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HAREM
Click for Harem Slide...
  The word harem, as meaning taboo and/or forbidden, had been used for family concept in the Islamic society. Harem is the private and prohibited place where the dynasty lived in the Ottoman Palace. Harem is a rather important complex in terms of architecture that contains examples of palace architecture styles belonging to various periods starting from 16th century to early 19th century, where hundreds of concubines and haremchiefs that consisted the families of Sultans lived together.
Harem has approximately 300 rooms, 9 hamams, 2 mosques, 1 hospital and dormitories as well as 1 laundry room. Harem that displayed a hierarchical development rather than sistematic burned in 1665 on a large scale. Harem that survived today has been enlarged with the restorations after the fire and occacional expansions within time. General plan of Harem consists of dormitories that surround the entrances divided by doors one after another, rooms, pavilion and service buildings.
Being supported by many dynasty palaces, mainly Old Palace, Topkapý Palace Harem constituted one wing of coverts kapýkulu staff in accordance with the Ottoman administration understanding. The concubines that were taken into Harem used to learn the Turkish-Islamic culture at best. Thus, a part of concubines that were raised as wifes for the Ottoman dysnasty used to stay in Harem as administrative head of servants, whereas the best of them would be offered to Sultan and constitute the dynasty.
Another part of concubines used to be excluded from Harem with the condition that they would marry the chiefs at Enderûn. The hierarchy of Harem that went younger every year and spreaded the palace culture to the imperial domain depended on rules. The value of a woman in the Ottoman palace was related to her ability to give birth to a child. A concubine that is offered to Sultan would be displayed at Sultan’s Table and would be brought to Sultan’s own room if approved, upon a process that includes the preparation ceremonies at hamam.
The concubine that has relations with Sultan or gets close to him was called as Gözde. When Gözdes give birth to a child, they would be allocated a private apartment and be assigned as Prosperity or Head of Wives. The mother of heir to throne among those that do not exceed eight in every section, would be called as Haseki (Official Wife of Sultan), and had a real leverage as Sultan’s first wife even she would be listed after The Mother Of Sultan (Valide Sultan). The princes that were sent to Anatolia as sancak beyi up to the end of 16th century, used to bring their families with, including their Head of Wives who were their mothers. After that point, after the sultanate turned into old-becomes-Sultan (ekberiyet) procedure that stipulates the sultanate of the oldest dysnaty man, the princes were made to live at Palace’s Harem. With this new system that enabled the brothers to become sultan as well, the sultan used to form his own harem staff with his mother, and send the rest to Old Palace.
 The concubines could not marry the princes not to create rivals to dynasty, yet would be assigned. Sultan’s daughters used to marry viziers and paþas (generals) and live in haným (wife) sultan palaces in Istanbul, and were granted with the right to divorce their husbands if they wished so.
Topkapý Palace Harem Section, which was carefully hidden from the courtyards where the selamlýk (meeting) and administration functions happened, divides the Harem residents into 4 groups through stony places stretching from the entrance of Gate of Carts to Private Room.
The first section at the entrance is allocated to Black Eunuch Chiefs. After this, Harem’s Common Door follows and after that, it leads to paved courtyard that is surrounded by structures where Mother Of Sultans, sultans and princes live.
Harem Eunuchs
Guarding the women sections in imperial palaces by eunuch, which is an old tradition that goes back to Assyrians, spreaded out of Mesopotamia till Chinese and Roman palaces. The Ottoman Harem also adopted this tradition.
Two groups called as White Eunuchs and Black Eunuchs lived in the Ottoman Palace. Before, White Eunuchs being Gate of Felicity (Bab’üs-Saade) Chief were also granted Abode of Felicity (Dar’üs-Saade) Lordship. Sultan Murad III (1574-1595) granted this function to Black Eunuchs in 1582. Black Chiefs carried out this function that completely passed to Black Eunuchs towards the end of 16th century, by increasing their authorities and influence until the end of the sultanate.
Black Chiefs (Kara Aðalar)
African boys that are selected from the mid-Africa generally originating from Ethiopia used to be raised with a strict discipline after being taken to the Old Palace and Topkapý Palace. Castrated african kids called as çiçek used to be trained so that they would apply the Harem rules after learning Turkish. They used to start their functions with the name of “Down below (En Aþaðý)” and pass to Beginner Lordship, and within time they used to promote to higher classes such as Ortanca, Hasýrlý. After a certain period of time, they used to be provided promotions on their duties in Harem by being given to the service of Sultan’s Head of Wives and Mother Of Sultan.
