ThePalace of Blachernae (Greek:τὸ ἐν Βλαχέρναις Παλάτιον)[1] was an imperialByzantine residence in the suburb ofBlachernae, located in the northwestern section ofConstantinople (today located in the quarter ofAyvansaray inFatih,Istanbul,Turkey). The area of the palace is now mostly overbuilt, and only literary sources are available as to its description.
The Palace of Blachernae was constructed on the northern slopes of the Sixth Hill of the city in circa 500.[2] The hill itself was partially remodelled, particularly in later times, and a number of terraces created to support the various buildings comprising the palace complex.[3]
Although the main imperial residence during the 4th–11th centuries was theGreat Palace at the eastern end of the city, the Blachernae palace was used at times, and is attested in the ceremonial protocols contained in the 10th-centuryDe Ceremoniis, or Explanation of the Order of the Palace, Chapters I.27, I.34, II.9, II.12) of EmperorConstantine VII Porphyrogenitos (r. 913–959).[2] At that time, it included several structures: the hall (triklinos) of Anastasius orAnastasiakos (Τρίκλινος Ἀναστασιακός), named after EmperorAnastasius I (r. 491–518) who built it, the hall of the Ocean orOkeanos (Τρίκλινος Ὠκεανός), theportico of Joseph orIosephiakos (Πόρτικας Ἰωσηφιακός), and the hall of theDanube orDanoubios (Τρίκλινος Δανουβιός). The latter communicated with the nearby shrine of the Greek OrthodoxChurch of St. Mary of Blachernae through a series of staircases.[1][2]
It was here that in the late 11th century the EmperorAlexios I Komnenos (r. 1081–1118) moved his main residence, and he and his grandsonManuel I Komnenos (r. 1143–1180) undertook great works there, fortifying the palace precinct and erecting new halls.[2] Manuel I, in particular, is credited with the construction of an elaborateouter wall,[4] and of several splendid new halls, such as the Hall of Irene (named after EmpressIrene of Hungary) and thePolytimos Oikos ("Precious Hall").
During the Second Crusade, this was the residence at which Emperor Manuel welcomed Louis VII of France and his Queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine. At this time the palace complex became known as the "New Palace".[5] Among the structures of the time, only the so-calledPrison of Anemas, which formed part of the palace's substructure, still survives.[6]
After theFourth Crusade, theLatin emperors favoured theBucoleon Palace, but on the recapture of the city in 1261, thePalaiologan emperors restored the Blachernae complex as their principal residence.[2][7]
The Palace of Blachernae was destroyed following thefall of Constantinople in 1453. During three days of pillaging, the Ottoman official Tursun Beg noted the fate of the Palace in passing when he described that the Palace was pillaged along with other houses of the rich, during which the inhabitants of the city was captured forslavery in the Ottoman Empire:
ThePalace of the Porphyrogenitus, probably dating to the late 13th century, although a little further south than the main Blachernae palace complex, is usually related to it. It is the only relatively intact example of Byzantine palace architecture in Constantinople.[9]
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41°02′02″N28°56′25″E / 41.0339°N 28.9403°E /41.0339; 28.9403
