth century , at the same time as the palace itself, similar to those of the sultan's palace at Adrianople ( Edirne ). They were enlarged in the reign of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent but burned in 1574. She was raised and brought into fashion by the court architect Mimar Sinan .

Restored to the plans of Sinan , they are organized in two rows of twenty large and bristling chimneys and high octagonal added by Sinan. The kitchens are served by alleys that crisscross the space between the second courtyard and the Sea of Marmara. The entrance to this section is through the three gates of the portico of the second court, the door of the Imperial Commissioner, the imperial kitchen and the pastry.

The kitchens were composed of ten sections covered cupolas specialized kitchen imperial palace school (Enderun), women's quarters (Harem) services outside the palace (Biruni), kitchen, mixing drinks, pastries, dairy, storage rooms and reserved for the cooks. They were the greatest of the Ottoman Empire.

Meals for the Sultan, the inhabitants of the harem, members of the department inside and outside the palace (Enderun and Biruni) were prepared: there was therefore the kitchen for about 4000 people. They did not employ less than eight hundred people, and a thousand on holidays.

The service of the sultan was resolved by a strict protocol. According to the testimony of Baron Wenceslas Wratislaw, Ambassador of Austria, invited by the Sultan to a private banquet in 1599, there were no fewer than five hundred servants in livery of red silk, wearing headgear similar to those of the Janissaries. When it came time for dinner, the superintendent brought in a porcelain dish and another covered dish, he passed to the server nearest to one third, and so on until one who was closest to Sultan's apartment. Here, again, other chamberlains cut out meat that were hastily brought in more quickly, without any noise or speech, to the table of the Emperor .

The kitchens also had dormitories, baths and mosques for employees. These facilities have now disappeared .

In addition to an interesting exhibition of kitchen utensils, buildings now house collections of silver, and especially of Chinese porcelain blue and white, white and celadon.

Collections and celadon porcelain

The Chinese ceramics arrived by caravan or by sea 10 700 pieces on display here, Chinese, Japanese, Turkish, are among the rarest and most valuable . They represent every era since the Middle Ages end of the Song (XIII ^century) and Yuan (1280-1368), Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1912). The museum also one of the richest collections in the world Celadon Longquan (XIV ^century), also including 3000 pieces of celadon Yuan and Ming . Those celadon were particularly popular with the Sultan and Sultana Valide (queen mother) because they were reputed to change color if the food and beverage they contained were poisoned .

Japanese porcelain is mainly of Imari porcelain , dating from the seventeenth ^to the nineteenth ^century. Some parts of the collection are also of white porcelain from the early ^fifteenth century, "imitation" of blue and white porcelain and Imari arising in Annam , Thailand and Persia .

Stables

Located on the other side of the court, about 5 or 6 feet below ground level, the imperial stables (Istable-i Amir) include private stables (Has Ahir) which are kept large collections of harnesses ( Raht Hazinesi). They were constructed under Mehmed II and renovated under Suleyman. It also shows the small mosque of XVIII ^century and baths Beir Aga (Aga Camii ve Beir Hamam), the chief eunuch black Mahmud I. .

Shared halberdiers

Following are the imperial stables, dormitories halberdiers braid (Zlfl Baltaclar Kouu). These quarters were used by a trades responsible for many tasks of daily living: wood supply room of the palace, cleaning and servicing of the harem and the city's male servants, arrangement of furniture and they were also masters of the functions ceremonies. The halberdiers wore long braids to mark their high position. The first mention of this corps date 1527 , when it was established to clear the roads before the military campaign.

The dormitory has been created in the fifteenth ^century and enlarged by the chief architect Davud Aa in 1587 during the reign of Sultan Murad III. The dorms are built around a courtyard in the traditional layout of an Ottoman house, with baths and a mosque, as well as recreation rooms, including a smokehouse. Outside and inside the complex, was found pious inscriptions on the various functions of halberdiers and maintenance of the various neighborhoods. Unlike the rest of the palace, the district halberdiers is constructed of wood, painted red and green .

The Imperial Council room or the Divan

Portico outside the hall of the Divan

Kubbealt, with the gold window on the right

Hearing of the Grand Vizier Ibrahim Pasha, by Jean-Baptiste van Mour , 1724

The Imperial Council Chamber or Divan (Divan-i Humayun) is the chamber in which gathered ministers of state, cabinet (Diwan Heyeti), the Imperial Council, consisting of the Grand Vizier (Paa Kapisa), viziers and other officials of the Ottoman state. It is also called Kubbealt, which means "under the dome," referring to the dome that covers the main hall of the council. It is located northwest of the court, next door to Bliss.

The first room of the Council back to the reign of Mehmed II , but the current building was built by Alseddin, Chief Architect of Suleyman the Magnificent. It has changed after the damage caused by the fire of the harem in 1665. And it was restored under the sultans Selim III and Mahmud II .

The place began to lose its importance in the eighteenth ^century, when the state administration was gradually transferred to the Sublime Porte (Bab- Ali), that is to say vizierate large, distinct from the palace A little further west. The last Council meeting in the palace was held August 30, 1876, when the firm (Vkela Heyeti) met to discuss the state of health of Murad V.

The Council Chamber has multiple entrances, inside the palace or from the court. The exterior faade is composed of pillars of marble and porphyry , with a green and white ceiling in gilded wood. The floor is tiled with marble. Entries in the room from outside are in the style rococo , gilded with grids that allow light to pass. While the pillars are old Ottoman style, the murals and decorations are the last rococo period. The interior of the Imperial Council consists of three adjacent rooms. Two of the three rooms of this building with a cupola on the open porch and yard. The Divanhane, built with a wooden porch at the corner of the square of the Divan (Divan Meydani) in the fifteenth ^century, was then used as a mosque board, but was demolished in 1916 .

1. The first domed chamber, where the Imperial Council held its deliberations is the Kubbealt.
2. The second room was occupied by the secretarial staff of the Imperial Divan.
3. In the third chamber called Defterhne, clerks kept the records and archives.

On the facade are inscribed with verses mentioning the restoration work carried out in 1792 and 1819, under Selim III and Mahmud II. Decorations rococo facade and the inside the Council Chamber date from this era. The main hall is decorated with tiles Kubbealt Ottoman Ktahya . Three long sofas on the sides were the seats for officials, with a small fireplace in the middle. The small golden ball hanging from the ceiling represents the earth. It is located opposite the sultan's window and he symbolizes justice must go to the world and the care he needs to keep his viziers ^, .

The discussions at Imperial Council focused on political affairs, religious and administrative functions. The sessions were held on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday after the morning prayer . They were paid according to a protocol immutable.

Council members, as the Grand Vizier, viziers, military leaders of the Muslim justice (Kazaskers) of Rumelia and Anatolia , the Finance Minister and the heads of the Treasury (defterdar), the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Reis -ul-Kuttab) and sometimes the general Mufti (Sheikh ul-Islam) met here to discuss and decide on affairs of state .

Other officials were authorized the secretaries of the Imperial Council (Niancilar), the holders of the imperial seal (Tugra), officials responsible for drafting the official protocols (Tezkereciler) and the clerks who recorded the decisions .

