Historical Background of Topkapı Palace

Topkapı Palace was the residence of the Ottoman sultans and the administrative and educational center of the state. It was built by Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Istanbul, between 1460 and 1478. Over time, some additions were made to the palace. The Ottoman sultans and palace residents lived there until the mid-19th century. After the abolition of the Ottoman monarchy in 1922, Topkapı Palace was converted into a museum on April 3, 1924, by order of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Fatih Sultan Mehmed and Topkapı Palace

After the conquest of Istanbul, Fatih Sultan Mehmed had a palace built in Beyazıt, where Istanbul University is located today, which later came to be known as the 'Old Palace'. After this first palace, Fatih commissioned the construction of Topkapı Palace, where he would eventually reside. In Ottoman Turkish, Fatih named this palace 'Saray-ı Cedid', meaning 'New Palace'. The name 'Topkapı Palace' was given to the New Palace following the complete destruction of the large wooden seaside palace known as the 'Topkapıs Sahil Sarayı', which was built near the Byzantine walls and demolished in a fire.

Architecture of Topkapı Palace

The plan of Topkapı Palace was greatly influenced by the philosophy of the Ottoman state and the relationship between the palace and its subjects. It is also known that the plan of the Edirne Palace, which was built by Sultan Murad II on the banks of the Tundzha River but today only its remnants survive, served as an inspiration for the palace's plan and magnificence. Topkapı Palace was a modest palace; the empire's lavish expenditures were mostly allocated for magnificent mosques, pavilions, bridges, caravanserais, and accommodation facilities. Even the renowned 16th-century architect Mimar Sinan only built a section of this palace. However, the palace's distinctive buildings, exquisite tiles, and its integration with nature, as well as its location on the Sarayburnu peninsula, give it a natural beauty and grandeur.

Sections of Topkapı Palace

The plan of Topkapı Palace consists of various courtyards and gardens, areas allocated for state affairs, buildings and pavilions used as the residence of the ruler, and buildings specifically for the palace residents. Situated on the Byzantine acropolis at Sarayburnu, between the Marmara Sea, the Bosporus, and the Golden Horn, the palace is surrounded by high walls called 'Sur-ı Sultani'. The palace covers an area of approximately 700,000 square meters.