Concubines
Black Chiefs and all women regardless of their status were servants like the palace employees. The training system of concubines were like that of Converts. 16th century sources states that there used to be 2 dormitories for newly recruited concubines in Harem as it is the same at Enderun.
The majority of concubines that were recruited between ages 5-16 originated generally Çerkez, as it is also known about the presenceof Arabian and African concubines recruited. In addition, the ages of concubines recruited for various services could be higher. The concubines recruited were first health examined. The new concubines were given new names such as Hoþnaz, Safdil, Neþedil considering their beauty, attitutes and appearances.
The girls taken into the palace were taught Turkish and the etiquette manners. the first period of these girls at Harem was called as inexperience. Later, they used to become concubines, and after that promote to master apprenticeship called as þakirt, mastership (ustalýk) and constant frequenter class within time.
Because the most of concubines are employed for services, they were given to general services such as laundry, hamam heaters, pantry, table, after a short time. The beautiful and smart ones used to be trained by kalfa women about reading-writing, sewing, embroidery, playing music instruments, singing and dancing depending on their skills. The Sultans did not have relations with all concubines that were selected and trained for them, and their departure from the Palace was provided by making them marry with appropriate people.
The highest ranking of the palace women was called as Kadýn. The concubines who were called as “for Private Room”, Favorite (Gözde) or Prosperity (Ýkbal) among those the Sultan had relation with used to promoted later to Official wife of Sultan and Head of Wives (Kadýnefendiliði) after giving birth.
I-BLACK CHIEFS STONE COURTYARD
 Black Chiefs Dormitory in Topkapý Palace had a training place function as in the dormitories in Enderun Courtyard. These chiefs’ major fucntions were guard duty, checking the entries and exits and not letting anyone in from outside.
Kara Aðalar section can be entered through Gate of Carts that leads to Imperial Council Hall Square. There is an inscription above the gate that carries the name of Sultan Murad III (1574-1595), dating 1587. Through this door, guard place called as Dome with Wheel (Dolaplý Kubbe) and Sofa with Fountain as well as Black Chiefs Stone courtyard can be accessed.
This narrow and long courtyard where all buildings of the system exist is called as Stone Courtyard, since it is covered with stones. This podimo-stone paved path from one side of Stone Courtyard to the other side continues starting from the entrance after Sultan’s big mount on horse until Horse-Mount Stone before Sofa with Fireplace also called as Saltanat Kapýsý (Sultanate Gate) at Mother Of Sultan Stone courtyard. The Sultan use to pass this route on horseback.
All necessary buildings for daily life can be found in Black Chiefs Avlusu (Courtyard). On the left side after the entrance, there is a flat that contains small mosques for praying, dormitories, education place of princes by Dar’üs-saade Chief and hamam. On the opposite side however, there are places where accountants, hazinedar black Chief and cüceler (dwarfs) from high ranking Harem employees lived.
Common Gate / Sultanate Gate
The section where Sultan and women live can be entered through a crown door above which it holds verses from Koran that gives the meaning “Don’t enter the houses other than those in your possession without permission and saluting people living there”. This door that seperates Harem from Harem Chiefs Section leads to guard duty place to which three main sections of Harem also lead to.
It can be entered to Harem through a crowned symbolic arch made of “hole marble” as a dome and arch as an open sahanlýk that provides entrance.
Through this door also called as Sultanate Gate, it can be passed to guard duty place of Harem’s entrance. The door on the left side of duty place leads to Concubines and Head of Wives Stone courtyard; the door in middle leads to Mother of Sultan Stone courtyard where dynasty women and high ranking admin women live; the door on left side leads to Goldenway (altýnyol) and Sultan and Princes Flat. The hall with this location constitutes the start point of places where dynasty and women live in Harem.
 II- HEAD OF WIVES STONE COURTYARD/CONCUBINES STONE COURTYARD
This area also known as Kadýn Efendi or Concubine Stone courtyard is the smallest courtyard of Harem. This Stone Courtyard can be accessed through a corridor on the left side of guard duty place which lets Harem’s Cümle gate. This corridor had been formed with the wall that seperates Black Chiefs Section on one side, and Masters’ Flat that seperates Mother of Sultan Stone courtyard on the other. There are marble counters on one side of corridor. This counter is the place where Black Chiefs put the foot that is prepared at Harem’s kitchen on plates for Harem residents.