From the window at the golden gate, mentioned for the first time in 1527 , the Sultan or Sultana Valide could follow the proceedings of the Council without being noticed . The window could be reached from the imperial apartments in the Tower of Justice (Adalet Kulesi). When the Sultan gave a blow on the grill or toss a red curtain, the meeting ended and the viziers came one by one in the courtroom (Arz ODAS) report on discussions to the sovereign.

All the statesmen, with the exception of the Grand Vizier, performed their morning prayers in the Hagia Sophia and penetrated by the Imperial Gate according to their rank, then passing through the door of the chamber of Hi Divan, where they awaiting the arrival of the Grand Vizier.

The grand vizier was performing his prayers at home, and was accompanied to the palace by his own assistants. Upon arrival, they proceeded to a ceremony of welcome before opening the proceedings of the Imperial Divan, he approached the door and saluted Bliss, expressing his respects at the door of the residence of the Sultan. He entered the room and took place directly under the window or the Sultan, so the Council began. The affairs of state were generally discussed until noon, then the Council members were dining in the rooms before hearing the various motions .

All members of the Ottoman society, men and women of all faiths could be granted a hearing. An important ceremony was held to mark the first Imperial Council of each new Grand Vizier, and also to mark his presentation with the Imperial Seal (Muhr- Humayun). The most important ceremony took place every three months during treatment delivery (ulfe) of the Janissaries . The reception of foreign dignitaries was normally held on the same day, creating an opportunity to reflect the richness and power of the state. Ambassadors were then received by the Grand Vizier in the Council Chamber, where a banquet was held in their honor.

Tower of Justice

The Tower of Justice for the Second Court

The Tower of Justice (Adalet Kulesi) is located between the boardroom and the harem. Several stories high, it is the tallest structure in the palate and dominates the entire landscape from the Bosphorus. Its origin probably dates back to Mehmet II. It was renovated and enlarged by Suleiman I in 1527 - 1529 .

Sultan Mahmud II had rebuilt the lantern 1825 retaining the existing structure. The large windows engaged columns and pediment Renaissance architecture evoke Palladian .

The tower symbolized eternal vigilance of the sultan against injustice. Visible from afar, she reminded all present of the sovereign. It was also for him a vantage point where he could see the whole city and its straits. The latticed windows ensured the principle of imperial isolation. The tower gave access to the window Gold Council Chambers, adding to the symbolism of justice .

Imperial Treasury ("Treasury outside")

The former Imperial Treasury today houses the collection of weapons and armor.

The building in which are exposed arms and armor was one of the treasures of the palace (Divan-I Humayun Hazinesi / Hazine -Amir). Given that there is another treasure "inside" in the third courtyard, it is also known treasure "outside" (DIS Hazine) . We do not know the exact date of its construction, but its plan and construction technique indicate that probably dates to the late fifteenth ^century and the reign of Suleiman. He then underwent numerous alterations and renovations. It consists of a spacious stone and brick covered with eight domes , each 5 x 11.40 m. This treasury was used to finance the administration of the state. The kaftans given as gifts to the viziers, ambassadors and residents of the palace by the financial department and the Sultan, and other valuables, were also retained. It is also the treasure that the Janissaries received their quarterly salary uluefe called. The treasure was closed by the imperial seal entrusted to the grand vizier .

The exhibition of the collection of weapons and armor has been in place in this building in 1928, four years after the Topkap Palace had been converted into a museum.

Excavations in 1937 revealed, in front of the building, the remains of a Byzantine church building in ^the fifth century. It could not be identified as any known church on the site. Is denoted by the names "Basilica of the Topkap Palace" or "Church of the palace."

Outside the building treasure is also a target stone (Nisan Tasi) high of more than two meters, erected in commemoration of a shooting contest held under Selim III in 1790.

Weapons Collection

The arms collection (Silah Seksiyonu Sergi Salonu), which consists primarily of weapons remained in the palace at the time of his conversion, is one of the richest collections of weapons Islamic world, with pieces spanning over 1300 years, from ^seventh to the ^twentieth century. The collection of weapons and armor consists of original objects Ottoman conquest or from, or received as gifts.

Ottoman weapons form the bulk of the collection. But it also has many weapons Umayyad and Abbasid , as well as weapons, armor, helmets, swords and axes original Persian and Mamluk. Fewer weapons from Europe and Asia is the rest of the collection. Currently, the exhibition has some four hundred weapons, most of which bear inscriptions.

Gate of Felicity

The door of Bliss (Bbssade)

Mark for the banner of the Prophet

The gate of Felicity (Bab-s Bbssade or Saadet) is the entrance to the courtyard (Enderun), or third court, which began the private apartments of the sultan. The door is topped by a cupola supported by slender marble pillars. It marks the presence of the sultan in the palace : no one can pass that door without the permission of the sultan. Even the Grand Vizier was allowed to pass through the door according to schedules and well-specified conditions.

The gate was probably constructed under Mehmed II , during the fifteenth ^century. It was redecorated in the rococo style in 1774 by Mustafa III and Mahmud II. You can read above the door of the verses of the Koran, as well as Tugra. The ceiling is partly decorated with gold leaf, with a golden bull suspended in the center. The sides are adorned with baroque decorative elements and miniature landscapes.

The sultan appeared at the door and the place of the Divan Meydani that during ceremonies. The Sultan was sitting at the gate on his throne the Bayram religious holidays, while subjects were standing and officials . The funeral of the Sultans also stood outside the door.

On either side of the bar passage controlled by the chief eunuch of the harem, called Bbssade Agas, and staff placed under its responsibility extended neighborhoods of the eunuchs, and the rooms large and small, from school palace.

The small slab recessed in the ground outside the door, mark the place where the banner of Islam's prophet Muhammad was deployed. This banner was carried in a solemn ceremony at the Grand Vizier or the commander of armies going to war.

Third Court

The third courtyard shown in Hnername in 1584

Behind the door of Felicity is the Third Courtyard sometimes called the inner palace It is the heart of the palace where the sultan lived outside of the harem . It is a lush garden surrounded by the lobby of the private room (Has Oda) occupied by the palace officials, the treasure within (which contains some of the most important treasures of the Ottoman age, particularly the Sacred Relics ), the Harem and some pavilions, with the library of Ahmed III in the center. Entry into the third court was strictly controlled and prohibited to foreigners.

The third courtyard is surrounded by neighborhoods agas (pages), boys in the service of the sultan. They learned the arts such as music, painting and calligraphy. The best could become Has Odal Aa (Keepers of holy relics and personal servants of the Sultan), or become officers or senior officials.

The provision in the third court was defined by Mehmed II. Its size is roughly comparable to that of the second court . The rigid provision did not change much thereafter. If Mehmed II did not sleep in the harem, his successors were confined in the fourth courtyard and the harem. The Venetian Gianfrancesco Morosini described the daily routine of Murad III in 1585 :

"In my opinion, the sultan has no life so desirable because there is virtually imprisoned in his harem in the company of eunuchs, boys, dwarfs, mutes and slaves, which seems to be as bad .

