Private and Royal Life in the Ottoman Palace

by Ilber Ortayli

Overview

Topkapi Palace was the official and primary residence of the Ottoman sultans for almost four centuries of their 624-year reign. This illustrated guide to Topkapi Palace (the heart of a vast transcontinental empire until the mid-nineteenth century) explores Ottoman history, as it relates to specific sections of the palace.

Ortayli, a famed Turkish historian and scholar, introduces the audience to the outer and inner sections of the palace as well as the family quarters, providing them with profound background information about their functions, architecture and decorations. His references to the palace customs, people, and particular events present the reader with a living history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781935295457
Publisher:	Blue Dome Press
Publication date:	08/07/2014
Pages:	159
Product dimensions:	6.04(w) x 9.04(h) x 0.53(d)

About the Author

Ilber Ortayli, professor of history and the former director of the Topkapi Palace Museum, is the author of numerous books and articles on Ottoman history and is a frequent speaker on history and culture during the Ottoman era. He lives in Istanbul, Turkey.

Table of Contents

Introduction ix

Preface xi

Istanbul as a Historical City 1

The New Palace 2

The Plan of Topkapi Palace 4

The Sultan as the Host of the Palace 5

Frugality 9

Sections of the Palace 9

Birun: The Outer Palace

The Imperial Gate and the First Courtyard 15

The Gate of Salutation and the Second Courtyard 19

The Gate of Salutation 19

The Second Courtyard: The Divan Square 19

The Former Treasury Office: Exterior Treasury 22

The Marker Stone of Selim III 23

Ceremonies in the Divan Square 25

Soldiers' Payment: Ulufe 25

Reception of Foreign Envoys 25

The Baklava Procession 26

The Imperial Council Hall 27

The Council Meetings 30

Meetings of the Imperial Council 30

Namazgah 32

The Palace Kitchens 33

The Ramadan Dinners in Topkapi 34

The Royal Stable: Has Ahur 35

Besir Aga Mosque 36

The Ottoman Military Band 37

The Halberdiers with Sidelocks 39

Enderun: The Inner Palace

The Gate of Felicity: Babüssaade 45

Ceremonies in Front of the Gate of Felicity 46

Enthronement 47

Eid ceremonies 49

The Ceremony of the Honored Standard 52

The Standing Council 54

Life in the Enderun 54

The Lesser and Greater Chambers of Enderun 56

The Audience Hall 57

Receptions at the Audience Hall 59

Agalar Mosque 60

The Library of Ahmed III 63

The Fatih Pavilion: Enderun Treasury 65

Campaign Dormitory: Seferli Kogusu 68

Larder Staff Dormitory: Kilerli Kogusu 70

The Treasurer's Dormitory 72

Treasury of the Arms Bearer 72

The Royal Apartments (Apartments of the Holy Mantle) 73

The Servants of the Royal Apartments: Has Odahlar 73

The Fountain Hall 77

Audience Room 79

The Throne Room/Privy Chamber: Has Oda 79

Visiting the Holy Mantle 80

The Handkerchief Room: Destimal Odast 84

The Incense Mortar 84

The Sundial 85

The Fountain of Def-i Gam Hatun 85

The Fourth Courtyard: The Garden of Pavilions 87

Circumcision Room 87

The Fountain of the Holy Mantle 89

The Rcvan Pavilion 90

The Iftariye Bower 93

The Stables for Disguise 93

The Baghdad Pavilion 94

The Pavilion of Mustafa Pasha 98

The Box-tree Garden: Simsirlik 102

The Marble Throne of Murad IV 102

The Chief Physician's Room: Baslala Tower 102

Sofa Mosque 103

The Mecidiye Pavilion 105

Harem: The Family Quarters

Harem 109

The Education of Women in the Palace 109

The Sections of the Harem 111

The Carriage Gate 111

The Domed Vault: Dolaph Kubbe 113

The Pavement with a Fountain 113

The Sultan's Riding Track and the Curtain Gate 114

The Black Aghas' Mosque 116

The Black Aghas' Pavement 116

The Dormitory of the Black Aghas: Kara Agalar Kogusu 118

The Quarters of the Chief Eunuch of the Harem: Darüssaade Agasi Dairesi 119

The School of Princes 120

Harem Entrance Gate: The Gate of the Sultanate 122

The Guard Station 123

The Golden Passageway 124

The Pavement of the Maidservants and the Sultan's Wives 124

The Chambers of the Sultan's Wives: Kadm Efendi Haseki Daireleri 126

The Dormitory of the Maidservants 128

The Forty Stairs 128

The Harem Hospital 128

The Queen Mother's Courtyard 130

Queen Mother's Chamber: Valide Sultan Dairesi 131

The Chamber of Mihrisah Valide Sultan 134

The Throne Gate 135

The Apartment of the Treasurer Usta 135

The Baths of the Sultan and the Queen Mother 135

The Privy Chambers 137

The Privy Chamber of Abdülhamid I and the Treasury 137

The Privy Chamber of Selim III: The Music Practice Room 139

The Terrace and Pavilion of Osman III 139

Fireplace Hall: Ocakli Sofa 142

The Imperial Hall: Hünkar Sofasi 143

The Privy Chamber of Ahmed I 145

The Fruit Room: Privy Chamber of Ahmed III 147

The Privy Chamber of Murad III 147

Twin Mansions 148

The Meeting Place of the Jinn 150

The Harem Mosque 150

The Ikbals' Courtyard 150

The Apartments of Abdülhamid I: Mabeyn-i Hümâyun Dairesi 151

The Quarters of Cevri Kalfa 154

The Aviary and the Harem Gate 154

The Tiled Pavilion: Çinili Kösk 154

Glossary 155

Bibliography 157