As in other Stone Courtyards, two-staired room arrangement that faces Stone Courtyard can also be seen here. On one side of Stone Courtyard where it jions Black Chiefs, there are hamam, hamam külhaný (heater) and pantry. On narrow side, there are kitchen, laundry room and bathrooms. On Haliç side, there is a concubine dormitory with þirvan. Using the stone stairs on the side of this dormitory, one can go down to Harem gardens, concubine dormitories and hospital sections. There are three private flats on two stairs on the Haliç side of Stone Courtyard that belongs to Head of Wives.
Kýrkmerdiven (Fourty Stairs)
Using the door between dormitory and Heads of Wives Flat, stairs leads to mezzanine. Mezzanines have been built over this descent system that is called as Fourtystairs (Kýrkmerdiven). Using Fourtystairs, Stone Courtyard also called as Hospitals and Concubine Courtyard can be accessed.
Hamam ( Turkish Bath )
Hamam on Stone Courtyard must have been built to serve old women that lived there after Hürrem Sultan, the main Official wife of Sultan of Kanuni (1520-1566), moved here. Hamam must have been aloocated for use of kadýn efendiler, masters (ustalar), and concubines on different levels. It leads to bathing sections through a large changing room with a doom on the top.
Head of Wives Flats
It is assumed that the apartments which belonged to women of Sultan who gave birth were built during Sultan Murad III era (1574-1595), around 1585, along with Mother Of Sultan’s Flat. It is supposed that Heads of Wives lived in these apartmens and were closer to Mother Of Sultan than Sultan himself. The plans of these three special flats that are partially different in their sizes and decoration are similar to each other. The first flat next to Fourtystairs gate attracts attention because it is bigger and has a dome. On the upper stairs of flats, there are half hanging stairs called as þirvan.
Concubine Dormitories
There are Concubine Dormitories in the section where the payeli substructure holds Head of Wives and Mother Of Sultan Flats. Concubines could continue their Harem life which they started on the lowest floor on higher floors and higher levels in regards to their abilities and chances, or after completing 8 years, they would become çýrað. These dormitories were the places that could respond to the needs daily life with its wooden þirvan, light spaces, bathrooms and ablution places in 17th century when the concubines were the highest in number in Harem.
Hospital
Around Stone Courtyard, two stair cement concubine dormitory with þirvan, hamam, laundry room, patient dormitory, patient kitchen and gasilhane where the dead were being washed as well as Meyyit Gate where the dead body of concubines were being taken out, also called as Hospital or Concubine Courtyard, exist there.
 III-MOTHER OF SULTAN STONE COURTYARD
Mother Of Sultan Stone courtyard had constituted the core of the construction group where Dynasty and Harem residents lived for centuries. It is assumed that Goldenway which formed on wing of this Stone Courtyard and some other buildings are the buildings Harem that date back to first half of 15th and 16th century. This place turned into a internal courtyard upon construction of Mother Of Sultan’s Flat and hamams at the end of 16th century.
Valide Stone courtyard, as a “Life” Stone Courtyard character in the middle sofa of Turkish house, is the most significant example of the Ottoman Architecture in this style. In this sense, it used to gather high level harem women staff around itself who were the central place of the Ottoman dynasty and Harem.
Mother Of Sultan’s Flat
This flat was one of the most significant constructions of renewal and expansion activities in Harem by Murad III (1574-1599) in 1580s. The special importance and value on the mother in Turkish families put Mother Of Sultan into foreground in palace Harem instead of Sultan’s main woman and the mothers of sultans became the true leaders of harem.
Mother of Sultan’s Flat Sofa
It is known that this flat with its contemporary shape was built by Murad III for his mother Nurbanu Sultan. Mother Of Sultan Flat constitutes an integrity with its hamam, bathroom and all rooms. There is a stair that connects the lower and upper stairs on the left of old entrance hall, and on the right, there is a waiting room. These stairs lead to sections where the Concubine Dormitories are located. It can also be said that Mother Of Sultan’s belongings and high level kahya women were located in those 5 rooms above Mother Of Sultan’s Flat in upstairs and hamam külhaný. Across Mother Of Sultan Hall, the door right across leads to Mother Of Sultan Sofa. This section that belonged to women section of harem and is the largest place has a dome.