Plan of the Third Court of Topkap Palace.
1) Hearing Room. 2) Library of Ahmed III. 3) within Treasury. 4) Private Room and Pavilion Relics secret. 5) Dormitory of the Expeditionary Force - exhibition of imperial costumes and fabrics. 6) Treasury bearer of the sword - exhibition of watches. 7) Dormitory Treasury - exhibition of Islamic miniature paintings and portraits of the sultans. 8) Commissioner's Dormitory - direction of Topkap Palace Museum. 9) Dorm Private House: exhibitions. 10) Mosque of the pages of the palace - New Library - Library Collections of the Palace 11) Out of the Harem. 12) Birdcage 13) Head Quarters of the White Eunuchs 14) Quarter White Eunuchs 16) Latrines.

Hearing Room

Arz ODAS Courtroom

Audience given by Ahmed III in the courtroom, painting by Jean-Baptiste Vanmour (September 1727).

Main entrance to the courtroom, with the small fountain of Suleiman the right, and the large windows on the left.

Hearing room, also known as audience hall or chamber of Petitions is located just behind the door of Felicity, in order to obstruct views of the third court. This building is a square Ottoman kiosk surrounded twenty-two columns supporting a roof with wide eaves hanging. Inside you will find the throne room and two small rooms. This building was also appointed Council Chamber interior to differentiate it from the Council Chamber of the second court .

It is an ancient building, dating from the ^fifteenth century, and then decorated by Suleiman. The sultan was seated on a throne canopy, and personally received the viziers, officials and ambassadors who came to introduce themselves. According to a story by Cornelius de Schepper Duplicius in 1533:

"The emperor was sitting on a throne raised slightly completely covered with cloth of gold, sewn jewels, and many on all sides, we saw priceless cushions, the walls of the room were covered with mosaic Azure and gold, the mantelpiece was covered with silver and gold on one side of the room, water was flowing in a fountain. "

The viziers came here to present their reports to the sultan. Depending on their performance, the Sultan thanked them by covering them with gifts and assigning them to a higher position, or in the worst case being strangled by the deaf-mute eunuchs . The room was well a building where the officials entered without knowing if they would come out alive.

The most elaborate ceremonies in the building concerned the reception of ambassadors who came escorted by officials, kiss the edge of the dress of Sultan . The throne was so richly decorated.

The current throne-shaped canopy was made on the orders of Mehmed III. Painted on the ceiling of the throne studded with jewels are foliage decorations, and the representation of fighting a dragon, a symbol of power, with Simurg, a mythical bird. On the throne is spread a blanket made of several pieces of brocade stitched sheets of emerald , of rubies and pearls.

The ceiling of the room was painted an ultramarine blue studded with golden stars. The tiles along the wall were blue, white and turquoise . The room was equipped with precious carpets and cushions. The aim was to impress visitors and to astonish by the power of the sultan. The room was renovated in 1723 by Ahmed III and rebuilt in its present form after a fire in 1856 during the reign of Abdlmecit ist. The current interior is so very different from what it was originally .

Two doors on the facade, providing access to a porch, went to the visitors. A third door at the rear of the building was reserved for the sultan. The inscriptions on the main door, in the form of a monogram of the Sultan and the Sultan of praise Abdlmecit ^I, dating from 1856. The main door is surmounted by a bismillah engraved (the Muslim confession of faith "in the name of God the Compassionate, the Merciful") dating from 1723. The inscription was made during the reign of Ahmed III. The tiles on each side of the door were added during subsequent repairs.

There is a small fountain at the entrance, built by Suleiman. The fountain was used not only for washing, but could be useful to scramble conversations confidential or secret in the room ^, . The fountain was a symbol of the sultan, the Persian inscription naming it "The fountain of generosity, justice and beneficence of the sea" .

Gifts of ambassadors was placed before a large window in the middle of the main facade, between two doors. Piske the door to the left (Piske Kapisa Piske meaning gift to a superior) is surmounted by an inscription from the reign of Mahmud II (1810) .

Behind the courtroom, on the east side, is the dormitory of the expeditionary force.

Dormitory of the Expeditionary

The dormitory Expeditionary Force houses the collection of the imperial wardrobe a collection of about 2,500 costumes, the majority of precious kaftans Sultan. It also houses a collection of 360 ceramic .

The dormitory was built by Murad IV in 1635. The building was renovated by Ahmed III in the early ^eighteenth / Sup> century. It is arched and supported by fourteen columns. North-east of the dormitory is the flag of the Conqueror.

Flag of the Conqueror

The Conqueror's Pavillon (Fatih Kk) houses the Imperial Treasury

Vestibule of the Conqueror Pavilion

The flag of the Conqueror, also known as the Conqueror's Kiosk with its arcades built in the time of Mehmed II is among the oldest buildings in the palace. The pavilion was built around 1460 , during the initial construction: it was used to house the treasures and works of art. It houses the Imperial Treasury ^{Imperial Treasury ("Treasury Internal)}

Gate of the Imperial Treasury (Hazine i-Amir)

The imperial treasury is a vast collection of artwork, jewelry, valuables or sentimental value, belonging to the Ottoman dynasty. Since the palace was transformed into a museum, a selection is on display. Most items come from gifts, spoils of war, or the production of the architects of the palace. The Chief Financial Officer (Hazinedarba) was responsible for the treasury. Upon accession to the throne, it was customary for the sultans to make a ceremonial visit to the treasure.

Among the many treasures displayed in four adjoining rooms, the first exhibits one of the armor of Sultan Mustafa III , made of a metal mesh iron decorated with gold and encrusted with jewels, with his sword, shield and golden stirrups. The next window shows multiple covers of the Quran decorated with pearls that belonged to the Sultans. The throne of ebony for Murad IV is inlaid with mother of pearl and ivory. A music box Indian gold with a golden elephant on top, when the ^seventeenth century. In other windows, you see glasses decorated with gemstones rare gemstones, emeralds and diamonds.

The second room houses the Topkap Dagger. The gilded hilt is decorated with three large emeralds, topped by a watch with a gold lid emerald. The scabbard is gold covered with diamonds and enamel. In 1747 , Sultan Mahmud I did make this dagger to Nadir Shah , but he was assassinated before the emissary had reached the frontiers of the empire. The Sultan has kept the dagger. It is she who is the subject of the film Topkapi.

In the middle of the second part is the throne of drowning of Ahmet I , inlaid with mother of pearl and tortoise shell, built by Mehmet Aga Sedefhar. Under the canopy is for a gold with a large emerald. The next window shows the crested ostentatious sultans and their horses, covered with diamonds, emeralds and rubies. A bowl of jade -shaped vessel was a gift from Tsar Nicolas II of Russia.

The most spectacular jewel of the third part is the diamond manufacturer spoons , set with silver and surrounded by two rows of 49 diamonds cut. Legend has it that this diamond was bought by a vizier in a bazaar, the owner thought it was a crystal worthless. Among the exhibits are two large candlesticks of gold, each weighing 48 kg and fitted with 666 diamonds. These candlesticks were a gift from I. Abdlmecid the Kaaba. They were reported in Istanbul shortly before the fall of the empire and the loss of control of Mecca. The golden throne of Bayram , set with tourmalines , was conducted in 1585 by order of the vizier Ibrahim Pasha and presented to Sultan Murad III. This throne was installed before the Gate of Felicity at specific audiences.

The throne of Sultan Mahmud I is the culmination of the fourth piece. This golden throne of Indian style, decorated with pearls and emeralds, was a gift from the Persian leader Nadir Shah in the eighteenth ^century. Another interesting piece is the reliquary of the hand of St. John the Baptist , covered with gold. Several display cases show an assembly of knives flint , swords, spoons, all decorated with gold and jewels. Of particular interest is the reliquary containing the gold coat of Muhammad.

