Crucial remains have been obtained in Edirne Yeni Saray excavation selected as one of the "11 Important Excavations Shedding Light on the Anatolia's History" and carried out under the supervision of Assist. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Özer, Lecturer in Bahçeşehir University Faculty of Engineering and Design, Department of Architecture. Kitchen furnaces, one of the main facilities of palace kitchens, namely matbah-ı amire, were excavated. It is understood from the remains that there are furnace sections here, as in Topkapı Palace.
THE PURPOSE IS TO PASS ON TO THE NEXT GENERATIONS
Assist. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Özer, supervisor of the excavations, expressed the following with regard to the excavations works:
“Field practices for the excavation works of Edirne Palace that we have been carried out with a crowded team as from 2009 continued in summer season due to the weather conditions and academic duties of team members. In the time remaining from field works, archive, laboratory and office works are performed. In these works, for which a huge progress has been achieved, special attention is paid to Palace Kitchen (Matbah-ı Amire) and Kum Kasrı Hamamı (Turkish bath) and surrounding. Crucial data (remains of clean and waste water systems and city walls) regarding the infrastructure of the Palace has been obtained during these works. While making this plan, it is aimed to pass on these structures, which exists, even if partially, and requires urgent intervention, to the next generations by performing their conservation and restorations before they are totally destroyed. In this sense, conservation and restoration works are initiated in parallel with excavation works in Palace Kitchen (Matbah-ı Amire) and Kum Kasrı Hamamı, survey, restitution and restoration projects of which are prepared. When these works, suspended due to the weather conditions and several technical reasons, are completed, two important structures of Edirne Palace, Matbah-ı Amire and Kum Kasrı Hamamı will be rescued from being destroyed and considerable contributions will be made to the culture and tourism of both Edirne and our country thanks to the functions to be provided in compliance with their characters. Only about 10 structures have reached the present day from Edirne Palace which witnessed an intense use from the year 1361, when Edirne became an Ottoman province, to the beginning of 20th century and which consists of about 100 structures. Edirne Palace, in which about 40.000 people including 6.000 officials used to live in the periods when it was steady, is known to include tens of structures having different functions including 18 Turkish baths, 8 prayer rooms and 17 summer palaces being in the first place.
IT WAS SET ON FIRE AND BURNT
Özer said that Saray-ı Cedide Amire (Edirne Palace) was started to be constructed in the area on the west of Tunca River in the district of Edirne named as Sarayiçi in the last years of the reign of Murat II in 1450 and gave the following information:
“This palace many structure of which was constructed in the period of Mehmed II and which includes about 100 structures having different functions was expanded on a considerably large area. As from the end of 19th century, a small number of structures (Matbah-ı Amire, Babüssade, Cihannüma Kasrı, Kum Kasrı Hamamı, Adalet Kasrı, Fatih Köprüsü, Kanuni Köprüsü, Av Köşkü, Su Maksemi, Namazgahlı Çeşme, etc.) have reached the present day from the palace that was dramatically ruined during Balkan and Ottoman-Russian wars and many structures of which were destroyed. While some of these structures that have reached the present day are kind of ruined, some continue their existence thanks to repairs. Yeni Saray, which was ruined during Russia's invasion to Edirne on 22 August 1829 and repaired, was used as armory at that time. Following Russia’s re-attack to Edirne in 1874, palace structures which were used as armory upon the order of the executing commanders of the period and set on fire, were largely destroyed and a very small part could stand. Destination of Sultan Abdülaziz, who started his Europe travel with Sultaniye yacht in 1867, had become Paris and London after Toulon. Considering the possibility that the Sultan might pass through Edirne on the return path, some repairs and additions were made, especially in Cihannüma Kasrı. However, he returned from Tuna River with steamship by passing through Belgium-Koblenz-Prussia-Vienna-Budapest. Upon the news that Russia would occupy Edirne, structures of Edirne Yeni Saray used as armory were set on fire with the order of Cemil Pasha, Governor of Edirne, in order to prevent its occupation by Russia. Thus, structures of Edirne Yeni Saray, which got in big danger with booms having lasted for days, turned into a wreck. The fire in the palace lasted three days and valuable things having remained in the unburned parts of the palace and remaining ceramics were donated to the representatives of various foreign states by Rauf Pasha, the Governor.”
PLANS FOR THE CONQUEST OF ISTANBUL WERE MADE HERE
Özer told that Mehmed II, who were born in Edirne and had his childhood there, made the plans and preparations for the conquest of Istanbul in this palace and said regarding the excavation that “Faster steps has been taken every passing day in the excavation, repair and conservation works carried out with the corporate support of TBMM (Turkish Grand National Assembly) Presidency, Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Bahçeşehir University in recent years. It is planned to carry out the restorations of Adalet Kasrı, Cihannüma Kasrı and Su Maksemi, which are palace structures, and Av Köşkü in the following years, following the works for preparing the survey, restitution and restoration projects of these structures. Thus, at least, it will be ensured that this small number of structures having reached the present day from Edirne Yeni Saray is brought into life."
TR
