SULTAN Abdulhamid II lived and ruled the state at the Yıldız Palace for 33 years in the Ottoman Empire’s last century. The Palace started to accept visitors at its renovated sections. The renovation of the Palace lasted for six years, and many parts of the Palace, such as the ‘Great Mabeyn Pavilion’, ‘Çit Pavilion’, ‘Small Mabeyn Kiosk’ and the ‘Harem Buildings’ welcomed visitors for the first time in their history.

Since it was opened to visitors, the Palace has hosted hundreds of thousands of people, and the library, which is full of rare works, is one of its most attractive parts. This library, registered as the most extensive library in Europe and the Middle East, is crucial as it contains the whole collection of a Sultan.

A CENTURY LATER

The sultan himself formed the library collection that hosts the works shedding light on the life, leadership and personality of Sultan Abdulhamid II. According to the historical records, the library was opened in 1897 after the refurbishment works. It remained in the presently visited building until 1925. In 1925, the library was closed, its works were transferred to Istanbul University, and the building was allocated to other purposes. Following the recent restoration works, the library embraced its original structure after a century.

7 THOUSAND MANUSCRIPTS

The library’s rare works collection continues to attract visitors. The library that covers the works on Sultan’s areas of interest hosts 29 thousand books, including 7 thousand manuscripts. A ‘divan’ style Ottoman poem written by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, who wrote his manuscripts under the pseudonym ‘Muhibbi’, a book on Sultan Suleiman’s campaign to Iraq written by Matrakçı Nasuh, Traveller Katip Çelebi’s ‘Cihannüma’ and samples of Quran written by famous calligraphers are included in the manuscripts displayed for the first time in the library.

PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS

The library’s collection also contains the periodical publications to which Sultan Abdulhamid II subscribed to stay updated. The Palace’s library can examine all the European periodical publications in those years. Moreover, the catalogues of exhibitions in various countries are included in the library’s inventory. Works in Turkish are the highest in number in this multilingual category, and the inventory covers works in Arabic, Persian, French, German, and English.

36 THOUSAND 500 PHOTOGRAPHS

The library also hosts a very significant collection of albums. To date, the full Yıldız Palace Album has been transferred to the digital environment, and its original version is presently available at the Yıldız Palace Library. Albums with nearly one thousand themes and 36,500 photographs remain at the Palace. The albums are categorized under various themes, and in addition to the images captured from the governmental activities and daily lives in Ottoman geography, there are themes about special events in other countries.

Signed books

Sultan Abdulhamid II, who ruled the Ottoman Empire for 33 years, attached great importance to the books in original languages that hold a key place in the library’s collection. The works in original languages written by authors around the world were signed and sent to the library by the sultan himself.

Bookcases manufactured in the Palace

In addition to its spectacular collection, Yıldız Palace’s Library has striking furniture. Some of the furniture designed in the classical style was manufactured in the Palace’s carpentry workshop. The furniture manufactured by Sultan Abdulhamid II in various forms can also be seen in the Palace.