Gallery of miniatures and portraits

Picture of the Surname- Vehbi, kept in palace

Just north of the imperial treasury is the pages' dormitory, which was transformed into a gallery of miniatures and portraits On the lower floor is a large collection of calligraphy and miniatures. You can see very old and very valuable Korans ( ^twelfth to ^seventeenth century ), written and illuminated in Kufic , and a bible of the ^fourth century , written in Arabic. An object of this priceless collection is the first world map by the Turkish admiral Piri Reis ( 1513 ). The map shows parts of the west coasts of Europe and North Africa with reasonable accuracy. The coast of Brazil is also easily recognizable. The upper gallery contains 37 portraits of sultans, most copies because the originals are too fragile to be exposed. The portrait of Mehmed II is due to the Venetian painter Gentile Bellini. Other precious miniatures stored either in the gallery or in the library or in other parts of the palace are Hnername , Sahansahname , the Saraya Albums , Siyer- Nebi , Surname-i Humayun , Surname- Vehbi , and Sleymanname , among many others .

Enderun Library (Library of Ahmed III)

Library Enderun

Iznik tiles inside the library

Library Enderun also known as Library of Sultan Ahmed III is a neoclassical building located behind the courtroom the center of the third court. It was built on the foundations of the kiosk Havuzlu by imperial architect Mimar Beir Aa in 1719 on the orders of Ahmed III, for use by civil servants of the royal house. The colonnade of the booth earlier is probably the throne before the actual treasure.

The library is a beautiful example of Ottoman architecture in the eighteenth ^century. The exterior is covered with marble. It has the shape of a Greek cross with a central hall covered with a dome and three rectangular wings. The fourth arm of the cross is formed by the porch that can be reached by a flight of stairs on each side. Under the central arch of the portico is a fountain with niches on each side to drink. The building is built on a basement below, to protect the precious books of the mold.

The walls above the windows are decorated with Iznik tiles from the XVII ^century design varied. The central dome and wings of rectangular rooms were painted. The decoration in the dome and in the wings is typical of the " Tulip Era ", which lasted from 1703 to 1730. The books were kept in niches in the walls. The alcove opposite the entrance was the place of the sultan's private reading.

The library included books on theology , Islamic law, similar studies in Ottoman Turkish, Arabic and Persian. The library contained over 3500 manuscripts. Some are good examples of inlaid mother of pearl and ivory. Today the books are kept in the mosque of Agas (Aalar Camii), located west of the library. Another important object is the Topkapi manuscript , a copy of the Koran dating back to the time of the third Caliph Uthman bin Affan.

Mosque Agas

Mosque of Agas is the largest mosque in the palace. It is also one of the oldest buildings, dating from the ^fifteenth century under the reign of Sultan Mehmed II. The sultan, the agas and the pages came to pray here. The mosque is located diagonally across the court, for the minbar can face Mecca. In 1928, the library books were moved here Enderun into the library of the palace which houses a collection of nearly 13,500 books and manuscripts, Turkish, Arabic, Persian and Greek collected by the Ottomans. North-east of the mosque is the collection of imperial portraits.

Dormitory of the royal pages

Photograph of the last Sultan Mehmed VI Vahdeddin

The royal pages' dormitory houses a collection of imperial portraits He was one of the apartments of the sultan. The Ottoman sultans are represented by paintings and rare photographs for the last of them. The room is air conditioned to protect the portraits. As the sultans rarely showed themselves in public, and to preserve Islamic sensibilities concerning the representation of human portraits are mostly former idealizations, and do not reflect reality. Only after the reign of modernizing Mahmud II as realistic portraits were made. You can see an interesting family tree of Ottoman rulers.

The dome is supported by pillars of Byzantine origin, a cross is clearly visible, engraved on one of them.

Private Room

The private room houses the sacred vaults which include the flag of the Holy Mantle. These pieces were built by Sinan in the reign of Murad III. They were once the offices of the Sultan.

They house the cloak of the prophet Muhammad , his sword, one tooth, a hair from his beard, his sword of battle, an autograph letter and other relics known of Sacred Relics. Other relics are presented as the swords of the first four Caliphs , the staff of Moses , the turban of Joseph and a carpet of the daughter of Mohammed. Even the Sultan had access only once a year, the ^15th day of Ramadan. Today everyone can see these relics and many Muslims come here in pilgrimage.

The arcades were added during the reign of Murad III , but were altered when the Hall of circumcisions was added. This arcade may have been built on the site of the Temple of Poseidon , which was processed before the ^tenth century church of Saint Menas .

The private room has been transformed into a utility room for the official mantle of Felicity in the second half of the nineteenth ^century, adding an enclave in the colonnade of the private room in the court Enderun.

Harem

Carriage Gate.

The Imperial Harem is a comprehensive suite of rooms forming part of the private apartments of the Sultan . The harem was the residence of the Sultan's mother, the Sultana Valide , the Sultan's concubines and women, the rest of his family, including children, and servants . It consists of a series of buildings and structures connected by corridors and courtyards. Each core service group manager or resident in the harem had its own living space clustered around a courtyard. The harem includes over 300 pieces, of which only a small portion is open to the public. These apartments (Dairies) were occupied respectively by the eunuchs , the chief eunuch of the harem (Darussaade AGAS), concubines, the queen mother, the wives of the sultan, princes and favorites. It was forbidden to enter the harem.

For more information on the organization of the harem, see Imperial Harem

The harem was not built until the late ^sixteenth century. Most elements of the harem were designed by Mimar Sinan. This part of the palace opens into the Second Court (Divan Meydani) through the door of coaches (Arabalar Kapisa). It has expanded over time along the Golden Horn. It became a huge complex. The buildings were built between its erection in the ^sixteenth century and the early nineteenth ^century are representative of the stylistic developments of the art palace. Following a major fire in 1665 , some parts were refurbished under Osman III and Mahmud II Ottoman Baroque style inspired by the Baroque Italian. These decorations contrasted with those of the Ottoman classical age.

Map Harem Topkapi Palace
Harem: 1) The door of Carriages and the treasure of the harem / Dome Cupboards 2) room or hallway with Ablutions sadirvan or adrvanl Sofa 3) Court and dormitories of the Harem eunuchs - Head Quarters of the school of princes and eunuchs - door of the aviary (output of the harem) 4) Main door of the harem and Sentinel 5) Court of the Sultana validated - Precincts Prince Consort, princes, the chief servant of the servants of the superintendent and 6) Court of concubines and wives - neighborhood of the family of Sultan - dormitories and bathrooms 7) Areas of the Sultana validated 8) Hammam of Sultan and Sultana validated.
Sultan's private apartments: 9) Imperial Hall - The apartments of Abdul Hamid I Selim III and Osman III 10) Room with fireplace - room with fountain 11) Private Room Murad III - Library of Ahmed I and dining room of Ahmed III 12) double Pavilion (apartments of the crown princes) 13) and Terrace apartments Favourite / lobby area between men and women's ward 14) Golden Road.

