The Great Palace of Constantinople: Splendor and ruin of the heart of the Byzantine Empire
The Great Palace, or Sacred Palace, was the epicenter of Byzantine imperial power and grandeur for nearly a millennium. Located in the southeastern part of the peninsula that now forms the Fatih district of Istanbul, it was a complex sprawling over around 20,000 m², encompassing different palaces, chapels, porticos, and gardens. It served as the main residence of the emperor and his family and was the ceremonial center of the Byzantine court, closely connected to other buildings of major importance for the imperial power, including the Hagia Sophia, the Hippodrome, and the Senate.
The construction and extension of the Great Palace.
When Emperor Constantine decided to refound Byzantium as Constantinople in 330 and make it the new capital of the empire, he planned to build a palace for himself, located between the Hippodrome and Hagia Sophia. It was also located near the perfume-making area of the city, so that the fragrances coming from their shops and workshops would embalm the palace as well.
A significant part of the complex was destroyed during the Nika riots in 532, along with the Hagia Sophia. After suppressing the revolt, Justinian lavishly rebuilt the palace. Under several of his successors, most notably Justinian II and Basil I, important extensions and alterations were commissioned. Such a large complex proved hard to maintain, and it had fallen into disrepair by the time of Constantine VII, who ordered its renovation.
The general conception and organization of the palace followed the Roman tradition of imperial residences, derived from those on the Palatine in Rome. It was an extensive complex, hosting many important buildings or sets of buildings, themselves often labeled as “palaces,” as well as churches, gardens, porticoes, and monumental entrances.
The most remarkable monuments of the palace complex.
The most remarkable buildings were the Chalke, the monumental entrance of the complex opening onto the square next to the Hagia Sophia; the Palace of Daphne, which served as the main imperial residence during the early Byzantine period; the Trullo, an immense hall that hosted a Council; the Chrysotriklinos, the main throne room built by Justin II and expanded by Basil I; and the Boukoleon Palace, dating back to Justinian, which is perhaps nowadays the best-preserved part of the complex.
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From grandeur to ruin: The disappearance of the Great Palace.
For centuries, the Great Palace was the main seat of the emperors, the court, and the imperial administration. In the 10th century, Romanos Lekapenos challenged this status with the erection of the Myrelaion complex. The Great Palace started to decline in the 11th century when emperors began to reside more often in the Mangana Palace and then in the Blachernae Palace in the northern part of the city. The Great Palace was still used for ceremonies or events, but it had already lost its status as the main imperial residence. The final blow came during the Fourth Crusade in 1204 when the palace was plundered. The Latin Empire that followed for a few decades did not have the economic means to restore the palace. When the Palaiologos recovered Constantinople, they ruled from the Blachernae Palace as the Great Palace was in ruins. They still used some parts of it, most notably the vaults, which served as prisons.
After the fall of Constantinople to the Turks in 1453, the last remnants of the Great Palace were destroyed to make way for new buildings, and their materials were reused. Only the Boukoleon Palace remained visible, though largely damaged and altered when the railroad was constructed at the beginning of the 20th century. Some excavations during the 20th century brought to light some striking elements of the palace, most notably mosaics of high quality. However, only a small part of the palace has been researched, as most of it still lies under later buildings.
The Last Traces of the Great Palace today.
The Boukoleon Palace, once built by Justinian on the sea walls, is today the most extensive part of the Great Palace still standing. While the palace was well preserved at the end of the 19th century, the construction of the railroad severely damaged it, and it was left in disrepair for decades afterward. Recently, a project was conducted to restore and preserve its remains.
In the 1930s and 1950s, excavations in the southwestern part of the Great Palace uncovered some striking mosaics, which adorned a peristyle court. While long attributed to the reign of Justinian in the 6th century, they could instead be from a slightly later period, dating back to the reign of Heraclius at the beginning of the 7th century. An extensive surface of 1872 m² was covered, featuring different subjects, such as a Dionysian procession, many combat scenes featuring both human and non-human animal fighters, as well as children’s games and various real or mythical animals.
Some other remains, mostly foundations, can be seen at different points, but their attribution to a specific part of the Great Palace is difficult.
Several excavations have also brought to light some parts of the Great Palace, but the vast majority of it still lies beneath Ottoman-era buildings.
