Great Palace
The Great Palace of Constantinople served as the center of imperial administration in Constantinople in the 12th Century.
Contents
History
When King Sigurd Magnusson arrived in Constantinople with his fleet in 1111 AD, he and his crew – human and gargoyle alike – were welcomed by Emperor Alexios Komnenos and Empress Irene Doukaina at the Great Palace. For their hospitality, King Sigurd gifted the Emperor the Eye of Odin. ("Fortune Favors the Brave...")
Real World Background
Situated between the Hagia Sophia and the Hippodrome, the Great Palace (Μέγα Παλάτιον) was built in the 4th Century AD during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Constantine I. It served as the primary royal residence until the reign of Alexios Komnenos in 1081. At which point, Byzantine emperors lived at the Palace of Blachernae, north of the city, although the Great Palace continued to serve administrative and ceremonial duties, as depicted in the comic. [1]
By the time Constantinople was captured by Sultan Mehmed II of the Ottoman Empire in 1453, the Great Palace was in a state of disrepair. While there are some surviving remnants of the Great Palace, the site is largely where the Blue Mosque currently stands, built by Sultan Ahmet I from 1609 to 1617.
See Also
- Great Palace of Constantinople at Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