Holder of the carriages / Dome closets

The gateway for the second court is the door of coaches leading into the dome of the cupboards This hall was built in 1587 by Murad III. The treasure of the harem was installed there. Were stored in cabinets notarial acts administered by the chief eunuch. Money from charitable foundations in the harem or other foundations, and accounts of the sultan and the imperial family were also stored.

Hall of the ablutions fountain

Fountain Room ablutions

The hall of the ablutions fountain, also called vestibule with sadirvan was renovated after the fire of the harem of 24 July 1665. This space served as a lobby for the harem, he was guarded by eunuchs. The Byk Binis, Kapisa and Sal, which connect the harem, the private garden of the mosque of Harem Eunuchs and the Tower of Justice leading to this place. The walls are covered with ceramic Ktahya seventeenth ^century. The stall barn at the mosque served the Sultan when he was on horseback, the benches were used by guards. The fountain which gives its name to this piece has been moved to the pool from the bedroom of Murad III.

On the left side is the small mosque of the black eunuchs. Tiles green water, white and blue median date from the reign of Mehmed IV (XVII ^century). Their design is of a high artistic level, but the achievement is quite common in comparison to previous ones.

Court of eunuchs

Court eunuchs

Another door leads to the courtyard of the black eunuchs on the left with their apartments. At the end of the courtyard is the apartment of the chief black eunuchs (Kzlar Agas), the fourth most important character in the official protocol. In the meantime the school is located imperial princes with precious tiles from the ^seventeenth and ^eighteenth centuries and gilded ceilings. At the other end of the courtyard is the main door of the harem (Cmle Kapisa). The narrow corridor on the left leads to the apartments of the harem (white slaves given as gifts to the Sultan).

Many apartments overlook the court eunuchs, the first of the harem, because they were as guards under the command of the chief eunuch. The areas surrounding this courtyard were rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1665. The complex includes the dormitory of the eunuchs behind the portico, the quarters of the chief eunuch of the harem (Darussaade Agas), the school of princes and officials of the palace (Musahipler Dairesi) and a guard booth. The main door of the harem and the door of the Kushan court Enderun are connected to this court.

The dormitories of the Harem eunuchs (Harem Aalar Kouu) date from the ^sixteenth century. They are organized around a courtyard on three floors. The inclusion of the facade of the dormitory foundation cites acts of Sultan Mustafa IV , Mahmud II and Abdlmecid I , back in the nineteenth ^century. Parts of the upper floors were for novices and those watching were occupied by the court eunuchs with administrative functions. At the bottom is covered with a fireplace tiles Ktahya eighteenth ^century.

The apartments of the chief black eunuch of the harem (Darussaade Agasi Dairesi) adjacent to the dormitory contains a bath, living room and bedroom.

The school room of the princes, under the supervision of the chief eunuch, was upstairs. The walls were covered with ceramic European Baroque decor.

Main Entrance

The main entrance (Cmle Kapisi) separates the harem, where the family lived and concubines of the sultan, the court eunuchs. The door leads to the guardhouse (Nbet Yeri) which are connected the three main sections of the harem. The door to the left of the guard led by the passage of concubines at court concubines (Kadnefendiler Tal). The middle door leads to the courtyard of the Sultan validated (Valid Tal) and the right door leads to the golden road (Altnyol) and beyond the neighborhoods of the Sultan. The great mirror of this piece dates from the eighteenth ^century.

Court of the Sultana validated

Court apartments of the sultana validated (Valide Sultan Dairesi)

After the main entrance and before turning to the passage of concubines is the courtyard of the Sultana validated .

Passage of Concubines

The portion of concubines leads to the court concubines and wives. On consoles, along the passage, the eunuchs laid the dishes they brought in the palace kitchens.

Court of concubines and wives

Court of concubines

The court concubines and wives was built at the same time as the court eunuchs, in the middle of the sixteenth ^century. Restored after a fire in 1665, it is the smallest courtyard of the harem. The courtyard, surrounded by arcades, has a Turkish bath (Hamam Cariye), a fountain for washing, laundry, dormitories, apartment of the head of the family and the apartments of the stewardesses (Kalfalar Dairesi).

The three independent apartments, which overlook the Golden Horn , decorated with tiles and chimney were the homes of the family of the Sultan. These buildings cover the site of the court at the end of the sixteenth ^century. At the entrance to the neighborhood of the Sultana validated, murals of the late eighteenth ^century, European-influenced, are landscapes. The staircase said "Forty Steps" (Kirkmerdiven) provides access to the hospital's Harem (Harem Hastanesi), to the dormitories of the concubines, the terraces of the harem and its gardens.

Apartments of the Sultan validated

The Sultan and his accompanying validated in his apartment

The apartments of the sultana validated form, with the apartments of the sultan, the largest and most important section of the harem . They were built after the removal of the Sultana Valide, who left the Old Palace (Eski Saray) for Topkap at the end of the sixteenth ^century. These apartments have been rebuilt after the fire of 1665, between 1666 and 1668 . Some pieces, like the little music room were added in the eighteenth ^century.

Only two rooms are open to the public: the dining room with , in the upper gallery, reception room, bedroom and behind a lattice, a small room for prayer . The ground floor houses the apartments of concubines' quarters, while on the floor are the quarters of the Sultan and his accompanying validated (Kalfas). A passage leads through the baths of the Sultana Valide, the Sultan neighborhood.

These parts are all covered with white tiles and blue-yellow-green with floral and china znik seventeenth ^century. The panel representing Mecca, signed by Osman znikli Mehmetolu, is an innovative style of Iznik porcelain. The panoramic paintings of the rooms are above the Western European style ^eighteenth and ^nineteenth centuries .

Over neighborhoods of Sultana validated are the apartments Mihirisah, rococo. The move towards the bathroom gives access to the apartment of Abdul Hamid I. Nearby is the House of Love Selim III , built in 1790. A narrow corridor connects this piece to the flag of Osman III dated 1754.

Hammam of Sultan and Sultana validated

Baths of the Sultan with their golden gate

The next set is the steam of the sultan and the sultana validated These double baths, dating from the late sixteenth ^century, consist of several parts. They have been redecorated in the rococo style in the middle of the eighteenth ^century. The two steam rooms have the same structure, consisting of a caldarium , a tepidarium and a frigidarium . Each room is lit by a cupola is either a honeycomb structure with glazed panels. The floor is covered with white marble and gray. The marble bath with its ornamental fountain and gold metallic grid that is in the caldarium is a characteristic feature. The golden trellis was designed to protect the bather assassination attempts. The Sultan's hammam were once decorated with Iznik tiles of high quality by Sinan. But much of the decoration of the harem, from structures damaged by fire in 1574 , was recycled by Sultan Ahmet I to decorate his new Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul. The walls are now either covered with marble, or bleached white.

Imperial Hall

Imperial Hall with the throne of Sultan

The Imperial Room or Throne Room, also called inner room diversions is a domed hall that was built in the late ^sixteenth century. It has the largest dome in the palace. She served as official reception room, and the entertainment of the harem. The sultan received his confidants, guests, his mother, his first wife (Hasseki), its leaders and its children. Shows, acts of submission during religious festivals and weddings were held here in the presence of members of the dynasty .

