13.05.2025 16:45
Altay Bayatlı, a lecturer and art historian from Trakya University, stated that they have found the engraving that most clearly depicts the state of the palace in Edirne, which served as the capital of the Ottoman Empire for 88 years, in the 17th century. Bayatlı explained that they came across the engraving in the archives of Zurich, Switzerland.
The Edirne Palace, which began construction in 1450 during the reign of Ottoman Sultan Murad II and was completed during the reign of Fatih Sultan Mehmet, was destroyed due to damage from wars, earthquakes, and fires. To this day, parts of the Cihannüma Pavilion, Adalet Pavilion, Kum Pavilion, Hamam, and the entrance gate of the palace have survived.
RESTORATION WORK HAS BEGUN In order to uncover the lost parts along with the standing structures, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Governorship of Edirne, and Trakya University initiated a joint excavation and restoration project in the area in 2010. After the works, the kitchen and hamam were restored and brought back to life. Excavations and the restoration of other structures continued. The excavation works were transferred to the Presidency of the National Palaces on October 18, 2023. The palace, where restoration works are ongoing by the National Palaces Presidency, continues to be a subject of research for academics.
"THERE WAS A BLACK-AND-WHITE DRAWING" Altay Bayatlı, an instructor and art historian at Trakya University, stated that in their research in the archives of open sources in Zurich, Switzerland, they found a print that most clearly shows the state of the palace in the 17th century on a map. Bayatlı noted that there is a black-and-white drawing of the Edirne Palace in Turkey, saying, "There was a black-and-white drawing that Tosyavizade Rıfat Osman conveyed to us from a publication of Antonie Galland's diaries published in 1881. Later, our professor Süheyl Ünver published this in 1957 as 'Edirne Palace' in the Turkish Historical Society; it is indeed a very special book. There is a black-and-white drawing related to Edirne Palace there. We came across this in the Zurich archive. It is drawn in a different way, more clearly, and more accurately on an interesting map. Then we understood that this drawing is a precursor to those. That is, while information about Edirne was being provided, it was used in Galland's diaries. Later, Rıfat Osman conveyed it to us by drawing it in his own style, and Professor Süheyl also used it in the Edirne Palace book. We followed this lineage," he said.
"THE PRECURSOR OF ALL PUBLICATIONS TRANSFERRED TO TODAY" Bayatlı stated that the map containing the print is a precursor to all publications that have come to date, saying, "This nobleman is one of the orientalists of that period. He was particularly interested in horses in the Middle East. A famous cartographer of that time, Joseph Riedl, set out to draw this map to gift it. He benefited from someone named Carl Stein. We researched Stein. He was also an expert of the period on engravings. The map includes a plan of Edirne and Istanbul. On this plan, instead of choosing Topkapı, he beautifully rendered Edirne Palace in engraving. The map is a large one, but especially when you approach it digitally, it has detailed engravings of Edirne Palace. Of course, this drawing dates back to 1812, and it is the precursor of all the publications I mentioned. We have discovered this and it provides detailed information about Edirne Palace. In this context, we can also see some structures around Edirne Palace. Because in the conveyed drawing, the lower part has not been used, and it is clearly visible in this visual," he said.
Bayatlı stated that the information on the map reflects the state of the palace in the 17th century, saying, "As far as we understand, it makes a reference to the state in the 1600s, not exactly to the state in 1812. Because there is a very important detail on the map; in the legend at the corner, it says, 'We benefited from Katip Çelebi while preparing this map.' This is a very important detail. Because Katip Çelebi is not only a mathematician but also an Ottoman cartographer. Their knowledge of these and their ability to draw from them is very important for us. Therefore, it is a very important source for us. Thus, we think that it describes the state of Edirne Palace approximately in the 17th century, before it was destroyed," he said.
"THE PREFERENCE FOR EDİRNE PALACE IS INTERESTING" Bayatlı also pointed out the choice of Edirne Palace instead of Topkapı Palace in the engraving, saying, "We can see the location of Istanbul on the map. Already, at the bottom of the map, they have also provided a close plan of both Edirne and Istanbul. The part that impressed me the most is the interesting choice of using Edirne Palace as an engraving instead of Topkapı Palace. I attribute this to Rzewuski, to whom the map was gifted. Because the Ottoman Empire and the Middle East are a point of great interest for Rzewuski, and since it would be given to him as a gift, I think the place that would attract his interest was chosen," he expressed.
"IT MAY BE HELPFUL IN IDENTIFYING STRUCTURES" Bayatlı noted that the engraving could be beneficial in shedding light on today's studies, saying, "Such lost engravings or drawings of unknown origin are sometimes used on maps.
"This could be useful in identifying some structures related to the Edirne Palace that we cannot see or that no longer exist in its surroundings. If we can see the small details clearly, they can benefit us in the current studies being conducted. That's why I find these very important," he said.