Through the door on the left side of this majestic place, it leads to private office room, living room, and bedroom. The wooden division of this room that reminds baldaken symbolises the sultanate and power of Mother Of Sultan in harem. From this section, it leads to Mother Of Sultan’s prayer room through an arch passage which can be visually linked through a window with bars. Through the other door of Mother of Sultan’s Flat Sofa, it leads to a place with tiles and fireplace. This room and sahanlýk before that also provides passage to concubine and Head of Wives section in Mother Of Sultan’s Flat.
It leads to Mother of Sultan Hamamý through an entrance of Mother Of Sultan’s Flat. This hamam was planned as a double hamam along with Sultan Hamams. The door on the right side of domed main place of Mother Of Sultan leads to Sultan’s Sofa through a corridor along hamams.
The reason of Sultan’s mother’s leverage in palace stems from the importance that the sultan displays for them. Sultan used to visit her every morning at Mother Of Sultan’s Flat to show respect and share his daily decisions. Later, Chief of girls used to come to inform her about foundations and Mother of Sultan’s business. It is also recorded that the Gözdes used the visit Mother Of Sultan here, that entertains with dancers and singers, listens to Kur’aný Kerim or history book from reader kalfa after having lunch.
IV. MABEYN STONE COURTYARD SULTAN AND PRINCE FLATS
 It is located before the section that is between Official wife of Sultan Flat (Sultana Sarayý) of Goldenway that was built during Fatih era (1451-1481) and I. Selim Tower. This section is the closest part of harem to Selamlýk, or Private Room in other words, and fourth section that was also called as Imperial Sofa where some pavilions were located, and is directly linked to them.
The difference of Mabeyn Stone courtyard from other courtyards is that the front is open. Various buildings surrounds it. There is a courtyard, called as Gin’s Consultation Place (Cinlerin Meþveret Yeri), in the direction of Mother Of Sultan Stone courtyard. The highest floor of this courtyard is Prince Flat. In the same direction, there is Double Kasýrlar on Stone Courtyard. The courtyard expanded as a high garden.
The sides of this Stone Courtyard had not been filled too much, but were allocated to the controlled lives of princes. This place had also been opened to women after Abdülhamid I (1774-1789) built Favorites’ Flat (Gözdeler Dairesi) over Goldenway and I. Selim Tower. Sultans had their private apartments built around hamam and Haliç side of Mother Of Sultan Stone courtyard. The connection of this place to Mabeyn Stone courtyard, where they maintained sometimes a public or private life, was provided by a courtyard called as Gin’s Consultation Place. In addition, there used to be places there which were allocated to princes.
The construction building during the 16th and 17th centuries consists of III. Murad’ Private Room, Çifte Hamam, Sultan’s Sofasý, I. Ahmed’s Room, Sofa with Fireplace (Ocaklý Sofa), Sofa with Fountain (Çeþmeli Sofa) ve III. Ahmed’s Room. These constructions especially reflect the classical Ottoman taste with their architectural features and decoration styles.
The buildings that were made starting from Mahmud I era (1730-1754) display an integrity in terms of style. They were built in front of Sultan’s Sofa and hamam corridor to enable the use of hamam. The whole pavilion and all rooms were designed as it would not permit women to enter, when Mother Of Sultan’s Flat’s door facing hamam corridor and the door of Sofa with Fireplace are closed.
Sultan’s Sofa (Hünkar Sofa)
 Sultan’s Sofa is the largest place in its dimensions located between III. Murad’s Private Room and hamams. It was concluded from the written sources and panoramic pictures that it was built between 1580-90 with its first shape after III. Murad’s Private Room.
It is known that Harem residents, upon Sultan’s acsending to throne and in following days, after wearing the sword ceremonies in tombs in Eyüp, offered their loyalties to Sultan on this sofa, where Harem’s musical entertainments, meetings, congratulation and other ceremonies were also held. Also, delivering the birth to girls or boys, and celebrationss of Sultan’s daughers’, also known as haným sultan, engagements and marriages were held in this hall.
The building with its contemporary look today displays the restorations and modifications throughout the centuries. Sofa went through a significant restoration activities after the 1665 fire. It has survived today with a level that reflects the rococo dominated ornament style after the renewal during Osman III era (1754-1757). The name of Osman III stands on the inscription on the entrance door of the hall. The walls are covered with golden gilding and painted wooden cover as well as European tiles (Delf), and fountains were also added.
The decorations in different styles from different eras of this place that hosted many entertainments in Harem had created a very impressive environment in which various tastes had come together.
III. Murad’s Private Room
 This pavilion that was built after the point where the natural floor ends was placed on a gradual structure. III. Murad’s Private Room, being one of most significant constructions of Harem as well as of the Ottoman Architecture, was designed and built in 1578 by Mimar Sinan who was the main architecture of that era.