After the great fire of 1666 , the hall was renovated in the rococo style in the reign of Osman III. Belt earthenware with calligraphic inscriptions that circled the walls were covered in the ^eighteenth century Delft porcelain blue and white mirrors and Venetian glass. The arch of the dome and pendants are always classical paintings dating from the original construction .

The sultan's throne is at the center of the room. The gallery was occupied by the Sultan's attendants, led by the Sultana validated. The gilded chairs are a gift of Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany , and the clock a gift from Victoria of the United Kingdom. A board which displays musical instruments and some other parts of the imperial hall opens and gives access to the apartments of the sultan.

A secret door behind a mirror makes a quiet entrance of the Sultan. A door opens into the apartment of the sultana validated, the other on the Sultan's hammam. The opposite door leads to a small dining room (rebuilt by Ahmed III ) and the large bedroom , while another opens a series of ante-room with the fountain (Cesmeli Sofa ), all decorated in the seventeenth ^century.

Chamber of Murad III Private

The private room of Murad III which has retained its original interior, is the oldest and most beautiful room of the harem. It was designed by master architect Sinan and dates from the ^sixteenth century . Its dome is slightly smaller than the Imperial Hall. The door is one of the most beautiful palace. It opens onto the corridor along the wing of the crown princes (Kafes). It is decorated with Iznik tiles of blue, white and red coral . The floral patterns are reinforced by orange borders dating from 1570. A band of ceramics calligraphy goes around the room at the top and the door. The grounds in arabesque dome have been re-gilded and painted in black and red. The big fireplace in the golden hood (Ocak) faces a two-tiered fountain (SMEC), carefully decorated with colored marble. The flow noise was to prevent eavesdropping, while providing a relaxing atmosphere. Both date from the golden canopies eighteenth ^century.

Private Room of Ahmet ^I.

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La Salle Fruit and walls painted

Across from the large bedroom there are two smaller rooms. The first is the private room of Ahmet I richly decorated with Iznik tiles of enamel ^{Private Room of} Ahmet III

Next is the private room of Ahmet III small but very colorful, with walls painted with floral designs and bowls of fruit intermingled in the tiles that cover the chimney . For this reason, the piece is also called fruit room It was probably used for food.

Flag double or apartments of the princes of the Crown

Exterior double flag

Stained glass decorating the interior

The double flag, also called apartments of the princes of the Crown consists of two rooms built in the sixteenth ^century. The building, connected to the palace, consists of a ground floor built on a raised platform that provides a good view of the outdoors while being protected from view.

The interior features two large rooms, dating from the reign of Murad III , or, more likely, the reign of Ahmet I . The ceiling is not flat but conical, in the style of the kiosk. It evokes the traditional tents of the first Ottomans. In these tents, there was no furniture in height, but couches arranged along the walls. The floor is carpeted. These rooms feature all the classic characters, used in other parts of the palace.

The pavilion has been completely redecorated and most baroque carvings were removed. The decorative tiles, reflecting the high quality of the factories of the ^seventeenth century Iznik , have been replaced by modern copies, in agreement with the original concept. The fresco of the dome of wood is original and is an example of the rich work of the late ^sixteenth and early ^seventeenth century. The chimney of the second room, with its large golden hood, has been restored to its original appearance . The windows near the fireplace are decorated with Intarsio of nacre. Stained glass windows overlook the high terrace and the garden of the pool beneath. The valves of these windows are surrounded by frescoes in red, black and gold.

The princes of the Crown (ehzadeler) lived a recluse in these parts, which are known to Kafes (cage). The princes were educated in the discipline of the harem into adulthood. They were then appointed governors of provinces of Anatolia , where they were trained in the management of state affairs. From the early seventeenth ^century, the princes lived in the harem, who began to play a role in the administration of the palace. The pavilion was used as a double private room of the crown princes from the eighteenth ^century.

Court of favorites

The court of favorites

The court of favorites is the last part of the harem. It overlooks a large swimming pool and garden of boxwood . The court was established in the eighteenth ^century by the addition of apartments intermediate ((Mabeyn) and apartments of the favorites (kballer). The apartments of the ladies of the company and the Favorite Mabeyn part, on the ground floor, include also the hall of mirrors. It was the place where Abdul Hamid I lived with his harem . The apartment is decorated with rococo woodwork.

The Sultan's Favourite (Gzdeler / kballer) were considered the instruments of the perpetuation of the dynasty by the organization of the harem. When the favorites became pregnant, they assumed the title and powers of the official accompanist of the Sultan (Kadnefendi).

Golden Road

The Golden Road

The golden road is a narrow passage back to the XV ^century, which forms the axis of the harem. It lies between the court eunuchs of the harem (harem Aalar Tal) and private room (Has Oda). The Sultan used this passage to join the harem, the private bedroom and sofa-i Humayun, the terrace deck.

The court validated the Sultana (Tal Valide Sultan), the court concubines and wives (Ba Haseki), the apartments of princes (ehzadegn Daireleri), and the apartments of the sultan (Hnkar Dairesi) open onto the passage. The walls are painted white.

The denomination gold might be due to the fact that the sultan had the habit of throwing gold coins for concubines during the holidays, but this is disputed .

Aviary door of the harem

Until the late ^nineteenth century, a small courtyard in this corner of the court of Enderun, provided access to the harem through the door Kushan. Today is the door through which visitors leave the harem. Birds were bred for the sultan's table in the buildings surrounding the door. One of the inscriptions above the door indicates that Kushan Mahmud I was repairing the kitchens of Kushan. The balcony of the aviary facing the door was built during a repair in 1916. The facade of the building recalls the aviaries traditional.

Fourth Court

Fourth courtyard also called Imperial Sofa was the most intimate place of the sultan and his family. It consists of a series of pavilions, kiosks (Koski), gardens and terraces. It was originally part of the third courtyard. But it is now considered separately, to better perceive .

Hall of circumcisions

Inside the room of circumcision

In 1640 , Sultan Ibrahim I built the room of circumcision a summer kiosk dedicated to the circumcision of young princes, who is a rite of passage critical of Islam. Its interior and exterior walls are decorated with recycled items, such as blue tiles with floral designs on the outside. The most important are the signs of earthenware blue and white facade, dated 1529 and inspired by the ceramic Asia. These panels once adorned ceremonial buildings of Sultan Sleyman I , as the council chamber and the treasure within (both in the second courtyard), and the throne room (in the third courtyard). They were moved here out of nostalgia and reverence to the golden age of his reign. These panels were used as models for the decoration of booths Yerevan and Baghdad. The play itself is symmetrical, and relatively spacious for the palace, with windows adorned each with a small fountain. Some upper windows are decorated with stained glass. To the right of the entrance is a fireplace with a golden gate. Sultan Ibrahim also built the arches and the roof above the room's sacred mantle and the upper terrace between his room and stand in Baghdad.

The royal architect Hasan Aa under the reign of Murad IV , built during the years 1635-1636 the Yerevan Kiosk and then in 1638 - 1639 , the kiosk of Baghdad to celebrate the Ottoman victories at Yerevan and Baghdad. Both have wide eaves, a central dome and interior with dome and tesserae of nacre. Both are constructed according to the conventional four-plane iwans , with sofas filling inside.

Yerevan Kiosk

Suspension Front (iwan) of the Yerevan Kiosk

The Yerevan Kiosk was used for church retreats of forty days. It is a small pavilion with a central dome and three apses sheltering sofas. The door and a chimney located on the fourth wall. The wall of the colonnade is clad in marble, others are covered with Iznik tiles, low-cost, blue and white reproductions of old tile patterns.

Baghdad Kiosk

Viewing booth Baghdad

The kiosk of Baghdad is located on the right side of the terrace with fountain. It was built to commemorate the campaign of Murad IV in Baghdad after 1638.

It closely resembles the Yerevan Kiosk. The three doors to the porch are located between the sofas. The facade is covered with marble and strips of red porphyry and verde antique. The marble panels of the portico are executed in the style of the Mamluks of Cairo. The interior is an example of a piece Ottoman ideal. Compartments and shelves are decorated with tiles recesses green, yellow and blue of the early sixteenth ^century. The blue tiles of the walls are copies of those in the room of circumcision, just on the other side of the terrace. With its tile seventeenth ^century, his mother, his decoration and stained glass scales, this pavilion is one of the last examples of classical architecture of the palaces.

The doors are finely etched. On the right of the entrance is a fireplace with a golden gate. In the middle of the room sits a mangal (brazier coal) money, a present from King Louis XIV of France. From the mid-eighteenth ^century, this kiosk was used as a library of a private room.

Flag of iftar

Upper terrace with a fountain, pavilion and kiosk Iftar Baghdad.

The flag of iftar, also called booth or canopy Iftar Iftar or offers a beautiful view over the Golden Horn. His vault ribbed vault and its golden roof is a first in the Ottoman architecture, echoing China and India. The Sultan would have had the habit of breaking the fast in this bower during the month of Ramadan , after sunset. Some sources cite this as the resting place "seat in the moonlight." Gifts individuals, like the shower of gold coins given to officials by the sultan, were sometimes given here. The marble terrace took its present appearance during the reign of Sultan Ibrahim I ( 1640-1648).

Terrace Kiosk

Terrace Kiosk

The straight kiosk Terrace also named by Mustafa Pasha error flag is a gazebo built in the second half of the sixteenth ^century. It was restored in 1704 by Sultan Ahmed III and rebuilt in 1752 by Mahmud I in the Rococo style. It is the only wooden building in the innermost part of the palace. It consists of two parts whose rear is supported by columns.

The kiosk consists of the main room, called Divanhane, the prayer room (Namaz Odas gold erbet ODAS), and part fruit juice. Flag, the Sultan attended sporting events and entertainment held in the garden. This open building with large windows was originally a dining room, and later during the era of Tulips (1718-1730), was used as a bedroom for guests. It is located near the garden of tulips.

Tour of the tutor in chief, chief medical room

Tour of the tutor in chief, or main room of the doctor

The square tower called Tower of the tutor in Chief also called the main room of the doctor and pharmacy in the court when the ^fifteenth century, probably from the reign of Mehmet II. It is the oldest building in the fourth courtyard. It was built to be a watchtower, with few windows and walls nearly two feet thick. The doctor had his room at the top, the ground floor is occupied by the pharmacy of the palace.

The first court pharmacy was established during the reign of Mehmet II. There were others, and infirmaries in the palace. According to legend, Enderunlu Tayyar Efendi, who was tutor-in-chief (Ba Lala) during the reign of Selim III , saw the top of this tower the rebels coming assassinate the sultan and alerted his supporters. The historian Afa indicates that this tower was at least two levels higher than the two it retains today.

The senior physician (Hekim BASI) and the chief preceptor shared this place. The doctor was responsible for the health of the sultan and the imperial family, and prepared by its remedies. Under his supervision, the medications were prepared in sealed bottles, jars or bowls, then delivered to patients.

The senior physician was also a pet of Sultan, which he accompanied on the same battlefield. This position was traditionally held by Jews. After the ^seventeenth century, more and more Muslims occupied the post, they shared with Jews and Europeans. The last surgeon was Abdulhak Molla, who lived during the reign of Sultan I Abdlmecit. After his reign, the sultan left Topkap, the tower was used as a conservatory of music, then for weapons maintenance of the palace. It was restored in 1911 and houses the collection of medical objects.

Throne of stone

A stone throne was built for Murat IV so he can watch the sports pages. The inscriptions show that in 1636 , Murat IV , an accomplished athlete, threw an oak cudgel 120 meters from his horse.

Grand Pavilion

Grand Pavilion

The large pavilion, known as large booth, stand or pavilion Mecidiye Abdlmecit I built in 1840 , was the last significant addition to the palace, with the wardrobe suite. Both were built on the orders of Sultan I Abdlmecit as imperial ballroom, because of its location. As it offers a splendid panoramic view over the Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus. The sultans settled here when visiting Topkap . These buildings were built on vaulted foundations of another flag from the fifteenth ^century. The architect Sarkis Balyan built it in a style eclectic Europeanized, mixed with traditional Ottoman style. The interior is furnished in Empire style. Both buildings were occasionally used to house foreign guests.

Mosque from the terrace

Mosque from the terrace

The terrace of the mosque, mosque or the sofa was built by Sultan Mahmud II in the Empire style body appointed during the ^nineteenth century. The kiosk bearer of the sword once occupied this spot. The inscription on the door of the mosque says it was restored by Sultan Abdlmecit I in 1858.

Near the pavilion is a very famous restaurant. It was visited by celebrities such as Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom , the first lady Jackie Kennedy , President Richard Nixon , and boxer Muhammad Ali , among many others . The restaurant's terrace offers a panoramic view of the Bosphorus and the Asian side. Most tourists come here to photograph the sea and the city.

Panoramic view of the Bosphorus from the palace

Outdoor Gardens

The outdoor gardens of the palace are spread all around the complex formed by the four courses. Some parts separating the palace from the sea are sometimes referred to as the fifth. Flags at sea, have disappeared with the construction of the railway in the late nineteenth ^century. We had the beach pavilion, the pavilion of pearl, marble pavilion and kiosk baskets, which is the last structure still in place.

Near the first court in the direction of the city lies Glhane Park , the ancient rose imperial, now a public garden. At the gate of the park is the flag parade.

Three other flags due to Mehmet II , only the flag to china (inili Kk) has survived. This building, which dates from 1473 or so, now houses the Islamic ceramics collection of the Istanbul Archaeological Museum.

Trees

A hollow trees, in the third courtyard.

Most trees of the palace are remarkable in that most of them are victims of a fungus parasite that completely hollowed the trunk through the centuries, even if the trees are still alive today. In some cases, two different trees have grown and fused together, such as a fig tree which grew in the hollow trunk of another tree. This phenomenon can be found among the trees of the second court.

Facsimiles

Hotel World Of Wonders Resorts & Hotels Topkapi Palace in Antalya has some copies of the palace buildings, like the courtroom, kitchens and the Tower of Justice .