Mimar Sinan maintained the functional and decorational balance, matching the construction’s meaning and shape, with a classical view in the pool downstairs that he placed between levels. This pool with water ejector is connected to a big pool along Stone Courtyard.
Çifte (Double) Hamam
It was concluded that these hamams, that were constructed as double hamams for Mother Of Sultan and Sultan himself, were built around 1580s, after completion of III. Murad’s Private Room. These hamams were built in double hamam style that was observed in Ottoman architecture.
The obligations regarding apdest (ablution) and cleaning increase hamam’s importance. Sultan Hamams, with their locations between Mother Of Sultan’s Flat and Sultan’s Sofa, display paralellism with the bathing and entertaining functions in traditional palace hamams. Under supervision of Hazinedar Master, the bathing, dyeing with henna, putting scent and dressing of gözde who would be together with Sultan, Fourthy Hamams of the kids after birth and joining of Sultan’s Sofa to this busy ceremony environment prove the importance of hamams in Harem life.
The hypocaust system that is also observed in Roman hamams constitutes the heating system of these constructions by continuing underneath Sultan’s Sofa as it was the same under the marble floor of Sultan ve Mother of Sultan Hamams.
I. Ahmed's Private Room
Sultan Ahmet I (1603-1617) also wanted to have a room at Harem carrying his name, Private Room in other words, yet his room was built before Sultan III. Murad’s Private Room due to topographic conditions, intensive construction and limited construction area. It was concluded from inscriptions of this small and domed room, built on levels by raising it, that it was built in 1608. Pearled cabinet doors, recess, marble and tile covering with poems on reflect the keen character of of Sultan Ahmed I on reading and books.
III. Ahmed's Private Room
 This small room of Sultan Ahmed III (1703-1730) in Palace Harem is located between Sultan’s Sofa and I. Ahmed Odasý. Entrance is available from both places to this room.
These years of full entertainment period were called as Tulip Era (Lale Devri) in the Ottoman History due to high interest in flowers, especially tulip. Ahmed III era was the most brilliant era of a new style in the Ottoman decoration arts. This style that could be considered as new naturalist was reflected on all architectural work of the era as hand art job, plaster or marble embossed design. The walls of this room that was built in Sultan’s harem was ornamented with vases full of flowers or plates full of fruit side by side.
Because of the plates full of flowers or fruits on the walls, this room was called as Fruit Room, and sometimes Dining Room. It is also possible that Sultan Ahmed III, as a famous and talentet caligrapher, might have carried out his own distinguished works.
Çifte Kasýrlar (Summer Palace)
These summer palaces consist of two rooms placed one in another are built in a way that allows to step out on Mabeyn Stone Courtyard side of the entrance of III. Murad’s Private Room. The fact that it is covered with tile outside and is surrounded by continuous eaves gives the impression of synchronous construction. However, the inner decoration shows that they were built at different times. The adult princes had to live seperate from women’s section and on mabeyn side. The princes that were not sent to sancaks in Anatolia starting from the beginning of 17th century were forced to live among Black Chiefs (Kara Aðalar), kalfa women and concubines who they commanded.
The first room that was built in courtyard, also called as Gin’s Consultation Place, to enable to step out to Mabeyn Stone Courtyard, must have been built as a Private Room probably in the late 16th or early 17th century by Mehmed III (1596-1603).
The other big room that can be entered through the door located on the left side of domed summer palace was most probably built by Mehmed IV (1648-1687). An interesting architectural composition was created in both rooms by adding mezzanines; colored wooden þirvans occasionally. During the restoration work, the wooden parts are removed to reveal the original shape of these rooms that are called as Prince Flat.
Goldenway (Altýn Yol)
Goldenway, being the longest, the oldest and the most important passage, is a vault path along the wall that seperates Harem from Enderun Courtyard. It is understood that this corridor, called as Long Path, Sultan’s Way (Rah-ý Padiþahî), Highness Sultan Street (Sokak-ý Hazret-i Padiþahî), before taking this name, had been used bu Sultans to pass to their flats in Harem in short cut.
The reason that this road with plastered walls and stone paved floor today was called as Goldenway was because Sultan used to give golden money to Harem residents that align on roadside on special days. Goldenway has a functional and historical importance, since it is the first construction of Fatih era (1451-1481) and other contructions after that happened around this corridor.
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