Images

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  Silver Palace

• 

  Gardens in the fourth courtyard

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  Gardens and flag of the conqueror in the third courtyard

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  Crescent Gold Palace

• 

  Library

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  Wall of the Imperial Council

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  Viewed through a window

• 

  Windows double flag

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  Gate of Felicity

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  Entrance to the room of Sultan Abdul Hamid I

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  Yerevan Kiosk

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  View of palace from the sea

Click on a thumbnail to enlarge

Notes

Related articles

• Dolmabahce Palace , Imperial residence from 1853 to 1889 and from 1909 to 1922.
• Yldz Palace , Imperial residence from 1889 to 1909.
• Ottoman Empire
• Organization of the Ottoman Empire
• History of Turkey
• Ottoman Dynasty
• Art of the Ottoman Empire
• Golden Horn

• (In) This article is partially or entirely from the article in English entitled " Topkapi Palace "(see the list of authors )

External Links

• (En) (tr) official website
• (En) Topkap Insecula
• (Fr) Virtual Tour Topkap Palace
• (Tr) National Palace in Turkey
• (Tr) Konyal Restaurant
• (In) Bilkent University | Website Information
• (In) Topkapi Photos & Suleiman the Magnificent

Bibliography

Article Sources

• (In) Glru Necipolu, Architecture, Ceremonial, and Power: The Topkapi Palace In The Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries., The MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1991, 336 p. ( ISBN 0-262-14050-0 )

1. P. 3
2. P. 6
3. P. 8
4. P. 9
5. P. 23
6. P. 23
7. P. 4
8. P. 15
9. P. 16-17
10. P. 20
11. P. 36
12. P. 38-39
13. P. 46-50
14. P. 46
15. P. 44
16. P. 51
17. P. 52
18. P. 50
19. P. 53
20. P. 53
21. P. 64-66
22. P. 70
23. P. 72
24. P. 72
25. P. 73
26. P. 74-75
27. P. 82
28. P. 83
29. P. 83
30. P. 86
31. P. 82
32. P. 8
33. P. 85
34. P. 86
35. P. 84-86
36. P. 87
37. P. 86
38. P. 87
39. P. 88
40. P. 89-90
41. P. 90
42. P. 95
43. P. 95
44. P. 98-99
45. P. 100
46. P. 108-109
47. P. 100-101
48. P. 109-110
49. P. 101
50. P. 177
51. P. 178

• (In) Fanny Davis, The Palace of Topkapi in Istanbul, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1970 span class = "Z3988" title = "ctx_ver = Z39.88-2004 & rft_val_fmt = info%% 3Aofi 2Ffmt 3Akev%%% 3Amtx 3Abook rft.genre & book = & rft.btitle = The + Palace + of + + in + Istanbul Topkapi rft.aulast = & Fanny + Davis & rft.au = Fanny + Davis & rft.date = 1970 & rft.tpages =% 7B% 7B% 7Bpages% 7D% 7D% 7D & rft.place = New + York & rft.pub = Charles + Scribner% 27s + Sons & rfr_id = info: sid / en. wikipedia.org: Palais_de_Topkap% C4% B1 ">

1. P. 26-27
2. P. 67
3. P. 71
4. P. 71
5. P. 71
6. P. 73-76
7. P. 75
8. P. 116-118
9. P. 114
10. P. 113
11. P. 218-221
12. P. 222
13. P. 223
14. P. 178
15. P. 231
16. P. 232-233
17. P. 233
18. P. 237
19. P. 237
20. P. 237
21. P. 243
22. P. 243-244
23. P. 247
24. P. 248
25. P. 249
26. P. 249
27. P. 253-256
28. P. 209

• (In) Regina Krahl, Nurdan Erbahar, John Ayers, Chinese Ceramics In The Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul: A Complete Catalog, Sotheby's Publications, New York, 1986 ( ISBN 0856671843 )
• (In) Takatoshi Misugi, Chinese Porcelain Collections In The Near East: Topkapi and Ardebil, Volume One, Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong, 1981 ( ISBN 962-209-004-4 )
• (In) Claire Karaz, Topkapi Palace: Inside and Out: a Guide to the Topkapi Palace Museum and grounds, itemblik Publications, Istanbul, 2004, 104 p. ( ISBN 975-6663-49-9 )
• (In) Patricia Baker, Ahmet Ertug, Silks for the Sultan, Ottoman imperial garments From The Topkapi palace, & Kocabiyik Ertug, Istanbul, 1996
• (In) Topkap Palace Museum, the Imperial Treasury, MAS Publications, Istanbul, 2001 ( ISBN 975-7710040 )
• (In) Mazhar Sevket pirolu, Masterpieces From The Topkap Museum: paintings and miniatures, Thames and Hudson, London, 1980 ( ISBN 0500233233 )
• Verity Campbell, Turkey, Lonely Planet, 2008 ( ISBN 978-2-84070-561-9 )

Other works

• Fahir Iz, Topkapi, the palace of the sultans, Editions Atlas, al. "Passports of Art", Paris, 1986, 76 p. ( ISBN 2-7312-0159-2 )
• Ufk Ali, ed. presented and annotated. by Annie Berthier and Stephane Yerasimos, Topkapi: The relation of the great lord of the seraglio / Albertus Bobovius, Sindbad-Actes Sud, Arles, 1999, 164 p. ( ISBN 2-7427-2172-X )
• Edward Cross, edited by Corinne Thpaut-Cabasset, The harem of the Turkish emperors: relationship handwritten Sieur de La Croix at the end of the reign of Sultan Mehmed IV of CTHS editions, Paris, 2007, 62 p. ( ISBN 978 - 2-7355-0647-7 )
• RATL Tansel, transcript and presentation Jean-Marc Truchet, Beyond the Gate of Felicity, Guilherand-Granges al. "History," 2002, 62 p. ( ISBN 2-913788-38-6 )

For a detailed bibliography in English, see (in) the English article

References

1. "Topkapi" is pronounced roughly "Topkapeu.
2. UNESCO | 2006 Periodic Report
3. Bilkent University | Historical Background Of The Topkapi Palace
4. 1465 , The Encyclopedia of World History, 2001. Retrieved on 2008-06-15
5. Topkap Palace Museum | Bab-i Humayun / Sultanate Gate
7. Topkap Palace Museum | I. Court / Alay Meydan
9. Topkap Palace | II. Courtyard / Divan Square
10. Regina Krahl, Nurdan Erbahar John Ayers 1986
11. Takatoshi Misugi 1981 , p. 211-214
12. Claire Karaz 2004 , p. 40-41
13. Takatoshi Misugi 1981 , p. 215-235
14. (en) III. Courtyard / Enderun Avlusu , Topkap Palace Museum. Accessed 30-10-2008
15. Claire Karaz 2004 , p. 47-48
16. Patricia Baker, Ahmet Ertug 1996
17. Topkap Palace Museum 2001
18. Mazhar Sevket pirolu 1980
19. (r) A. Ongan, "1937 ylnda Trk Tarih Kurumu tarafndan yaplanTopkap Saraya Hafriyat (Excavations of the Topkap Palace conducted by the Turkish Historical Society in 1937)," in Belleten, vol. Iv, 1940, p. 318-355
20. The pieces presented here are only those which are open to the public in 2008.
21. (en) Topkap Palace Museum, " Harem ". Accessed November 3, 2008
22. (r) sadirvan means "fountain of ablutions."
23. (en) Topkap Palace Museum, " IV. Courtyard / Sofa-i Humayun ". Accessed August 16, 2006
24. They lived from 1853 in a palace by the sea, as the Dolmabahce Palace.
25. (en) Konyal Restaurant . Accessed August 16, 2008
26. (en) WOW Topkapi Palace in Antalya-Kundu . Accessed August 16, 2008

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